Alex stood beside Kate and watched as her creation consumed Ergo. “That’s impressive,” he said, sliding his fingers against her palm. She responded and wove her fingers between his. “Remind me to never get you mad,” he said with a smile.
Kate turned, surveying the damage around them. Silvestri feasted on their kills. The outbuildings were in flaming ruins, and unicorns stalked through the battlefield spearing the enemy with their horns. “Let’s find the others,” she said.
They raced across the field and went into the great room. They stepped around Kahan’s body and avoided the fire that spread from the sofa and traveled the lengths of the Persian rugs as the flames licked up every scrap of fabric in its path. Soon the curtains would submit and feed the beast whose hunger was never satisfied.
Stepping into the hallway, the bodies of Kahan’s soldiers and cerberi littered the marble floor. Smoke enveloped them, and anything flammable was quickly consumed. Tiny explosions rumbled throughout the fortress’s hallways. “They’re outside,” Alex yelled over the crackling flames.
18. Happily Ever After
The air was fresher outside, but smoke and ash billowed from the buildings. Hayden hadn’t felt this peaceful or so loved in what seemed like forever. She lay on the cool ground, relishing the sweet scent of the flowers around her. The grass tickled her legs and reminded her of her past life, the life filled with adventure and friends.
Nick stroked her flesh, tending to her wounds and scars. He could remove the evidence of her suffering from her skin, but he wondered how long it would take for the unseen scars to heal. Guilt and anger consumed him that he hadn’t pursued her sooner. He never should have given up hope when there was no proof of her death. That mistake was his greatest failing in his long life, and his failure resulted in her misery.
“Stop,” she said, placing her hand against Nick’s cheek. Hayden read his face as if words spilled from his eyes. The misery and blame he laid upon himself was too much for her to bear. She didn’t want sorrow over the past to haunt their future. “This was not your fault.”
“I stopped looking.” Nick hung his head, avoiding eye contact. “I believed the lie.”
“Of course you did,” Hayden said, sitting up and leaning closer to him. “The ruse was too well planned. There was no reason to believe that I still lived. We had no idea that Kahan could use a chemical weapon against us.”
“Your amulet lay on the floor, covered in blood,” he paused, and pulled her amulet from his pocket. “You had no glow,” Nick’s words weighed on him, heavy with shame.
She stared at the amulet nestled in Nick’s palm. The sight of it brought back emotions and memories that nearly overwhelmed her. He’d given her the necklace the night of Sarah’s death, the night he rescued her. He’d supported her as she mourned the loss of Sean and her father, helping her put the pieces of her life together again. The only positive from that horrific night was that her father had been spared. When Sarah sacrificed herself, the Reapers left, sparing the lives of her people and allowing the village to rebuild. After that, Hayden traveled the world with Nick, righting the wrongs that plagued humanity and slowly falling in love with him. Now, in the safety of his arms, she gazed into his eyes and placed her hand on his, covering the amulet.
Hayden pressed her lips to Nick’s, relishing the salty taste of sweat on his lips. His clothes were infused with smoke and ash. Sweat dampened his brow, and all she could do was cradle his face in her hands. “Do not burden me with misplaced guilt,” she said. “I cannot bear to see you punish yourself for the past. It is over, and I will forget about it. I refuse to give Kahan power over me. He will not control my thoughts and emotions.” She paused and studied Nick’s beautiful blue eyes. “I choose to forget the past and move on. I want to relish the present with you and look to our future.”
Hayden fingered the amulet’s chain. It had been too long since she’d worn that beautiful cross. She’d worn it faithfully, and now she ached for the protective weight of the chain around her neck. “Would you?”
Nick nodded and took a part of the chain in each hand. “My pleasure.” He draped the necklace around her and closed the clasp. For a moment the cross dangled, and then he let it fall against her chest.
She stroked the cross and pressed her lips to his. Their kiss intensified, and Hayden longed for time alone with Nick. She wanted to love him again; she wanted to be loved by him. Touched in the way that he alone touched her.
Hayden broke the kiss and murmured, “We have company.” She cleared her throat and glanced up.
Nick looked over his shoulder at his friends. “Come join us,” he called out as Alex and Kate headed their way
Kate greeted Hayden with a smile and sat on the grass beside her. She leaned back on her hands and quickly assessed Hayden’s body. Nick had done an excellent job restoring Hayden’s flesh, but her hair still bore the tangles of neglect and abuse. “It’s nice to meet you,” Kate said with a genuine smile.
“You, too,” Hayden replied. She hoped that one day she’d have a special relationship with Kate. She would be the closest thing to a sister as she’d get, and she already loved her. Anyone who puts themselves at risk for you should be loved. Hayden placed her hand on top of Kate’s. “Thank you for coming to get me.”
“Of course,” Kate replied. “I look forward to spending more time with you, but I’m sure Nick will make a nuisance of himself and keep you occupied,” she teased. She was truly happy for him. Originally she’d been frustrated when he pulled away from her. She’d felt abandoned, but Alex completed her, and looking at Nick with Hayden, she realized that Hayden completed him. Hayden softened Nick, brought him the peace that sometimes eluded Avengers.
