by CJ England
"Damn right!” Lucas added his opinion to Gallegar's. “You're stuck with us, honey."
"No matter what might happen,” came Patrick's drawling voice.
"Do you not understand?” Her voice broke with frustration. “I did not know. I will not let you die!"
"A Ghra ... It's you who doesn't understand. We aren't going anywhere.” Gallegar came and took her shaking hands in his. “When I came in and saw you were dying, it never crossed my mind I might die too. It wouldn't have mattered, even if it did. I wouldn't want to exist without you. You are my life now."
She began to weep. Deep, sobbing cries that ripped their way through her tired body. “But I love you.” She buried her face in his chest. “I cannot bear the thought of being the cause of your deaths."
"Kira, my sister...” Koran's voice was gentle as he reached over and stroked her back. “Remember, we are in this together. We don't know exactly what would happen if any of us were to die. But if we are tied together, you could be hurt as well. Would you desert us over that possibility?"
Kira turned and frowned at her brother. “Of course not. I would not be so cowardly that fear of my death would chase me away."
"But you think we should be?” Benjamin joined in the argument, his tone angry.
"No ... no ... it is just...” Frustrated, Kira glared at all of them. She stomped her foot.
"My Lady.” Danolas’ voice was slightly mocking. “It would behoove you to stop this discussion now. We are joined with you and we plan on staying that way. Nothing you can say or do will convince us otherwise."
Kira blew out her breath, defeated. She looked into the eyes of her Chosen. “I do not like this. I want you to be safe."
"Sugar, we are as safe as we're gonna get. Remember, you didn't choose us. The Power did. We would be up to our necks in this, even if you weren't.” Patrick came and smoothed his hand down her hair to comfort her.
Kira looked around at all of the Chosen. They were all nodding in agreement. She realized she had no choice. Somewhere along the way, she had stopped being in charge of this company. They were a team now, all with definite ideas and beliefs. Times would be interesting, if nothing else.
Gallegar gave her a hug and she gladly buried her face back in his chest for comfort.
Danolas gave her a pat on the shoulder. “One of the first things we do will be to put wards on all our domains. The Keep kept us all alive today, because of those wards. Our security must be impregnable now we know Evil is aware of us."
Koran nodded. “We will also create a traveling ward that can go with us. That way we can be safe wherever we are."
"Like my protection spell?” Lucas asked.
"What spell?” Koran was confused. Danolas said a few words, and the shimmering blue web of power that covered Lucas came into view.
"This is what keeps me safe from Elijah. It keeps me from saying something that might betray us all.” Lucas lifted his arms and the blue magick followed right with him.
"Ya know, I thought I saw something...” Patrick muttered.
"Because of the link."
"Will you just add the new wards to this spell?” Koran wanted to know.
"If possible. A traveling ward will be tricky, but I think we can manage it.” Danolas made the spell invisible once more.
Kira's stomach growled and Gallegar's body shook with laughter. She looked up at him with a pout. “I did not get to finish my dinner. I had to leave my chocolate shake behind."
"A tragedy...” he snickered, hiding a smile. It earned him a jab in the stomach with her elbow.
Danolas laughed. “We brought it with us, my Lady.” He laughed harder when he saw her perk up happily. “You will not want it now. It was given to Morag, the healer, to see if she could find the poison. That was before we knew it was a word activation spell."
"I could use something to eat as well. I left the institute rather hurriedly.” Benjamin patted his stomach as he spoke.
"Jorad, Tobias!” Danolas waited until the two witches entered the room. He saw the relief on their faces and cursed himself for not letting them know he was all right sooner. “We are well, my friends. But we are hungry too. Please have the kitchen prepare us some food ... a great deal of food. We have our lives to celebrate. And..."
He slid a glance at Kira. “Have a large chocolate shake added to the order.” He smiled when she squealed with delight.
"Jorad...” Gallegar stepped away from Kira and stopped the witch before he could leave.
"Yes, High King?"
"Alex ... is he well?"
Jorad smiled and relaxed. “I gave him a good meal and a place to sleep. I also bandaged his wound. He said he would be ready to leave when you were."
"My thanks to you, Jorad. I have told Danolas how helpful you were."
"Thank you, King Gallegar.” Jorad's voice was surprised. “I did only what was necessary."
Gallegar put his hand out to the young witch, who took it cautiously. “Your actions helped save our lives tonight. You got me here in time to save her. For that, I will forever be in your debt. If you ever have need of me..."
"Th ... ank you, High King.” Jorad stared at Gallegar. The thought the king of all the vampires owed him a favor was a little too much for him to grasp.
"Alex's wound ... it wasn't bad?"
"Not really. He said it was a little deeper than usual and more painful. He said you usually numb it in some way."
Gallegar sighed. “I can enthrall the person I am biting so it doesn't hurt as much. But unfortunately for Alex, I was too weak tonight."
"He seemed to understand. He was pleased to be able to be of service to you.” Jorad bowed. “As was I."
"He will be rewarded for what he has done this night.” Gallegar smiled. “As I think you will be as well. Now ... off with you. My Lady wants her shake!"
Jorad grinned and bowed to Gallegar. “I will bring it to her personally."
Epilogue
The meal came and the company fell on it like starving wolves. Or so said Patrick, who had to duck a swing from Lucas when he heard him. There was plenty for all of them, even Gallegar who was treated to a concoction made up of different types of animal blood. It wasn't as good as drinking human blood, but the odd blending gave it an exotic taste that he found most pleasing.
