“Haden…?”
He tried to speak, but nothing came out. There seemed to be a disconnect between his mind and his body.
“It’s okay,” she whispered, brushing her fingertips over his lips. “It’ll come. You woke up kind of hard. Sometimes it can take a little while to settle into your new body.”
New body? What was wrong with his old one? Oh…yeah…that’s right—charred. Concentrating on his arm, it took all his strength to reach up and touch her silky cheek. His hand shook with the effort. Damn, he was weak as a kitten—not a feeling he was accustomed to at all.
He scowled again, and Anya gave him that same glorious smile that had stolen his heart over a century ago. Reaching up, she threaded her fingers through his and turned her head, pressing a kiss into his palm. “Your strength will come back, too. Don’t worry.”
Strength…he was disoriented as hell. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Where am I?” Cripes, his untried voice, sounded like he’d been eating glass.
Keeping his fingers woven between hers, Anya rested his hand on her lap. With her free hand, she reached up and lovingly brushed a chunk of his hair out of his face. He didn’t miss the demur dip of her eyes as they lingered a bit too long on his mouth. The faintest stirrings of desire began heating his blood as his body slowly began to come back online. Lord, he prayed that once it did, everything would be in working order.
How long had he craved the taste of her sweet, lush lips, or the feel of her petal soft skin against his? How he’d dreamed of hearing that subtle catch of her breath, right before she tumbled over the edge of bliss. God, he loved her… That she was here, with him, was the best gift his Creator could ever have given him. He didn’t deserve this kind of happiness. It couldn’t be real. Any moment he’d open his eyes—for real this time—and be plunging back into that molten lava. Lava… Oh God, Olivia!
Haden bolted upright, but made it no farther before a wave of dizziness claimed him. A worried frown wrinkled Anya’s beautifully timeless face and she grabbed his shoulders to steady him.
“Haden, what’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry, Anya. I have to go.”
She looked crestfallen, and he hated himself for being the bastard that hurt her. Her gaze dropped to her lap and she asked softly, “It’s because of her…isn’t it?”
Aww…hell… She knew about Olivia? Haden took her hand, and with the crook of his finger, lifted her chin, guiding her eyes back to his. He couldn’t lie to her. Hell, he wouldn’t even if he could. She deserved better than that. But nor could he stay here, not knowing whether or not Olivia was still trapped in the fiery pit of Sheol.
Haden nodded. “It is, but it’s not what you’re thinking. When I…left Olivia, she was clinging to the wall of a crevasse in Sheol. I have to go back and save her. I’m her guardian, Anya.”
A sympathetic smile touched her lovely face. “No, Haden, you’re not. Not anymore.”
His gut churned. Oh God, no! Had she fallen? Was she…dead?
“Olivia is with Liam. He rescued her shortly after you…fell. I’m sorry, Haden. You can’t leave. Your soul is tethered here.”
“You know about Olivia?” He’d be lying if he said it didn’t make him a bit uncomfortable, discussing the female with his wife.
“I do,” she replied graciously. “And I’m very grateful to her.”
What? “Why is that?”
She lifted her eyes, locking on his. “Because your love for her brought you back to me. I fear if not for her, your end would have been met with much different results. When I died, you were filled with such hatred and rage; it poisoned your soul, Haden. You blamed yourself and you blamed God when all He wanted was for you to turn to Him. I’d nearly given up all hope…and then you met her. It wasn’t until you loved someone more than your hatred that your heart finally began to open up again. I know what you’re thinking. And I don’t resent her. I’m thankful to her for not giving up on you. I just hope that one day I’ll get the opportunity to thank her myself.”
No, Olivia hadn’t given up on him, had she... When Haden thought of all the years he’d lost, consumed by his own hatred and rage… It had become his lifeline when he should have been clinging to the promises of his Creator. Perhaps then he could have claimed his birthright and it wouldn’t have taken the ultimate sacrifice—his life—to find Anya again.
