by Eden Robins
Time for her to act.
Quickly raising her head, she defiantly met Xander’s stare. Gathering the power she had conjured, she pushed it out and away from her, directly at the warlock. This was no casual blow. It was full of love and healing but it could also be deadly. Deadly for someone like him, someone filled with nothing more than hatred, fear and rage.
His eyes grew wide with surprise as he realized her intent. He had expected her to give in to his evil, his anger and his violence. He’d thought she would allow him to make her a victim.
He’d thought wrong.
Xander tried to raise a shield but it was too late. The element of surprise was on her side. He screamed in pain as he flew back and across the room from the force of her spell, crashing into the wall behind him before sliding to the ground. Rebecca advanced on him without hesitation. Gathering the energy around her once more, she formed it yet again into a ball of power and propelled it to where Xander lay. He jerked from the blow but she didn’t stop there. She filled him with love and healing over and over and over until she lost track of everything else around her.
Yet with each hit Rebecca felt nothing but renewed energy and power. Despite their blood vow, or maybe because of it, each blow to him was like loving warmth to her. She felt stronger as love, light and healing filled her. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed or how many blows she’d sent into Xander when the sound of Shaina’s weak voice finally stopped her.
“Enough, Rebecca. It’s over. You can rest now.”
As if waking from a dream Rebecca started, her body jumping in reaction to the gargoyle’s voice. She swung around, finding Shaina half sitting up on the ground but obviously still too frail to do much else.
She turned back to where Xander lay, unmoving on the ground.
She had killed him.
Rebecca knew he was dead with everything she was, sensed it with all the power she possessed. And she also knew that somehow she had found a way to beat not only the blood vow connection but also Xander. She had beat him and saved herself through love, not hate.
Jason’s mother was right.
It was over.
Weakness like she had never felt before suddenly filled Rebecca. Her hands fell to her sides, useless. She struggled to maintain control. She needed to make sure Jason and Christian were okay. She needed to heal Shaina.
Her body disagreed. It was all too much. Despite the loving power she had received over and over again, the energy to conjure and propel those spells had taken its toll. Dizziness assailed her and left her swaying. As her knees gave way beneath her, Rebecca collapsed to the ground, giving in to the darkness that immediately rushed in.
Chapter Nineteen
“Don’t worry, gargoyle. Your mate is strong, like mine. Be thankful for that.”
“I know, Christian. I just wish she’d wake up. It’s been two days and she’s barely moved.”
“Your mother, now that she’s healed, has done much to help along that path, as have Rebecca’s grandparents. The rest Rebecca must do.”
Jason knew what his friend said was true but remembering the way Xander had beaten his woman while he lay helpless on the ground still left him shaking with rage. His job had been to protect her and keep her from harm. He was supposed to have saved her and his mother. And he was the one who was supposed to have wreaked retribution on the one who killed his father.
That had been taken away from him. That victory to make things right, to save the ones he loved, hadn’t happened. He looked down at Rebecca and wondered how one who looked so delicate and was so gentle could hold such power. He was thankful she had the strength that she did. He knew it was the only thing that had saved them all.
At first, when they all were freed from Xander’s spell, he’d felt angry. Not only toward Xander for harming the ones he loved but also toward Rebecca for taking away his vengeance. For taking away his chance to right a wrong committed against him and his family. As she’d lain still on the ground of that underground room he’d felt resentment toward Rebecca.
His mother sensed it immediately as he knelt down between her and Rebecca, holding both of their hands. Shaina stared up into his face and frowned.
“Don’t go there, my son. You’ll be sorry if you do.”
Jason thought about denying her words but that had never been the way between his mother and him. They shared only truths with each other.
“It was my duty. It was my retribution. I should have been the one to save you and Rebecca. I should have been the one to wreak vengeance for my father’s death. If I were truly strong, I would have done so,” Jason declared angrily.
His mother shook her head and reached out to gently lay her hand over his.
“No, Jason. That’s where you’re wrong. Right now your strength comes not from what you could or couldn’t do in the past but how you move forward from this moment on. Your future depends on it.”
“What do you mean?”
Shaina shrugged.
“Simply this. You have found a wonderfully loving, kind and gentle woman in Rebecca. A woman who also happens to be a very powerful witch. If you want to keep her, because I already know she wants to keep you, then you must let go of this notion of retribution. You must have the strength to understand that the events that happened here today happened because that was how they were meant to happen. You must accept that and make your choice.”
“My choice?”
“Yes. You must choose what’s more important to you, my son. The love you and Rebecca share, the joyous illumination that it has brought to both your lives, or your need for vengeance. It all comes down to that. You cannot have both. Do you remember what I told you after your maturity ceremony, when we spoke about your future mate?”
Jason nodded. He remembered the conversation and his mother’s optimism despite his doubts of ever finding a mate.
“I remember it well, Mother.”
“Good. Keep that in mind right now. If you recall, I told you that you would have to be the one to take down the veil, to see beyond it so you could find your mate. I told you that you cannot let the veil of your heritage get in the way. That veil is your Jutaka clan affiliation. That part of you relentlessly seeks retribution and punishment. You must get beyond that for your mate, Jason, or it will never work out.”
