by Grant, Donna
* * *
Cole laced his hand with Shannon’s. “You’re going to adore Mina.”
“I hope so,” she said softly.
Cole smiled and walked to the massive castle gates of Stone Crest. He noticed the castle being repaired from the damage of the gargoyle and realized that was Hugh taking charge.
By the time they reached the gates many people were staring at them. He heard a shout and looked toward the castle to see Hugh walking toward them with a bright smile.
Cole embraced his leader and noted he still looked happy. “It’s good to see you, Hugh.”
“The same here,” Hugh said and then looked to Shannon. “Who is this?” His eyes jerked to Cole’s as his smile faded. “Have you found another?” Cole nodded. “This is Shannon,” he said and pulled her forward to meet Hugh.
“Shannon this is Hugh, leader of the Shields.”
“Cole? Cole is that you?”
He looked around Hugh to see Mina racing towards them. He grabbed her up in a fierce hug and then set her on her feet.
“I never thought to see you again so soon,” she said and linked arms with Hugh.
“Val and Roderick just left with Elle.”
Cole shifted and brought Shannon toward him. “Mina, this is Shannon. Shannon, meet Mina, Hugh’s wife and another of the Chosen.” Mina looked from him to Shannon then she let out a whoop and enveloped Shannon in a hug. “All these years I thought I was alone, and then I find two of you in the space of a sennight. Come. Let’s go inside and talk.” Cole watched Shannon leave with Mina and sighed.
“I never thought to see that look on your face,” Hugh said.
Cole laughed and turned to his leader. “What look.”
“Contentment.”
“Love will do that.”
“Love?”
Cole nodded. “Aye. Love.”
“Well, why didn’t you say so?” Hugh said and slapped him on the back. “We need to celebrate!”
Hugh shoved Cole and raced to the castle. Cole laughed for the first time in days and ran after Hugh. When they rushed into the great hall it was to see Mina and Shannon before the hearth, their heads together as they talked.
Cole swallowed past the lump in his throat. He had just saved Shannon from the evil, yet he knew it would come again. Suddenly, Shannon’s head raised, and she turned her gaze to him.
Shannon stared into Cole’s dark eyes. He looked relaxed and happy, but she saw the worry that tinged his face. She smiled at Mina.
“Will you excuse me for a moment?”
“Of course,” Mina said.
Shannon rose and walked into Cole’s open arms. She laid her head on his chest and heard his heart beating in her ear.
“What is it?” she asked.
When he didn’t answer, she pulled back and looked into his eyes. “Cole?”
“It’s not over, Shannon.”
“I know,” she said and took his hands in hers. “But we’re one step closer. Three of us have been found. Only one more is needed to end the evil.” He sighed and closed his eyes.
That’s when she realized what was really wrong. “You want to be out there fighting.”
His eyes opened to show the truth. “It’s all I’ve ever done. It’s all I know to do.”
“Not all,” she said with a knowing smile.
Cole chuckled and pulled her against him. “My mission is to keep you safe. I willingly do that, but I cannot help if I worry over Val and Gabriel.”
“We will always worry,” Hugh said as he stepped closer. “We have spent too many years together and know exactly what we are up against not to worry.” Mina walked up and linked arms with Hugh. “But they have us to help them through that worry.”
Shannon tilted her head up and kissed Cole. “You do have me, you know.” His smile was wickedly charming and set her blood on fire. With just a look her breast swelled, her nipples hardened, and her sex ached. “My God what you do to me.”
“I think we need to find a chamber and investigate more.”
“Third floor. Fifth chamber on the left,” Mina called out as Cole lifted Shannon in his arms and made for the stairs.
Shannon waved to Mina and Hugh before wrapping her arms around Cole. She had found her hero, a man who had not only saved her from certain death, but had saved the world—for the time being.
Epilogue
Cole gazed down at Shannon. They had been at Stone Crest for nearly a fortnight with peace and normalcy, something Cole didn’t think he would ever see again.
He smoothed the hair from Shannon’s face as she stirred and snuggled against him in her sleep. His heart clutched each time he pictured her with the Minotaur about to kill her. He had saved her once, and he would most likely have to do it many more times before the rest of the Chosen had been found.
Yet, he took what peace they were given and relished it. And each day he was with Shannon he knew more certainly that he couldn’t live without her.
“What are you thinking about so seriously this early in the morning?” she asked as she opened her eyes.
He smiled. “You.”
“Hmmm. What about me?”
“That I cannot live without you.”
She sat up and faced him. “What’s really bothering you, Cole?”
“I told you.”
She shook her head. “You already have me. You know I return your love, so tell me. What is it really?”
“It isn’t enough.” As soon as he said the words he realized they were true.
“What else do you want?”
He licked his lips and took her hand in his. “Marry me. I know this realm may end tomorrow or next week, but I want you for my wife. I want to take the sacred vows that bind us to the other.”
“You want to marry me?” she asked, her face expressionless.
“More than anything, Shannon. You’ve had my heart from the first moment I saw you.”
Slowly her face broke into a smile. “You want to marry me?”
“Aye. Will you be my wife?”
“Yes,” she screamed and flew into his arms.
They fell backwards, and Cole crushed her to him, his lips slanting over hers in a kiss as happiness surrounded him. “Today,” he said. “Marry me today.”
“Yes. Right after I make love to you,” she said and took his rod in her hand.
THE END