Maybe all this time she’d been closer than he ever realized, and he’d become the barrier to his own happiness. Lord, he’d made mistakes…too many to count. If Anya knew the whole truth of what he’d done, what he’d become, would she still be able to look him in the eye with that same loving adoration reflecting in that chocolate gaze right now?
Yes, he realized, answering his own question. For as long as he could remember knowing her, Anya had loved him. And he knew in his heart that nothing would ever change that. Clearing his throat again, but this time to rid the emotion swelling in there, he asked, “The child you were talking to…is he—?”
Anya smiled, making his pulse quicken. She’d always been able to speed his heart with just a glance. It was comforting to know that some things would never change.
“Your son?” she asked, finishing his question when he couldn’t seem to force the words out. “Yes, Aiden is yours. And as you probably heard, he’s been very anxious to meet you.”
But he was still just a child. And they’d been gone from him for so long. “How many years have I lost?”
“Five. Time passes much more slowly here. Aiden will continue to grow until he reaches the age of maturity.” A proud, motherly smile graced her beautiful face as she glanced in the direction he’d heard those tiny footsteps pounding not long ago. “He has it in his head that he’ll grow to become a mighty warrior someday, fighting in the armies of the Heavenly Court.”
“So I’ve heard.” Haden gave her an arched glance, a teasing grin tugging at his top lip.
Anya laughed.
Lord, how he’d missed that sound.
“Come on,” she said, taking his hand and tugging him to stand. “I want to introduce you to your son.”
“Oww…”
“Stop squirming,” Rebecca scolded, her arched brows pulled tight in concentration.
“But you’re stabbing me with these bobby pins,” Olivia complained.
“That’s because you have too much hair. I’m almost done.”
Olivia gritted her teeth as the bobby pin scraped against her scalp, securing the magnolia blossom to her up-do. The fragile white petals would be a beautiful compliment to her raven locks, the light verbena scent enveloping her in a fragrant halo.
“If you don’t hold still, you’re going to be late to your own wedding,” she teased.
“I’m not the one you should be worried about. I heard Niall talking to you earlier. Liam isn’t back yet?” He’d left Landaketa two days ago—to get her wedding gift, he’d said. Olivia couldn’t imagine what Liam was getting her. She already had everything she could possibly want. Subconsciously, her hand dropped to her stomach and she lovingly ran it over her baby-bump.
They’d been in Landaketa four months now. The first two had been an adjustment, and it’d taken some time to process everything she’d been through, everything she’d lost. A day didn’t go by that she didn’t think of Haden and the sacrifice he’d made for her. If it weren't for him, she wouldn’t be here now, and neither would her little one. For that, she would be eternally grateful to him. As if sensing her thoughts, the little life growing inside her gave a hard kick.
“He’ll be here,” Rebecca chided. “Don’t worry.” A mischievous light flickered in her sky blue eyes. “There. All finished.”
Rebecca stepped back and turned her to face the floor-length oval-shaped mirror. At the sight of her reflection, Olivia’s breath caught in her throat. Staring back at her was a beautiful woman—gone was the precocious child who’d made Liam have tea parties with her, and gone was the naïve teen that tempted and teased him mercilessly. She was no
longer the willful young woman who’d almost made the biggest mistake of her life, if not for Liam rescuing her from herself in the nick of time. This woman who watched her with tears of joy in her eyes was about to walk down the aisle and bind her heart and soul to the angel who’d loved her and would love her, without fail, all the days of her life.
Today, she would begin a new chapter in her life—as Liam’s wife. This was going to be the best day of her life. On the heels of that proclamation, a stab of regret made her wince.
“Aww, now don’t you go cryin’ and ruinin’ all my hard work,” Rebecca teased. But as she turned Olivia back to face her, there was genuine concern in her friend’s eyes. “Olivia, what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.” She dropped her gaze and hastily swiped at her tears. “I just always imagined that when I got married, my parents would be there, you know? And my…my dad would give me away. I guess seeing myself in the mirror, all dressed up, kinda hit me harder than I expected.” Realizing what she’d said, Olivia clutched Rebecca’s arm. “Don’t tell Liam I said that. He feels bad that I had to leave them and I don’t want anything to overshadow this day.”