Nick chuckled. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this happy. Everything seemed right in his life again. “She’s the air I breathe. She’s not getting out of my sight ever again.” He placed a kiss on Hayden’s cheek.
In the distance, Michael, Gabriella, and Justin ran from the burning fortress followed by a handful of Asteri. Hayden was happy to see that they’d rescued the other prisoners. She was bound to them in an incomprehensible way and thankful for the peace that would soon buoy them back to normalcy.
Zoe, Evan, and Netra joined their small group. Hayden stood, noting how good it felt to stretch her muscles without the weight of the chains. “I want to thank you all for coming to my rescue,” Hayden said. “You put yourselves in danger to save me. I can never repay that.” Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Her emotions nearly overwhelmed her. Watching Kahan’s fortress burn and his servants die gave her a peace that she could never describe. A peace that all would be right again, that good would always triumph over evil.
“We are honored to help,” Alex said. He wrapped her in a gentle hug and then released her. “I’m sorry that we didn’t come sooner. You suffered for too long.”
“Yes,” Hayden said. “But the suffering is in the past.”
“Now what are you going to do?” Netra asked. She knew that she was going home to Paul and delve into her magic with a renewed fervor. She would uncover the power of the ancient scrolls and hold her head high again.
“I’m taking her home,” Nick said. “We have a lot of catching up to do. I will see to her every need and do my best to not drive her crazy.”
“Which home?” Alex asked. He had plans for the cabin.
“I long to see the home of my youth,” Hayden said. “To Ireland we shall go. I want to stay at the cottage along the lake, breathe in the fresh air, and watch the sun reflect off the water.”
“Sounds wonderful,” Nick wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him.
Justin and Gabriella joined them while Michael stayed back with the Asteri prisoners that they‘d rescued. He felt a kinship with them, and they huddled together rejoicing in their new freedom.
“And what of you, Justin?” Nick asked. He’d watched Justin’s relationship with Gabriella develop. He didn’t think Justin would easily le
t her go.
Justin took Gabriella’s hand. “I will return with Gabriella to her home. We have some things to work out.”
Gabriella chuckled. “Yes, it appears that fate brought us together. We have much to learn about each other, but that is part of the fun of a new relationship.” She smiled up at Justin, happy to know that they would nurture the initial flutterings of love they felt for each other. But a part of her heart hurt as she thought of the loss of Li. She’d loved him as a friend, and now she had to deal with not only his loss, but the burden of John and Clara’s deaths. How could Li have ever thought she’d be okay with sacrificing her beloved friends to save her own life?
“Well said, Gabriella,” Zoe replied. “I like you with Justin. You’re perfect for each other. Evan and I will prepare for our next assignment.” She scanned her friends. They were all amazing and had seen their share of trouble. She didn’t mind trouble that much, especially when she carried the burden with her friends.
Alex couldn’t keep his eyes off of Kate. She was amazing in every sense of the word. In the small amount of time that they’d known each other, he’d fallen for her a little more each day. She wasn’t Sarah, and he realized that. He’d fallen for Kate, the wonderful Asteri who bravely took on challenges and didn’t let anything hold her back. She wielded her powers with accuracy and caution. There was so much more about Asteri life that he needed to show her. “I’m going to take Kate to Paridiso, introduce her to the Elders.”
The Elders… Kate had heard them mentioned, but she never imagined meeting them. “Do you think they actually want to meet me?” Kate asked with surprise. She’d never met royalty or people of great power before. Secluded behind all their layers of security, it was virtually impossible to meet them. Kate didn’t run in the right circles.
Alex stamped down a chuckle and said, “They can’t wait to meet you. They’ve heard the rumors about you. They want to see you for themselves.”
Rumors? “What do you mean?” Kate asked.
“Our adventures have been whispered about by those like Gabriella, informants. They gather information and pass it along to the Asteri chain of command. They know how you developed your skills so quickly, how easily you control fire, and your many other skills,” Alex said. “So yes, they want to meet you. We’ll stop by the cabin first, freshen up and make ourselves presentable.” Alex had a few more things on the agenda for the cabin, but he didn’t want to share those plans with everyone present.
“That sounds wonderful,” Kate said. She looked forward to their time at the cabin even more than meeting the Elders. She just wanted to enjoy Alex without the drama that had plagued them.
The large group traveled together for a while, laughing and joking as they went. When they arrived back at the portal by the lake, everyone decided to go their separate ways.
Alex and Kate exchanged hugs with everyone as promises of enjoying more adventures together were made. Then they stepped back into their own world, the world they protected and cherished. It didn’t take long for Alex and Kate to make it back to the cabin.
As they entered the cabin, a nervous energy zipped through Kate. The drama was over, and now they could relax and enjoy learning about each other. That realization both terrified and excited Kate.