“I understand what you’re saying but—”
“No,” his mother interrupted, tears forming in her eyes. “No buts. Listen to my words, Jason. If you have love, the kind of love you and Rebecca share, as did your father and I, it’s special. You should hold it tight to you, treasure it and never let it go.”
Two days later, gazing into the face of the woman he loved, Jason knew what his choice was. He had thought much about what his mother and he had talked about while he waited for Rebecca to awaken. He now knew which path he wanted to follow for the rest of his life.
He just wished Rebecca would wake up, so he could start on that path.
Rebecca felt the gentle fingers stroke through her hair and heard the soft words whispering against her ear. She had heard that voice, as well as others before now, and had felt their caring again and again but she hadn’t been able to respond. It was the energy from that caring that made her feel better and stronger, but she hadn’t been able to respond. She hadn’t been ready so she had retreated to that comfortable dark place that felt safe.
This time was different. The words and touch drew her inexplicably closer. She reached out for them now, sensing that she was ready.
Her eyes felt heavy as she struggled to open them but she finally managed it. Her vision took a moment to clear but once it did the face that came into view brought a smile to her face and tears to her eyes.
“You’re okay?” she asked, her voice so weak it sounded like a whisper.
“Yes, M’tali. I’m okay. The question is, are you okay?”
Her smile widened. Jason had used his endearment for her. She didn’t know what it meant but the fact that he had use
d it told her everything would be okay.
“I am now,” she said, sitting up to hug him.
Dizziness overwhelmed her immediately but Rebecca ignored it as she held on to Jason for dear life. He wrapped his arms so tightly around her she struggled to take a deep breath. It didn’t matter though. She needed his touch right now more than she needed to breathe.
“I was worried about you, Rebecca,” he whispered softly in her ear. “I thought your battle with Xander had taken too much out of you.”
Jason loosened his hold slightly and rubbed one hand up and down her back.
“I should have known better. You’re a strong woman. I know that. And I need to thank you for that.”
Pulling away, Jason slid his hands to Rebecca’s shoulders and looked her squarely in the eye.
Rebecca shook her head. “No you don’t need to thank me, Jason. I don’t—”
Jason placed a finger lightly on her lips. “Shh. Listen to me.”
Rebecca grew still, staring into the silver-colored eyes of this man she loved so much. She sensed he was uncomfortable with the words he was about to speak. This surprised her because he had never seemed this way before.
“I thank you, Rebecca Vanderhoss, for saving my life. Mine, Christian’s and my mother’s lives, as well as the many people who would have suffered if Xander’s plan had succeeded. Your strength, bravery and incredible powers saved all of us.”
Rebecca felt tears form in her eyes, yet she met Jason’s stare head-on. This strong man, so courageous and so fierce, was thanking her, was grateful to her and appreciated her for all that she was, including being a witch.
She had finally come to terms with who she was, proudly acknowledging to herself her power as both a witch and a woman. She had come into her own. The fact that Jason wanted to be part of that, part of her life, made her heart soar. It didn’t matter that he was gargoyle and she was witch. They would work it out, somehow. What mattered most was the connection they shared. It was strong and true, and it was one she wanted to share with him for the rest of their lives.
“Thank you, Jason,” she said with a smile. “For choosing us instead of revenge. I know how much it meant to you to avenge your father’s death, as well as your mother’s kidnapping. The fact that you would make our love more important than that means everything to me.”
“You mean everything to me, Rebecca. You are my light and laughter. And I gladly choose that over the darkness and death that has been so much of my life up until now.”
Jason pulled Rebecca close, so close she could almost lose herself in the silver pools of his eyes. He stared deeply into her eyes and spoke in little more than a whisper, “M’Tali. Ti sa movra.”
Rebecca didn’t know what he was saying but the burning light in his eyes told her how serious he was about it.
“I-I don’t know what you just said but whatever it is, I feel it too.”
Jason smiled. “Among my people that statement means I love you. The literal translation is, ‘My heart. You are mine’, and they are the traditional mating words of soul mates.”
“I love you too, Jason. I want to be yours and I want you to be mine. We are each other’s heart.”
Jason’s eyes heated up to a burning, shining silver and his intense gaze told her just how much he wanted her. As he bent his head closer, gently pressing his lips to hers, Rebecca’s body thrilled to his touch, sending tingles of awareness from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Moving his mouth softly back and forth over hers, he teased her with his softness.
Her body became a firestorm of need and aching desire.
She wanted him.
She wanted him now.
Unable to restrain herself, she nipped playfully at his bottom lip. He sucked in his breath in surprise so she soothed the spot she had bitten with her tongue, flicking it over the spot over and over again. Jason stiffened. Growling low in his throat, he slanted his mouth against hers, demanding instead of sipping, letting her know playtime was over and showing her exactly how much he wanted her.
And as Rebecca lay back on the bed, Jason above her, kissing and touching her in ways as old as time, their love created a magic of its very own, leaving them both breathless with pleasure and very, very satisfied. It was a strong magic. It was love. The strongest there was, and she knew it was one they would share together for the rest of their lives.
