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Redeeming Angel

Page 21

by JL Weil


  “It didn’t work. I don’t understand.” My voice was hoarse, and my throat was dry from the dirt, dust, and wheat.

  “We’ll figure something out. Stay close to me,” he told me.

  This was one of those times when I was actually going to listen.

  Things went from hopeful to craptastic in a matter of moments. War had been imminent, but I had always visualized us on the winning side. Now Colin was dead and the monsters nightmares are made of were everywhere.

  Chase and the others did what came naturally to them, moving so fast I didn’t think there was a measure of time available, but the demons were faster. Flying over the ground, two rushed at Chase and me. Chase leapt, slamming into both demons. The three of them collided, rolling over the ground, and my breath faltered as I watched Chase take a direct hit that was like a cannonball. And another.

  My heart tripped.

  His pain was undeniable. I felt it.

  Feeling his agony finally snapped a thread inside me, and I conjured my best means of defense. The bolt slammed into one of the demons, spinning him around. Seconds later, he went up and blew to bits as I’d expected.

  Lower-demons I apparently had no problem with.

  My brain stopped processing things, and I went on demon-killing patrol. I was going to take out as many of these a-holes as I could. At least give us a fighting chance. My arms continued to glow brightly as I ripped through the demons, touching this one, touching that one, each going up into flames. The screams.

  The sound was going to be in my nightmares for years to come.

  It was during this rampage that I noticed something, and it gave me an idea—a stupid, risky idea Chase would have quickly shut down, which was why I didn’t tell him. As I touched one of the demons, setting him ablaze, he slithered once out of my reach, so I gripped his arm. And something happened. Something different. Then the sucker detonated. But an idea was born.

  I just needed to get close enough to Alastair.

  Using my fire as a shield, I weaved through the maze of demons toward the commander-in-chief. He wasn’t doing a whole lot, other than smirking and enjoying himself too much. I lost sight of Chase. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it would undoubtedly have repercussions later, assuming there was a later.

  Alastair’s smile officially creeped me out.

  He stepped forward. “I guess this is it. Just you and me, slayer.”

  “Looks that way.” As inconspicuously as I could manage, I inched my way step-by-step closer to the higher demon.

  “So tell me, how would you like to die? Bleeding out takes too long. Snapping your neck is too quick. How about strangulation? It’s one of my personal favorites.”

  Oh, how nice. He was going to give me options.

  “No offense, but all those choices suck. I have another idea.” I appeared at his side and craned my neck, looking up. “You’ll no longer have control over him, over me, or over another demon.” Without further ado, I exploded into action, grabbing his arm and sending a blast of pure heat straight from my soul to Alastair’s.

  His blood-red eyes bulged. Jerking, he tried to pull away, but the current of energy rolling off me to him made it impossible. And unfortunately, it was a two-way street. There was no going back. I couldn’t break the connection either. “What have you done?” he ranted.

  “If there’s a will, there’s a way. And my will is strong. Payback’s a bitch.” This was what Kira had meant when she said killing Alastair could be potentially harmful or worse. I felt the ripple of the fire flowing from my fingers to his veins.

  To rid him from both Earth and Hell, I had to fill his veins entirely with the flames of a slayer, but there was a problem. There was always a hiccup when dealing with a demon. The longer I held onto him, the more danger I put myself in. It wasn’t only my energy levels, but my life source.

  Alastair screamed as the flames spanned over his skin, the red of his eyes turning to coals. His entire body lit up like the Vegas strip, becoming the center of attention.

  I felt a rumble deep in my chest, and I knew it was Chase. He was about two seconds away from interceding and this would have all been for nothing.

  “Don’t, Chase,” I whispered. “Don’t.”

  Angel.

  I heard him say my name inside my head. It seemed to touch my heart, my soul, and my body. Our bond.

  Even if he tried to stop me, I don’t think he could, but I was more worried he would get caught in the crossfire. I didn’t want to hurt him, and if he touched me now, it would be lethal. My whole body was burning from the inside out, veins pumping with fire.

  Alastair’s body started to convulse, and I knew the end was near.

  But the longer I fueled the fire, the weaker I became. My body trembled, and little dots of blackness pranced behind my eyes. I forced my eyes to stay locked on Alastair, and it wasn’t until his pupils became large and black, snuffing the scarlet color, and his head fell forward that I knew I’d won.

  The sound of Alastair’s soul vaporizing was reminiscent of firecrackers on Fourth of July. Pop. Pop. Hiss.

  And in one grand finale, he exploded, the night bursting into a light so bright I went momentarily blind. Without any support, my knees buckled and I collapsed. On impact, the flames extinguished and my skin returned to normal. I fell backward, panting, trying to decide whether I was going to pass out or babble joyous nonsense. Lying against the brittle grass, staring up at the stars, I felt my first taste of victory.

  It felt fan-freaking-tastic.

  And exhausting.

  I felt as if I could sleep for a month. Thank you. Thank you. Thank God. It was over. And as far as I could tell, I was still in one piece.

  Face splattered with blood and black goo, Chase closed the distance between us and grinned down at me. He loomed over me, his features tortured with concern. Fear radiated from him. Gray eyes scanned every fiber of me, searching for injury. “You’re okay?”