Kira got her chocolate shake and settled back on the couch to enjoy it. She was tired, but not so much so she needed to go to sleep. She snorted to herself. She had been resting all afternoon. No wonder she didn't need to sleep. But the others...
She looked at them as they piled their plates with food. All were talking and joking with each other like nothing had happened, but she could see the strain that sat on each of their faces.
"Why the frown, sugar?” Patrick appeared next to her. He wasn't eating. Once his life force had been restored, he was the one who seemed closest to normal.
"I am worried about all of you. It took a great deal of strength to keep me alive today. I do not think everyone is completely healthy yet."
Patrick cast a quick glance at the other men. “They're strong. Git some food in ‘em and they'll be as good as new.” He grinned at her raised eyebrow. “Okay ... and some rest too!"
"I think we may want to postpone going to look at the Gates.” Danolas sat down next to Kira on the couch. “We're going to want to be at full strength for that."
"Agreed.” Gallegar sat in an overstuffed chair by the fire. “I think we have fought enough evil for one night."
Lucas sat on the floor at Kira's feet and reaching up, popped a piece of steak in her mouth. “You gotta eat too, honey.” He turned back to the other men. “So, we've had our first battle and we won. We should feel good about that."
"I think our first real battle was joining together,” Kira teased. “Or maybe it was when we did the linking.” They all laughed, as they remembered Lucas’ embarrassment.
"Maybe it was fighting to free Benjamin from that stupid kid.” Lucas shook his hea
d in amazement. “He really thought he could beat you in a fight."
Kira gave a shiver as she thought of Superjack's execution. Danolas pulled her against him for a quick hug, knowing her thoughts ... as always.
"I guess we could add the fight with my father.” Koran gave a grin. “He was not happy to find out that Kira was my sister. He bellowed for hours about trickery and illusion. I finally had to promise him I would begin a search for my own mate, just to keep him off my back."
"There was no fight between the two of us, A Ghra...” Gallegar said, his voice dropping to a seductive murmur. His green eyes sparkled with teasing. “So that was not our first battle."
Kira huffed as she sat up and stared at him. “Not a battle? I seem to remember us almost killing each other.” She sniffed at Gallegar's amused face. “Of course you would say that. I was winning."
The Chosen all laughed as Gallegar's amusement bled into outrage.
"There was no battle with Elijah, but it came close,” Lucas said consideringly. “I know I wanted to do some damage."
"And you did, my friend.” Danolas stood and replenished his drink. “You have beaten him in the oldest game there is. The con."
"We did no battle when Danolas and I joined. His was the smoothest of all."
Gallegar snorted. “That was only because I decided to let him live after he kissed you in greeting. He came very close to death that night."
Danolas shook his head, his face filled with good-natured laughter. “Now, Gallegar, you know that was just a friendly little kiss. Like a brother gives a sister.” He grinned at the glare Gallegar was treating his wineglass to. “You know I didn't mean anything by it."
Patrick looked around the room at his happy companions. “We may not agree on what our first battle was, but I think we can agree on our next."
"The Gates of Life.” Kira took his hand in hers. “When we have all recovered from this, it will be the first thing we do. Your people are counting on us."
"And we have some more clues as to what happened, now that we've fought that wizard.” Benjamin cleared his plate and got up for seconds. “We know wizardry was involved."
"And we know someone was pulling Adrian's strings.” Lucas shuddered, remembering the wizard's collapse. “I wonder if he is dead."
Gallegar shook his head and moving from his chair, took Danolas’ place beside Kira. “I wouldn't count on it. He made a mistake, but he still may be a useful tool."
"And if he had anything to do with closing the Gates, he will be needed to open them again. He will continue in his usefulness until then.” Koran sipped his amber drink, sighing at the mellow taste of the malt whiskey.
"So we know where our next fight is.” Kira laid her head lovingly against Gallegar's broad chest. “You have convinced me we are all a team. So together we can beat the wizard's master and open the Gates of Life.” She cuddled against Gallegar.
He put his arm around her, drawing her close. “We will start tomorrow. We can gather information about the Gates and about Adrian. This time we won't go in unarmed.” Gallegar looked around the room at his companions. “Agreed?"
"And so the story begins?” Kira mused questioningly as she looked up at the man who had rescued her from oblivion.
Gallegar bent and kissed her soft lips.
"No, A Ghra ... And so the story continues."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CJ England credits her passion for writing to her second grade sweetheart, Steven—a blond-haired cutie with dimples, who dumped her for a girl who could swing on the monkey bars. She wrote her first story about love and loss after that tragic episode.
In her life she has modeled, competed in rodeo as a barrel racer and trick rider, taught preschool, performed as an actress and singer, served cocktails at Disneyworld, specialized in production work, and got carried away by Spiderman when she worked with him at Universal Studios.
She calls herself a gypsy, due to her curiosity and “itchy feet.” She has spent time in fourteen countries, and has visited forty-two states in our own.
She is known on the internet as a bestselling author who can bring sensuality and romance together in ways that require you keep a fire extinguisher and a box of Kleenex handy. Described as having ‘innovative story lines,’ ‘a whiz at character development,’ and ‘quite simply a genius!’ ... CJ wants her books to spark the imaginations of her readers. So that they will begin to believe anything can happen if you ... Follow Your Dreams.
For your reading pleasure, we invite you to visit our web bookstore
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