Rebecca may be Olivia’s friend, but she was first and foremost loyal to Liam. The woman hugged her, being careful not to wrinkle her dress. “Sugar, he knows you miss your parents. It’s no secret. I know it’s not the same, but you have a family here who loves you. You’re like the sister I always wanted. And Henry loves you, too. I know Niall can seem a bit…gruff, but he cares about you. If he didn’t, he never would have let Liam take his legion into Sheol to rescue you.”
The southern belle stepped back and lovingly rubbed her hand over Olivia’s stomach. “I know I’ve told you before, but I’m so glad you’re here. And pretty soon, there’s going to be an addition to our little family.”
Olivia didn’t miss the wistful yearning that crossed her friend’s face at the mention of children. She took Rebecca’s hand in hers and gave it a loving squeeze.
“Does Niall know you want children?”
Her friend smiled sadly and shook her head. “He hasn’t even asked me to marry him. I can’t have children with someone who won’t fully commit his heart to me.”
Niall was a complicated angel, no doubt about it. Olivia wasn’t certain why he hesitated in marrying Rebecca, but she knew that whatever the reason, lack of love was not the case. Maybe he didn’t realize it, but Rebecca held that angel’s heart just as tightly as she held Liam’s. But those two males were cut from an entirely different cloth. Niall was war-hardened, abrasive, and blunt. He might lack the tenderness and compassion that embodied Liam, but that angel knew how to love—fiercely. If he hadn’t asked Rebecca to marry him, then there must be a reason. A reason she vowed she’d get to the bottom of. After all, she had nothing but time.
Lord, it felt good to think that—to have no fear that the world was passing her by. She had no worry that one day she’d wake up to discover her life was nearly over. In Landaketa, she’d remain forever young, preserved in the stasis of this heavenly realm, and she and Liam would enjoy lifetimes of raising their children together. Her only wish was that her parents could be here with her. She was their only child, and her grandparents were gone. She was all they had left, and the thought of leaving them behind had cut deeper than she’d imagined.
Pushing aside the pang of regret, Olivia replied, “Niall’s…Niall.” She wasn’t sure there was a nicer way to put that. “He tries to hide his emotions, but anyone can see that angel’s crazy in love with you.”
She answered Olivia with a wistful smile. A more unlikely couple Olivia had never met. She hoped one day to hear the story that brought those two together. It was sure to be a great one.
A knock suddenly sounded on the door and a flutter of nervous butterflies erupted in Olivia’s stomach.
“I’ll get it.” Rebecca stepped away from her and went to the door. She opened it part way and poked her head out.
“He’s back.” Niall’s husky voice floated into the room. “Are you two ready?”
“We just finished.”
Olivia watched with a secret smile as Niall’s gaze swept over Rebecca and instantly darkened to sapphire. She knew that look, and would take great joy in teasing her friend about it later.
The angel’s riotous raven mane matched his wings. The sharp Nordic angles of his face did nothing to help soften the look of this deadly warrior. He’d be devastatingly handsome, she supposed if he wasn’t so damn terrifying. With most males, their smiles often softened the hard edges of their faces. Not so with Niall. His smile only added to the fear-factor, revealing a set of pearly white teeth with incisors that dropped below his bridge, giving him a sharp vampiric quality.
His gaze darted to Olivia and he gave her a brisk nod of acknowledgement before turning his attention back to Rebecca. He reached for her, threading his hand into the woman’s silky pale curls. “You look beautiful,” he told her, his voice dropping to a low whispered growl.
A little yip escaped Rebecca’s throat when she suddenly stumbled through the door and into the angel’s arms. When he dropped his head and boldly claimed her mouth, Olivia cleared her throat, a bit awkwardly, and moved to stand by the window, giving them a moment of privacy.
