by Kimbra Swain
The jaguar impressed me. He withstood the insanity of the last couple of days, and he would return. He and his abilities were a perfect fit for her. Lincoln told me about Tadeas what seemed like ages ago. I felt Lincoln too. His wards surrounded the place. His remains rested on the far side of the island within reach, but out of sight. He knew all too well her impulsiveness. I remember laughing at him trying to resist her charm, and getting angry when I would point out how his fondness for her grew. He never intended to love her. But like myself, or anyone else she let get close to her, he couldn’t help but to love her.
I saw those early signs in Tadeas, too. Before long, he would give into his feelings. I just hoped she would be ready for it. I had my doubts. She continued to blame herself for the things that evil did in the world. Throughout history, humans pointed fingers at each other for the terrible acts that occur in our world. They have always occurred. Humans changed and developed, but these hideous things still happened. The reason was that evil still lurked in the shadows. Evil was eternal. It built in silence, and exploded in violence. There were those who are consumed by it. There were those who try to make friends with it. Some even tried to wield it, but in the end, evil overpowered them. That’s why people like Abigail and Tadeas existed. They fought the evil.
It wasn’t long before the tall, blonde young man entered the room and sat in the recliner next to me. His face was solemn. Gabriel, like myself, spent eons watching the evil move through the world. There were times we affected the outcome of events, but those times came rarely. This was one of those times.
“Are you sure?” I asked him.
“Raguel, old friend, you know that this must be done,” he replied.
“I don’t know that it must be done. I cannot see like I once could,” I reminded him.
“You know that I can see, and thus, you know it must be done,” he said.
“I know that you love her. I know that feeling too well. I know that your judgement can be clouded by that love,” I explained.
“This is what I want for her,” he said.
“What about what she wants?” I asked.
He winced. He would no more take her freewill away than God would allow him to. “She will still be able to choose, as will he. Each step they take will bring them closer together. The world depends upon it.”
This, I knew, was true. Each person who had a hand in Abigail’s birth had their own agenda, even Hyperion. Her ultimate purpose, I believed, got Gabriel involved. She was a means to an end for most of those involved, except Gabriel. I imagine she might have been at first for him, but once he looked into her face, his fatherly instincts kicked in. The truth remained that he could only help her so much.
“She will awaken soon. I will speak to her. Please call him and get him to come back,” he requested.
“It won’t be a problem. He’s called multiple times already,” I said smiling. “He is anxious to get back to her to resolve their issues. I don’t think they need any help, Gabriel.”
“I can’t take that chance,” he said sadly.
“This won’t be the first trial they go through,” I responded.
“I thought you couldn’t see, my friend,” he smiled at me.
“Experience, not premonition,” I stated.
“It won’t be the first trial. I know. They are already bonded simply by their status in the world. They are both guardians. They complement each other. All I am doing is strengthening them for the tribulation ahead. It will be a light along the path for them,” he said in full confidence. He stood and walked to the door. “The storm is coming, George. We must be ready.”
I got up and walked into the sitting room. I could feel her stirring. She would be up soon. I picked up my duster, and contemplated the moves Gabriel intended to make. I did not fear, because I knew he was right. Nothing he was doing would hurt either of them. It would only make the bond stronger. Humans had all sorts of bonds. The bonds between friends, lovers, spouses, parents, children, siblings, family and even pets. These bonds held the world together. When these bonds broke, grief and sadness creeped in and took their places. Too many bonds in this world were breaking, but this bond would last forever.
After she woke up and showered, I thought she should eat, but she was determined to go for a walk. I didn’t know if Gabriel put that compulsion in her head or not. It did not matter. As soon as she left the house, I made the call to Master Duarte. As expected, he immediately agreed to return. I may or may not have implied that she was in danger. I played on his guardian senses.
My days as an angel were not spent guarding humans. It was not my duty, until Sarah came along. I guarded her by choice. I knew that I would give my life for her, and I did. In a way, I knew how Tadeas felt. I knew how Gabriel felt. I knew how I felt about Abigail. In the end, I didn’t save Sarah. I hoped things turned out better for Abigail.
