by Mindy Weeks
“It’s a shame things didn’t work out differently between us,” he whispered, “but its only business…Don’t take it personally.” He unfastened the top three buttons of her shirt, exposing a deep valley of cleavage. His index finger trailed slowly down the side of her neck to the base of her throat. “You are a stunning creature, I’ll give you that much. It’d be a shame if you died before I got a chance to find out what I was missing.” He hooked his finger under her pastel pink bra strap and pulled it off her shoulder, exposing the top creamy swell of her breast.
*** Olivia winced. Throbbing pain tore through the back of her head. She slowly opened her eyes to see a blurry figure looming over her.
“Liam?” she groaned, confused and disorientated by the pain. She was dizzy and nauseous. Her effort to focus on the person above her wasn’t heartbeat drummed in her ears, Someone grabbed her wrists and pinned them down against the rough gravel. She winced as sharp rocks cut into the back of her hands.
“Not quite, sweetheart. But I do intend to hear my name on your lips soon enough,” Max growled as his mouth came crashing down on hers.
Adrenaline surged through her veins at the sound of his voice. Her head instantly cleared as terror seized her heart. She tried to wrench her wrists free from his biting grasp, but his hold only grew stronger. A scream tore from her lips, but it was swallowed up by Max’s mouth. He drank in her cries for help, and the more she fought to get away from him, the more excited he seemed to become.
“Mmm, you are a wildcat,” her purred against her ear. “I wonder…does Liam know how feisty you are? Or how wonderful you taste?” he taunted, slowly dragging his tongue up the side of her cheek. “Delicious, just like I knew you would be.” He adjusted his hold on her wrists and, ground them deeper into the rocks. She cried out in pain as he held her down with one hand and slid his hand inside her shirt with the other.
“Shh…we don’t have very much time now that you’re awake. He’ll be here soon. You know, you don’t have to make this so hard on yourself, Olivia. You might even enjoy it. I know Ashley did…”
Anger surged up inside her, temporarily dwarfing her fear. “You sick bastard!” she screamed, spitting into Max’s helping matters. Her intensifying the pain. face. He paused a moment, as if she’d surprised him, and then his eyes suddenly flashed black as he open-hand struck her across the face. He hit her hard—stars filled her vision and her head began to swim. She struggled to hang on to consciousness, afraid if she went out again, Liam might not find her in time.
“You bitch!” he snarled, grabbing her face and roughly jerking her toward him. He hovered inches above her. The stale sulfurous stench of his breath made her gag.
The echo of Olivia’s name filled the air, and hope soared through her as Max look up, confirming that he too had heard the distant sound of Liam’s voice. “Looks like your boyfriend is here,” he said dryly.
“You’ll die for this!” she hissed. She could feel his presence strength.
“You first,” Max sneered as he leapt up with blurring speed.
Olivia yelped in pain as he reached down and grabbed her arm, yanking her off the ground. She dug her heels into the gravel as he dragged her toward the cliff. Panic began to climb up her throat as he pulled her closer and closer to the edge. Oh God, what if Liam couldn’t reach her in time?
Max gave her a final yank, propelling her toward the ledge. She let out a cry as she looked over the edge of the cliff to the jagged rocks that lay below. As Max held her suspended along the ledge, she fought to pull herself away from the cliff and out of Max’s grasp. She clawed helplessly at his hand, trying to break his steel trap of a grip.
“Olivia!” Liam yelled, breaking into the clearing.
Relief washed over her at the sight of him and she almost cried out for joy. Max spun toward Liam, dragging her around to hover precariously near the cliff’s edge. now, and it gave her renewed courage and
Liam’s eyes flashed black as he came to an abrupt halt. Pure rage radiated from him as he stepped forward with the fluid grace of a deadly predator. His eyes locked on Max, barely sparing her a glance as he advanced on them.
“Let her go!” Liam growled. The command held such authority it sent a shiver through her, head to toe. She’d never seen him look so fierce, with those coal black eyes. Had she not known him—not loved him with all her heart—the sight of him would have terrified her. He looked vicious and absolutely deadly.
She glanced over at Max, and couldn’t believe he wasn’t cowering in fear. Instead, a malicious smile spread across his face and he pushed his arm out further, shoving her one step closer to the edge. “Looks like you joined the dark side,” Max taunted. “With those eyes of yours, you’re going to be like one of us in no time.”
“Never…” Liam said, taking another step closer toward Max.
“How does it feel, to be like us? I bet you miss flying. I think it’s ironic how your weakness will ultimately result in her death.”
“Don’t do it, Max!”
“Will you die trying to save her?” he taunted.
Olivia started to cry. Tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision. She shook her head. “Don’t do it,” she pleaded, locking eyes with Liam. “Don’t come after me.”
At that moment, she knew she was going to die. She’d never survive the fall, and Max made his intentions perfectly clear. It was the final blow. He knew without his wings, Liam couldn’t fly anymore and he would be helpless to save her. If Liam tried, he’d only die too. He’d already given up enough because of her, and she couldn’t stand the thought of him giving up his life as well.
“Say good-bye, Olivia,” Max said, shoving her off the ledge.