Epilogue
“I do.”
Tears of joy ran down Rebecca’s cheeks as she heard Jason repeat the words she had just spoken.
“Then, by the power given to me by the state of Arizona, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Jason gently lifted the veil from her face. His eyes were bright and intense with feeling. Her stomach fluttered as she admired the handsome man who was now her husband.
No, not just a man. A gargoyle.
A year ago that may have worried her. A year ago she wouldn’t be too sure of her powers as a witch. But now, now everything was different. Instead of a gargoyle and a witch, Rebecca only saw a man and a woman in love. Two people meant to be together. Jason gently grasped her waist and pulled her to him. Lowering his head to hers, he softly kissed her.
Her body zinged to life, just as it always did when he touched her, and she couldn’t hold back the sensual smile that spread across her mouth as Jason pulled slightly back to stare deeply into her eyes. Her legs almost turned to Jell-O when she saw that he wore that sexy grin she had come to love.
They were both looking forward to their wedding night.
“M’tali. Ti sa movra,” Jason whispered in his gargoyle tongue.
“I willingly give you my heart, Jason, to cherish and care for, just as I will cherish and care for yours,” she responded.
Rebecca hadn’t told Jason she was going to speak the second part of the gargoyle mating ceremony words. Shaina had taught her so she could surprise him on their wedding day.
His silver eyes became so bright with emotion that Rebecca almost had to look away.
“Thank you, Rebecca. I never thought I’d hear those words from another. I’m so glad I found you, my beautiful witch.”
Jason kissed her again, lingering a little longer at her lips, until someone close by cleared their throat meaningfully.
Jason had released her only long enough to take her hand and lead them down the aisle, each of them smiling at their guests as they made their way out.
Stepping outside, Rebecca caught the moon reflecting off the ring she now wore on her left hand.
Her wedding ring.
Yet it was so much more than that.
A ring of teardrop-shaped diamonds encircled a large, murky, yellow-colored stone in the center, forming the shape of a daisy. Rebecca loved gardens and flowers and felt in her heart this was the perfect ring for her.
The murky yellow center of her daisy wedding ring was the Stone of Chandra.
Rebecca remembered how she had wanted nothing to do with the Stone initially. After defeating Xander in an exhausting battle, all she had wanted was to move forward in her life and leave the warlock and his evil behind her. For a time she hadn’t wanted anything to do with magic at all, instead focusing on reuniting with her grandparents and getting to know Jason and his mother better.
That had been enough—for a while.
That was, until the day she had gotten a visit from Jason’s friend Malcolm.
He had been recruited by his queen to visit Rebecca. And as a member of the Fae, he was duty-bound to obey.
“The queen has told me that you must retrieve the Stone, Rebecca.”
Rebecca had shaken her head.
“How many times do I have to say this? I am not the one destined to have the Stone of Chandra. And even if I were, right now I just want to get my life back to normal. No more attacks, no more pain, no more drama and no more violence.”
“I understand why you feel the way you do,” Malcolm had said with a nod. “But there is a natural order to th
ings that must be followed. And don’t mistake this for a request, Rebecca. My queen insists. She says you are the destined one, and as such you must retrieve the Stone.”
“The queen is right, Rebecca,” Shaina had said, walking into the study to join their conversation. Jason’s mother had stopped by for a visit at the same time as Malcolm. Only later did Rebecca wonder how much of a coincidence that had actually been. “It is your destiny, whether you want it or not. Combine that destiny with your power and you must realize there is a certain obligation. A certain responsibility you must take. That’s the way it has to be if you are to live in balance. And please know, Rebecca, that I would be honored to help you with this.”
Rebecca had wanted to argue. She had wanted to deny it. To rage against destiny. All she wanted was to enjoy her family and newfound love. Yet she also couldn’t deny another part of her that wanted to take the challenge, wanted to possess the Stone of Chandra and use it for good.
Just like creating beautiful gardens, or helping people on her inspirational talk show Are My Lights On?, the Stone of Chandra could serve as a tool to help and heal those who needed her magic.
“I understand,” she’d said, glancing over to where Jason stood, across the room. His positioning in the room had been no accident. Rebecca had known he wanted her to decide for herself if she would accept this challenge.
Taking a deep breath, she’d finally answered Malcolm, yet she kept her stare focused on Jason. “I will accept Shaina’s offer of help and retrieve the stone. I will accept my destiny.”
And so she had.
That had been over six months ago. Getting the stone from the Fae dimension had been the easiest part of the journey. How she handled the Stone and all that occurred since then had been a lot more difficult. The witches’ council had convened, insisting she attend. She had learned from them exactly what kind of responsibility possessing the Stone of Chandra entailed.
Almost like the pauper who suddenly finds out she’s a princess, Rebecca’s life had irrevocably changed. She had chosen to end her talk show. It had been a difficult decision, but Rebecca knew that she needed the time to visit the Wiccan communities all over the world. It was now her duty to become extensively knowledgeable about not only her craft but also the state of all the covens, as well as the state of the paranormal community in general.