I sent Tadeas down to the church to get her. Gabriel was almost done with their talk. When he returned with her, she had, as I suspected, walked too long. She hadn’t eaten. She lost time by sleeping too long. Tadeas surprised me with how calm he reacted. He worried about her, but he took steady care of her. I looked at her body, as he laid it on the couch. I could see the bond already forming around her. I saw the remnants of Gabriel’s glory on her face. He had touched her to start the bond. It had not spread to Tadeas yet, but it would. I retrieved a few things for when she would awaken, and we waited.
Once she awoke, she told us about the vision. Gabriel had not shared that part with me, but it helped me understand his urgency. She lifted her chin to show Tadeas where Gabriel touched her. He rubbed his finger over the mark. She shivered at his touch, and a purple spark jumped from her to him. The bond spread around him, and as it weaved its way around his body, it pulsed with divine light. They were bonded now. There was no turning back.
With her story of the impending doom, I saw the bond around him pulse. He agreed right then to partner up with her. I hoped the decision was of his own doing and not prompted by the bond. I had to believe he decided to join her before he returned here. He was overly eager to return to her. Perhaps her charm had already done the job on him, and the bond acted as a reinforcement of his decision. Either way, it was done.
It didn’t mean that they would become intimate or go beyond being partners. But, it did mean that they had Gabriel’s blessing in all their endeavors. They could pull on his strength to fight any fight. They were better together than apart. They would not survive apart. While it strengthened them, it was also a beacon to evil. It would be drawn to them. They were bonded by an archangel. They would be a lofty target for someone who wanted to deal a blow to the Almighty.
I wasn’t sure what the future held for them, but I knew that her time here was coming to a close. I knew she needed someone. Despite my concerns about the bond, I felt relief watching it swirl around them. I couldn’t provide them with that kind of protection anymore, but I knew how important it would be for them. I knew how it would make the evil in the world cringe. That, in itself, made this retired angel smile.
Acknowledgments
Above all, I have to thank my partner, my guardian and my soul mate, Jeff. Every wife dreams of a husband who believes in her, and supports her dreams as his own. You are my dream come true.
I have to thank my parents who have believed in me for 40 years no matter what endeavor I chose to undertake.
My wonderful friends Tabitha and Kristie, a new friend and an old friend. Your excitement for the story pushed me through to finish this book, and fully plan the entire series for Tadeas and Abigail. Thank you for loving my characters like I do.
I started this adventure inspired by a group of independent authors who all said in one way or the other that I could do this. Thank you, Shayne, Orlando and Rick. Also, thanks to a wonderful editor and a beautiful soul, Carol.
Author’s Note
Thank you, the reader, so much for taking the time to enter my world. I’ve had this story bo
iling in my head for over a year. It never imagined I would be able to present it to the world. I hope you enjoyed it and was entertained. I would love to hear your feedback. Please consider taking the time to review the book. Reviews are so important for newly published authors. It will also help me going forward as I plan and write the continuing story of Abigail and Tadeas.
About the Author
From early in life Kimbra Swain was indoctrinated in the ways of geekdom. Raised on Star Wars, Tolkien, Superheroes and Voltron, she found herself immersed in a world of imagination. She started writing in high school, and completed her English degree from the University of Alabama in 2003.
Her writing is influenced by a gamut of favorite authors including Jane Austen, J.R.R. Tolkien, L.M. Montgomery, Timothy Zahn, Kathy Reichs, Kevin Hearne and Jim Butcher.
Born and raised in Alabama, Kimbra still lives there with her husband and 4 year-old daughter. When she isn't reading or writing, she plays PC games, makes jewelry and builds cars.
Kimbra is currently writing Book 2 of the Path to Redemption Series to be released later this year, as well as a historical short story for the series.
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Coming Soon
Tadeas and Abigail will return this fall in Intuition: Book 2 of the Path to Redemption Series. While spending down time in a safe house in California under the care of Lukas Castille, Tadeas and Abigail learn that the nefarious group known as the Geo-Enhancement Alliance continue to make moves to destroy the network established by the Agency. They travel to Atlanta to solve a murder mystery, get caught up in a shifter fight in Alabama, visit the East Coast Regent in New York City, and face a trial in Guatemala that will rip their bond apart. Abigail will be reminded of the love she had for Lukas Castille, and face the fears that keep her heart guarded as she learns more about the soul bond with Tadeas. The Path to Redemption continues this fall.