Alex gently squeezed her hand, sensing her nerves. “I’ll take my stuff upstairs.” Alex patted his backpack. “You want to put your stuff away?”
Kate nodded. “Yeah.” She walked into her bedroom and tossed her backpack on the bed. She took out the few clothing items she had and tossed them into the hamper. Then she removed the weapons and set them on her dresser. She figured they’d find a good place for them later. Right now, she just wanted to be with Alex.
Kate walked out of her bedroom and met Alex in the family room. He was overcome with joy as she walked towards him. Everything had worked out. Nick was reunited with his lost love, even Justin had found love, and now he could hold Kate in his arms without any distractions.
Alex wrapped her in his embrace and enjoyed the sensation of her body pressed against his. He threaded his hands into her hair and looked into her eyes. Love and desire looked back at him. He pressed his lips to hers and delighted in knowing that this was just the beginning of countless caresses and kisses.
Kate pulled away and took in the love that shone from his eyes. She knew that only death would separate them. He was her partner in every sense of the word. She realized that her heart was forever bound to his for her love for him consumed her.
~ ~ ~
As they made it to the apex of the hill, Paridiso spread out before them in a lush valley. The butterflies in Kate’s stomach fluttered madly. She couldn’t help but smile as she gazed at the sparkling city. The beauty was unlike anything she’d ever imagined. A massive, golden wall surrounded the large city. Large gates in the wall allowed entrance from numerous spots. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered in awe.
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” Alex replied. As they walked, Alex filled her in on the occupants of Paridiso. The range of angels and supernatural beings that comprised the population of this majestic city went on and on.
Excitement filled Kate as they neared the gate. Massive pearls supported the golden gates. The perfectly smooth spheres added a soft glow as they reflected light amidst the shining brilliance of the gold. She caressed the jewels embedded in the golden wall. What a beautiful statement the jewels made. Even from afar she’d noted the sparkling effect they brought to the enormous city walls.
“I’ve never seen so many jewels before,” Kate said, tracing a vibrant ruby.
“I knew you’d like it. Come along, there’s more to see.”
They passed the gate and Kate finally looked down. “What is this?” She knelt and ran her hand over the smooth surface. There were no stones or debris in the mixture, like asphalt or concrete. She didn’t even spy a joint where sections met. It looked as if it was poured and laid in one long piece that snaked throughout the city.
“Gold,” Alex said. “Nice, huh?” He chuckled. “Some people think Paridiso is a little over the top, but I think it’s beautiful. This is our headquarters, so it reflects the majesty of our maker.”
As they traveled through the city, Kate did her best not to stare at the occupants. They had a unique beauty and look that captivated her. Some of them stared at her, whispering to each other being their hands.
Alex leaned close and whispered in her ear, “They’ve heard of you.”
Kate smiled and felt awkward. What had these beings heard? What did they think of her? To fight off her nerves, she squeezed Alex’s hand and smiled at the others.
Alex explained the importance of certain buildings and significant events that occurred at different sites. Kate soaked in every detail. The history was fascinating, but she couldn’t get over the vibrant colors surrounding her. She felt as if she were walking through a gingerbread city, except gold and precious jewels sparkled in place of frosting and colorful candies.
“There it is,” Alex said as they stopped in front of a massive building.
“Wow,” Kate said, completely awestruck. This place made the Taj Mahal look ordinary. An ornate castle-like structure glistened before them. The architecture reminded her of the Notre Dame Cathedral. The walls were made from large jewels and sparkled as light reflected from them. The building itself was colorful, similar to an image viewed through a kaleidoscope.
Walking up the golden stairs, Kate’s nerves went into overdrive. She had no idea what the protocols were when meeting the Elders. She didn’t know how to behave or what to say. She swiped her lips with her tongue and said, “What do I need to do?”
“Be yourself,” Alex replied. “They respect honesty. The Elders will know if you’re lying. They earned their positions, so they were just like you and me at one time.”
Kate tucked her hair behind her ear and took a deep breath. She stared at the elaborate door ahead of her.
Alex gripped the handle and ask
ed, “Are you ready?”
Kate nodded. She didn’t know what the future held, but she had faith that it would be wonderful.
Thanks for reading Synchronicity.
I hope you enjoyed the Scintillate Series as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you liked Synchronicity, please consider posting a review online. Your support makes a huge difference.
You can find Karen’s other books at: http://www.amazon.com/Karen-Tjebben/e/B00F1VIJKQ
About the Author
Karen Tjebben lives in central North Carolina with her encouraging and supportive husband, twin daughters, and two hamsters. When her girls left for kindergarten, Karen discovered that she needed to fill her days with something, and that was the beginning of her new career in writing. She loves to create worlds filled with unique creatures that she hopes will delight and raise goose bumps on her readers. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and seeing the world through her daughters’ eyes.
You can find Karen at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karentjebbenauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karentjebben/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7270992.Karen_Tjebben
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KTjebbenAuthor
Instagram: https://twitter.com/KTjebbenAuthor
Synchronicity (Scintillate Series Book 3) Page 30