Olivia screamed as Max released her, and she began a free fall, plummeting toward the ground and the jagged rocks waiting for her below.
“NOOO!”
She heard the boom for Liam’s voice echo through the canyon. Olivia closed her eyes tightly. She didn’t want to see the final seconds of her life. It was surprising, the thoughts that traveled through someone’s mind in such a brief moment when faced with their own mortality. She was again revisiting the experience for the second time in two days, although this time, the result would be dramatically different.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
If Liam could have done anything different, his only regret was not grabbing Max and taking him over the edge with him as he dove after Olivia. He fell, hard and fast, arching his body for speed. If she reached terminal velocity before he did, he’d never reach her in time. Please, Liam prayed. Restore my wings, he pleaded as he plummeted toward the earth. Olivia was no more than an arm’s length away, but he still couldn’t reach her. Restore my wings, he petitioned again as his free fall sailed into a breathtaking glide.
A powerful burst of energy surged through him as he was made whole once again. He angled his wide angelic wings for speed and swooped beneath Olivia, catching her up in his arms seconds before she would have hit the ground.
Olivia wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into the side of his neck. He flew up along the sheer face of the cliff and gently set her down on the ground.
His eyes locked on Max as he spun around. The look on his face was filled with shock and terror. “Impossible!” he gasped.
A vicious growl tore from Liam’s chest as he shot toward Max with lightning speed, catching him by the throat. He flew straight up into the air with the speed of a rocket, lifting Max high above the canyon as they hovered, suspended in the sky.
“I bet you miss flying,” Liam said, echoing Max’s taunting words. Max helplessly flailed his legs through the air, clinging to Liam’s arm which was tightly clamped around his throat.
“I don’t think I’ll deny you the pleasure any longer,” he growled, releasing his grip on Max.
Max’s scream tore through the air as he sailed past Olivia. Moments later, a sickening thud filled the canyon as he landed onto the jagged rocks below. Olivia scrambled over
to the edge of the cliff to witness the finality of Max’s terror. Black shadows poured from him as his lifeless body lay broken upon the rocks below. The figures swirled around him faster and faster until they formed the shape to two large hands. Each hand grabbed an arm, dragging Max’s body away.
“Where are they taking him?” she asked.
“To the abyss, where he’ll await his final death.”
Olivia turned toward him and threw herself into his arms, sobs of relief racking her fragile body. He gently folded his wings around her, blanketing her in his protective embrace. “Shh,” he whispered. “It’s over now. Max can never hurt you again.”
She pulled back far enough to look up at him. “You came after me,” she cried. “You knew you couldn’t fly, and you still came.”
“Of course I did,” he whispered, bending down to kiss the top of her head. “I promised you I’d never fail you again.”
“You could have died!”
“Some things are worth dying for.”
She took another step back, and he reluctantly released her. Her eyes filled with amazement, and he realized she was finally seeing him in his true form.
“Liam, you’re so incredibly beautiful…” she whispered. “Can I?” She let her hand hover above the edge of his wing.
He nodded his head. She reminded him of a little child, eyes alight with wonder as she tentatively lowered her hand to brush it against the edge of his wing.
She gasped. “I’ve never felt anything so…soft.”
He smiled, waiting patiently as she studied him, running her hands over his body in amazement.
“Nothing this wonderful or beautiful can be mine,” she said softly. He could hear the sadness in her voice. “You aren’t mine to have, Liam.”
As much as it hurt to hear it, he knew she spoke the truth. He felt it too—the gnawing ache in his soul, calling him home and leaving him completely torn. He wasn’t sure he had the strength to leave her. Liam put his hands on the sides of her face and tilted her head up to meet his eyes. “I love you, Olivia. I’ve always loved you and I will always love you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered, “forever.”
Liam bent down and kissed her softly. Her lips tasted salty from tears. “I’ll still be here, watching over you, just like I always have been.”
“I know,” she said sadly. “But I won’t be able to see you.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think I could stay away from you if you could.”
Olivia threw herself back into his arms, clinging to him as if she were trying to soak up every last second of contact she could.
“There you are,” Balen said, stepping into the clearing with Ashley. “I saw your car—” Balen froze and Ashley’ mouth dropped open.
“Your wings, they’re back! Hey, that’s great.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle at the relief in Balen’s voice. He nodded, keeping Olivia wrapped tightly in his arms. “Max is gone,” he said matter-of-factly. “You’re safe now, Ashley.” Liam gave Balen a knowing look—it was time to go home.
“Come on, Ashley.” Balen wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his side. “I’ll take you home.”
*** Ashley slipped her arm around his waist as they walked down the path that would bring them back to the car. “What do you think happened up there?” she asked, trying to make sense of what she saw on the bluff. “Do you think Max will come back?”
“No,” Balen said, assuredly. “Max is gone. He won’t be back.”
“How do you know?” she asked, turning to look at him.
Balen stopped walking and turned to face her. He reached up and touched her cheek. Right or wrong, knowing the truth didn’t make her want him any less.
“Because I know Liam, and if he says it’s over, then it’s over.”