  I nodded. “You’re free. Do you feel it?”

  “Yes, Angel Eyes, I feel it. You broke the bond connecting us to Hell.”

  I grinned. “But not between us.”

  He leaned forward and kissed my lips. “Never.”

  The skies opened up and torrential rain poured as if it was wiping clean the mess Hell left behind, washing away the ash that covered almost every inch of the field.

  Chapter 29

  {Chase}

  In the aftermath of Spring Valley’s “worst storm in history,” the community came together, rebuilding. The small town was crowded with people from surrounding areas, helping and comforting others. Complete strangers in the midst of chaos, removing debris, lending their services, and supporting their neighbors. Talk flew around town about the destruction and how, miraculously, the death toll was only one.

  There had been no warnings, nothing to alert the people to safety. The storm had hit swiftly and violently, blowing through the small town at alarming speeds. Lightning had lit the sky like this town had never seen, striking trees and burning a barn to the ground.

  Crops were destroyed, homes damaged, and people injured, and every local news station was reporting how lucky we all were that it hadn’t been worse, that the whole town hadn’t been swept off the map.

  I didn’t share their blessedness.

  The life that had been lost was my cousin’s boyfriend, and his death left wounds that would affect her for years.

  They were all clueless about what really went down during the storm. It hadn’t been Mother Nature that had torn through our small town. If they knew what was really behind the devastation, Spring Valley would be a ghost town.

  As we fled the field that night, I couldn’t seem to let go of Angel’s hand. The rain pelted down on us, cooling not only the night’s air but also washing the grime and demon blood from our bodies.

  I pulled her into my room and cornered her against the wall, needing a few minutes alone. I grasped her face between my hands, and she held onto my waist. All I
could do was stare at her, unsure if I should kiss her or hug her. “You did it.”

  “We did it,” she whispered in disbelief. “I can’t believe he’s really gone.”

  The truth of those words did something funny inside me. It was hard to comprehend. In a way, I wasn’t sure what to do next.

  “It’s unreal, isn’t it?” she asked.

  I rubbed the pad of my thumb along her chin, pressing kisses to her cheek, the tip of her nose, her forehead, and then finally her lips. It made me feel alive. I wrapped my arms around her, knowing that in another part of the house, Lexi was crying. She’d broken down.

  Hearing her soft cries gripped my heart, and tears gathered in Angel’s eyes. She buried her head in my shirt. “She’ll get through this. She’s strong.”

  Angel sniffed. “And we’ll be there to help her.”

  “Always.” I kissed the top of her head, running my fingers through her hair. We clung to each other, both knowing how damn lucky we were to have one another. Death was the hardest on the living.

  ~*~*~*~

  A week had gone by and we were settling into life without the constant threat of Alastair. I was officially parentless, but my life was full and rich. No complaints.

  Angel and I were just returning from a trip in town. Before we went inside, I stopped her. “Hang on, I have something for you, but first I need you to open your palm.”

  She gave me her what-do-you-have-up-your-sleeve look. Under normal circumstances she would argue, but after a moment or two, she rolled her eyes and opened her hand.

  “No flames.” I smirked.

  A small smile split her lips.

  I dropped a small key into the palm of her hand.

  She glanced down at the single silver key. “What’s this? The key to your heart?”

  My lips twitched. “Hardly. You’ve already managed to unlock that all on your own. This is something more tangible.”

  Her violet eyes went wide. “A car? Chase, did you buy me a car?”

  I laughed. “Think bigger.”

  She wet her lips, putting on her pondering face. “You know I hate surprises.”

  “How about I give you a hint? Close your eyes.”

  “Chase,” she warned. “Just tell me.”

  “What fun is that? Now close your eyes.”

  She huffed, but her lashes fluttered shut. I walked behind her, brushed the hair off her shoulder, and whispered in her ear, “Don’t peek.”

  I felt a shudder roll through her body and smiled. Gently, I placed my hands on either side of her arms to guide her. “Okay, put one foot in front of the other.”

  “If I run into something, so help me…”

  I chuckled. “Trust me. I’m not going to let you face-plant the grass,” I assured. “This will be worth it. I promise.”

  “It better be,” she warned, walking like a mummy across the yard. Her steps were slow and unsure. I let her set her own pace, drawing out the surprise. Plus it was kind of funny watching her fumble across the grass.

  When she was right where I wanted her, I told her to stop. “Now open your eyes.”

  Flashing in front of her so I could see her face, I watched her long lashes lift. She stared at me a moment before her gaze flicked over my shoulder at what used to be her house. Some crazy person had bought it.

  “Uh, I don’t get it. What’s the surprise?” She glanced down at the key dangling between her thumb and forefinger, and then back up at her house.

  I rocked back on my heels, waiting for the moment when she made the connection. I didn’t have to wait long.

  “Holy shit. Chase, you didn’t. You’re the lunatic who bought my house?”

  My grin was full-wattage. “It’s not mine. It’s ours.” I smiled down at Angel who still seemed dumbstruck.