Olivia looked out over the veranda and saw Kyro racing across the lawn, chasing after a low-flying bird. She couldn’t help but smile at his antics, surprised by how easily he’d assimilated to his new life here at Landaketa. It’d taken a little while for the angels to warm up to him, but they were all coming around, and Kyro was slowly expanding his circle of trust. She craned her head toward the driveway, searching for any sign of Liam, and knew a moment of disappointment.
The door behind her closed and she turned around to find Rebecca, flushed-faced and a bit frazzled, putting herself back to rights. She leaned toward the mirror and ran her thumb below her bottom lip, fixing her shell pink lips.
“See, I told you he was smitten,” Olivia teased.
Rebecca blushed. Her staunch, proper southern belle etiquette hadn’t faded over the years. “Liam’s back,” she said, changing the subject. “Just like I promised he would be. I’m heading down now; the natives are getting restless.”
By natives, Olivia knew she meant the legion of Rogue angels that had been camped here for the last four months. Niall had recruited Liam to train his warriors. And train them he did—hard—testing their skills and teaching them the unique fighting techniques of the High Court guard. These warriors were used to fighting solo, but Liam specialized in fighting as a unit, and that’s what Niall wanted his warriors to become—a team. After the battle of Sheol, Niall had seen the importance of learning to fight together. He believed that by blending the ruthless skill-set of his warriors with Liam’s knowledge of combat, his assassins would become an elite team ready to face the inevitable war coming their way. There was no stopping it. Prophesy was written. But when the time came, Niall would be sure his Rogues were ready.
The angels were anxious to be on their way. There were realms to protect, demons to hunt, but they didn’t want to set off without showing Liam, their support by staying for his wedding. Rebecca gave her a final supportive hug and turned to leave, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll see you down there.”
Olivia nodded. Restless excitement flittered through her veins. It was finally happening. The moment she’d been dreaming of for as long as she could remember. Rebecca wasn’t gone for more than a minute before another knock sounded on her door. Olivia sighed. At this rate, she’d never get down there. Her nerves were starting to get the better of her. This was her third time of trying to get to the altar, and call her a pessimist, but the longer she delayed, the stronger the niggling of unease grew that something was going to prevent her from marrying Liam.
It was with a measure of unease and a scowl of impatience that she opened the door.
“Why hello, Dove.” Tate’s dark brow arched questioningly. “Why so dower?”
Olivia
’s frown immediately melted into an ear-to-ear grin. “Tate!” She threw her arms around his neck and planted a big kiss on his cheek. He chuckled and returned her hug, lifting her off the ground and spinning her in a circle. “What are you doing here? I didn’t think I’d see you again.”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss your big day for the world. I was kind of hoping, if you didn’t have anyone that is that I might give you away? If you don’t mind.”
A bittersweet pang gripped her heart. She wished her dad was the one standing before her, but since he couldn’t be here, she was touched and honored to have Tate standing up for her. “I would love that. Thank you.”
He returned her smile. “Well, all right then.” Tate slipped her arm through the crook in his, and Henry began to play the Wedding March on the grand piano downstairs. As he led her down the hall, Olivia’s pulse began to quicken, growing rapid with each nearing step. She couldn’t believe it was finally happening.
When they reached the top of the stairs, Olivia gasped. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth as she stumbled to a sudden halt, her vision blurring with tears. How could this be? It wasn’t possible. Yet there he was. Standing at the bottom of the stairs was her father!
“Daddy!”
Olivia rushed down the stairs, only to be held back by Tate’s steadying grip on her arm. “Careful, Dove. Liam wouldn’t be very happy with me if I let you fall and break your neck.”
They proceeded down with far more caution than Olivia cared to have. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, she let out a squeal of joy and threw herself into her father’s arms. “Oh, Daddy! I’m so glad you’re here! But how?”
When her father released her, she could see tears sparkling in his eyes. “Liam came for us. He explained everything you’ve been through, and why he had to take you away. Then he gave us a choice—you or the world. Of course, we chose you.”
The Redemption Series Page 136