by Celia Kyle
I lowered my arms. “That motherfucker.” I clenched my fists. “That cock sucking, worthless, soul-stealing sonofabitch!”
I didn’t need them to explain further. Keller had been working to free himself from the bonds of the mortal spirit and he’d absorbed enough spiritual energy to turn himself into something… other. He must have found a way to sever his soul from On High and Hell.
Kinda like I had.
Which meant, in death, Keller’s soul would have gone to purgatory. He’d be adrift between realms where reality was subject to no laws and could be shaped by his will.
I would never find him again.
And given enough time—centuries or millennia—he might grow strong enough to transcend the spirit realm and return. Even after everything I’d done—I’d died to stop him dammit—I still hadn’t truly defeated him.
I’d killed him, not destroyed him.
I spat on the ground. “So there’s nothing we can do for Sam.”
“Don’t give up hope.” My mother came over and put her arms around me, holding me tightly. “I’m sure if you keep looking, you’ll find a way.”
“And if I hear anything,” Uncle Luc added, “I’ll send the information your way. Just because healing a gel is beyond my power, and distasteful, doesn’t mean I won’t help if I can. You’re family.”
“Yeah,” I pulled away from my mother. It felt too weird to hug her. “Fine. Thanks.” I put my hands on my hips and stared at the broken circle. “I guess I’ll send you both home now.”
Uncle Luc shook his head. “Oh no.” He flashed a wicked smile, took my mother’s arm and winked at me. “It’s been a very long time since I’ve been summoned to the tween in my full, glorious power. I’m going to have a little fun while I’m here.”
They walked off together to raise who knew what kind of hell in the tween and I just sighed. I watched them go and then went back to my car.
Maybe I should have felt bad for bringing them to the tween and letting them loose, but whatever. I saved the world from an evil warlock-werewolf bent on destruction and stopped his army of soul-sucking ghouls. The world owed me one. I could unleash a little hell without feeling badly.
I still had free will, after all. Balancing the good I’d done seemed like a fine trade.
Chapter Twenty-Six
It had been weeks since my little family reunion and life went on even if shit still wasn’t right. I was back in the bar, serving drinks and trying to pretend that everything was fine. Jezze was waiting tables and the new girl—Pepper—was counting inventory in the back. It had been hard to get back into the old routine. After all the dying, spirit traveling, power awakening, and then watching my mate’s mind torn apart by magic… After all that, it was kinda hard to worry about whether the goblin got his light beer and not the troll. Or if the ogre at the back was going to leave a decent tip.
But routine was good. At least, that was what everyone told me. Getting back to work would help me get a sense of normality back in my life.
Right.
The place was packed, including an unusually large number of pixies who’d come to town. There was apparently some kind of royal pixie ball coming up, so pixies from all over the country were coming to Orlando to attend. I was actually thinking of attending the ball myself. After my experience in the spirit realm and exploring my dormant powers, I’d been feeling more in touch with the aspects of my mixed bloodlines. Especially the portions I’d often ignored—like my pixie blood.
Except the idea of attending a ball without Sam at my side was too difficult to consider.
The door opened and I turned my attention to the entry. Part of me still expected Sam to stride through that door, cocky as hell and smiling widely.
But it was just a couple of elves.
I sighed and turned away to refill peanut bowls. Rush had appeared at Momma R’s the day after Sam lost his memory. The gel had taken Sam with him and left me with the promise that the powers of On High would do everything they could to restore Sam.
I heard what he’d said, but… I didn’t know if I’d ever see Sam again.
Our connection was still there, though. I hadn’t seen him in weeks, but our tie was still as strong as ever. I could sense it between us, like the phantom threads Keller had tied to me. Except this connection was natural and pure. He was my twin flame and nothing could take that from us.
I placed my hand over my heart and closed my eyes, sending my love and affection to Sam through the bond. I could sense his feelings even across the vast distance between us. Wherever he was, he was safe and warm and surrounded by people who cared for him.
But I also sensed that he felt lonely without me. The last time we’d seen each other, just before Rush spirited him away, he hadn’t known who I was. Yet he missed me nonetheless.
Two elves approached the bar and I shook off those thoughts so I could take their drink orders. I forced a smile and blinked back my tears, turning back into Caith Morningstar, bar owner. I had to get on with my life. It wouldn’t be easy without Sam, but feeling him in my heart made each day a little more tolerable.
I served drinks and struck up a conversation with one of the pixies at the bar. And as the conversation carried on, I even let myself laugh at her jokes.
As long as I could laugh, hope wasn’t yet lost. I could cling to that hope and the promise that my Sam would come back to me.
Someday.
~~*~~
Don’t miss out on the other Caith Morningstar novels.
Hell’s Chapel - I can handle the blood, gore, and frustration, but can I deal with the pain of loving—possibly losing—the angel Samkiel? Probably not, but I’m gonna try anyway.
Hell’s Gates - I lost Sam once and survived. The question now is whether I can survive losing both of the men I love most? Or rather, will the world survive?
Made in Hell - Now I’m running, I’m killing, I’m saving the world, and I’m… trying to hang on to my angelic mate, Sam. I’m pretty sure I’m going to fail at one of those. I just hope it’s not Sam.
About the Author
Ex-dance teacher, former accountant and erstwhile collectible doll salesperson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Celia Kyle now writes urban fantasy, science fiction (as Erin Tate), and paranormal romances for readers who:
1) Like super hunky heroes (they generally get furry)
2) Totally dig beautiful women (who have a few more curves than the average lady)
3) Love laughing in (and out of) bed.
It goes without saying that there's always a happily-ever-after for her characters, even if there are a few road bumps along the way.
Today she lives in Central Florida and writes full-time with the support of her loving husband and two finicky cats. (Who hate each other with a passion unrivaled. What’s up with that?)
Find Celia on the web…
www.celiakyle.com
[email protected]
Copyright © 2017 by Celia Kyle
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.