  She blew out a breath. “You. Bought. A. Freaking. House.”

  My shoulder lifted in a slight shrug, and I shoved my hands into my pockets. “I figured we’d need a place to live after we got married.”

  Her cheeks flushed. “You did, did you?”

  “And I know your mom selling the house tore you in two.”

  She linked her hands on the back of my neck. “I love you.”

  I twined my fingers around her waist, content to just stand there holding her and feeling happiness stir inside her, blooming. “So does that mean you like the surprise?”

  She leaned down, placing the softest kiss on my lips, the kind I’d treasure forever. “When do we move in?”

  I wiggled my brows. “As soon as we say I do.”

  “When’s the next flight to Vegas?”

  I coughed. “Angel Eyes, we’re not getting married in Vegas.” There was no way I was ever going back there. Hell-to-the-no.

  Her brows drew together. “What do you have against eloping?”

  I brushed the tip of her nose with mine. “Nothing. Name the time and the place, just as long as it’s not Vegas.”

  She rested her cheek on mine. “I think I want to get married here.”

  My hands flattened on the small of her back, and I pulled her close. “You mean like here? In Spring Valley?”

  She nodded, tracing the line of my jaw. “Right where it all started. And I was thinking it might help take Lexi’s mind off…things.”

  “I think it’s perfect.” And just what we all needed, something happy to look forward to for once. I brushed my lips across hers.

  Giddy with joy, she laughed. “You’re perfect. I don’t know how, but you’re absolutely perfect.”

  I framed her face and again kissed the girl I loved. The girl I would marry. “I’m perfect for you.”

  We walked hand in hand, toward our house, toward our future together. Tonight was the beginning of our happily ever after.

  Epilogue

  {Angel}

  Ten years later…

  “Mom!” yelled a little voice. “Dad’s fighting again.” It was coming from outside, through the screen door.

  Smiling fondly, I stepped out on the porch and that smile slipped from my lips as I watched Chase deliver a killing blow. The demon went up in ash.

  “Cool,” said the little four-year-old at my side who was the spitting image of his father.

  I glanced down, ruffling Liam’s dark hair. “Chase,” I said in a disapproving tone.

  He sauntered over to me, a sinister smirk on his lips. The man had not aged a day—well, except for crinkles near his eyes, which only made him better looking. Beads of sweat from the summer sun dotted his temples.

  Leaning my elbows on the railing, I met Chase’s impish gaze. “Will you stop using Kira’s demons to impress your son?”

  A dark brow shot up. “What? You know he’s not the only one impressed.”

  I folded my arms. “Is that so?”

  “Come on, Angel Eyes. I can’t get rusty. These skills need to be maintained.”

  “Mmm-hmm. You don’t see me out there lighting things on fire, do you?”

  A little giggle sounded behind us, and Chase’s smile grew, his eyes twinkling. “Did you hear that? I think we have faeries in the garden.”

  It sounded again.

  A little girl with faerie blue eyes peeked her head out from a bush on the side of the porch. At only three, Olivia was a glittering toddler who had an eye for pretty things, much like her aunt Lexi. Sometimes I wondered if she was my daughter, so opposite of me except in coloring.

  “I think we might need to call the faerie exterminator,” Chase said.

  I laughed.

  Chase was an exceptional father and a loving husband. I never imagined my life could be so happy. Not to say it wasn’t without its problems.

  I mean, whom was I kidding? He was part-demon and I was a slayer, but neither stopped us from living—from giving our two children a happy but slightly unusual childhood. They were raised knowing what existed in the world, brought up to defend themselves and their family. Lines got a little blurry when Kira came to visit, but that was another story.


  Emma and Travis often brought over their little girl, Nora, who was just three months older than our daughter, Olivia—the sneaky faerie. Mischief lived on in the Winters’ bloodline and our children were proof. Nora was stubborn and strong like her mother, a born leader. She was also full of life and humor like her father. Nora was going to make a great demon hunter one day. Emma, like Chase and me, chose to raise our families with a different outlook on the world.

  Our families gave new meaning to the definition of blended.

  The sunlight sparkled off the twirling wind chime hanging on the porch next door. Mom and Devin absolutely adored being able to spoil their grandchildren. They’d been married for seven years now.

  Chase snuck around the side of the bush, and when he captured our little girl, she squealed with delight. It was music to my ears. His laughter mixed with hers.

  He would always be my soul, my heart, my life.

  Chase Winters was mine. His eyes took on tiny gold flecks of light when he was annoyed, upset, or ridiculously happy as he was now.

  I felt sorry for all those girls who didn’t have a Chase. I was never going to let mine go.

  The End

  In case you go through Chase and Angel withdrawals like me, check out my Wattpad, where I will randomly be posting bonus scenes from Chase and Angel’s life after Redeeming Angel. This collection of bonuses is called Eternally Angel. https://www.wattpad.com/user/jlweil

  Stalk Me Online:

  (I’m serious. I would love to hear from you.)

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  Acknowledgements

  First and foremost, I want to thank each and every reader who picked up this series. Without you I never would have been able to write The End on the final page of the final chapter. I never would have had the courage to continue writing. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love your guts out.

 

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