His confidence was reassuring, and she gave him a small smile as they started walking again. “I’m sorry about earlier,” she said after a few moments of silence.
“You are? Now what do you possibly have to be sorry about?”
“For what happened this morning. I kissed you. And now that I know, I can see how hard you tried to do the right thing, to keep from hurting me.”
“I’m not sorry, Ashley. I don’t regret one second that I’ve spent with you.”
“Neither do I.” A sad smile touched her lips. As they drove home, she couldn’t shake the sense they were running out of time and began to feel increasingly anxious about saying good-bye to him. “Say something…” She glanced over at him and thought she saw a hint of sadness in his eyes. She wondered if it was going to be as difficult for him to leave her as it was for her to see him go.
“I’m not sure what to say,” he said. “You know I have to go back.”
“I know. I don’t want you to go,” she whispered.
“But I have to…” He pulled into her driveway and cut the engine. He stepped out of the car and walked around to the passenger door, holding his hand out to her. “Walk with me?” he asked.
She nodded, and they walked up to the same hill where she’d experienced the most amazing kiss of her life. Already it seemed like a lifetime ago, instead of just a few short hours. Balen turned to her and lifted his hand to touch the side of her face.
“Ashley, I want you to know that going back isn’t an easy thing for me to do. Before I go, I have to know that you believe, because eternity is too long to live with regrets.
Tears filled her eyes as she nodded her head. “I believe…” After everything that happened today, how could she possibly not? The tension left Balen’s face and he smiled down at her with relief, pulling her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him and clung tightly, not ready to say good-bye yet.
“Will I ever see you again?” Her voice cracked as she tried to hold herself together.
Balen nodded. “Someday we’ll see each other again, I promise.” He bent down and kissed her one last time. She closed her eyes as the feather-light touch grazed her lips. A warm gentle breeze blew past her, and she didn’t want to open her eyes because she knew she’d find herself alone when she did.
*** Ashley tapped softly on the hospital door before pushing it open with the side of her hip. Her hands were full of balloons and flowers as she walked into Nate’s hospital room. “Hey,” she said nervously, holding the gifts up as a peace offering.
“Hey, Ash,” Nate smiled, struggling to sit up in bed. “What are you doing here?” he asked, glancing up at the clock hanging on the wall across from his bed.
“I know it’s late,” she said quickly. “I won’t stay long, I promise. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” She set the balloons and flowers on the nightstand next to the bed and stood there anxiously looking down at him. Dark bruises marked his thick, muscular neck, another bruise traced his left cheekbone. She bit her bottom lip and tears filled her eyes.
Nate watched her silently. “Come here,” he said after a minute, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward him.
She let out a little cry of relief. Tears ran down her cheeks as she climbed in next to him and leaned against his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she sobbed into his shoulder.
Nate hugged her tightly. “Shh…” he whispered, reaching up to stroke the back of her hair. “I’m going to be fine,” he consoled her.
“I was so scared when I heard.” Her voice was muffled as she spoke into his shoulder. She lifted her head and noticed his gown was soaked from her tears. “I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you—especially after how we left things between us.”
“It’s okay, Ashley. I’m not angry with you. I understand if you want to be with Balen.”
A pang of sadness pierced her heart at the mention of Balen’s name. She shook her head. “I’m not with him,” she whispered, hoping he wouldn’t ask her for details. She just wasn’t ready to talk about it yet. “What I need is simple and uncomplicated. I think what I need…is you.
”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
The western sky was filled with brilliant colors of orange and violet. Olivia sat in Liam’s arms overlooking the bluffs. Her back leaned against his chest, her head resting on his shoulder, as they stared into the setting sun’s breathtaking tapestry. “What’s it like…in Heaven?”
“Its beauty is beyond words,” he said softly, resting his cheek against the top of her head. “Imagine being surrounded by absolute perfection. His presence is…There are no words in your language to describe it.”
“Then, tell me in yours,” she said, wanting to hear the beautiful language one last time.
Liam pulled her more tightly into his embrace and began telling her about all the amazing wonders of his world. She couldn’t understand a word he said, but the cadence of his soft rich voice left her enthralled as she imagined what he might be saying.
The sun had fallen behind the hills, and the sky faded to black by the time he finished speaking. Stars decorated the midnight sky, and the soft chirp of crickets serenaded them. He whispered something into her ear. It sounded so beautiful.
“What did you say to me?” she asked, smiling as she turned in his arms to look up at him.
“I said I love you.” His eyes roved over her face as if he were trying to memorize every last detail.
“I love you too,” she whispered. “I wish tonight would never end. I’m not ready to say good-bye.”
“It’s only for a little while,” he whispered, bending down to kiss her softly. He lifted his face and gently kissed the bruised tender spot on her cheek.
She felt that warm liquid heat spread across her cheek and the pain quickly disappeared. “I want to remove every trace of him,” Liam whispered against her lips.
As he kissed her, that delicious warmth filled her mouth. It was different than the kisses they’d shared before. This time, his touch was cleansing—healing— renewing. Liam’s fingertips brush down the side of her neck, bathing her skin in a glow that felt as glorious as the sun. It was amazing how he seemed to know everywhere Max had touched her.