Forbidden Love Series Book 4: From The Ashes

by Danielle James

  “I didn’t do anything!” he said.

  “And you won’t,” Angel said. It hurt him to tell his brother that he could not touch the object of his affection, even if Gage didn’t realize it yet.

  “Well I guess we had better get started,” Leigh told the room as she left for the sitting room where the candles were still in place from their earlier attempts.

  “Can’t we wait just a few moments?” Serena asked, leaning toward Gage.

  “No,” Frankie answered. “He looked like he was in danger earlier. It’s now or never.”

  The group filed into the circle once more. They all held hands. Serena stopped them. “Wait. We are in the wrong order,” she said. “We need our magic to be spread out through the circle. Macy, sit across from Frankie, Leigh and I will take the east and west sides of the circle.”

  The women moved into the spots Serena indicated. “Why do we need to sit like this?” Macy asked.

  “Because, if our magic is spread out evenly, we have a better chance of fortifying the circle. We have a greater possibility of getting Antonio here and keeping him here.”

  “But I don’t have any magic,” Macy told her.

  “Yes,” Serena told her with a smile, “You do. You may not realize it, but it takes an enormous amount of magic to see the dead. You are gifted Macy. Now use that gift.”

  Frankie lit the candles again and repeated the ceremony from earlier that night. The family was gathered around, chanting with her. Macy closed her eyes again and concentrated harder than ever before. She didn’t know what magic the fae thought she had, but she was going to tap into it if it killed her. Never mind that she had no idea how to tap into it. But she had watched plenty of movies and in all of them the person learning was told to concentrate so that’s what she did.

  A gentle breeze began to blow through the house and it surrounded Macy, lifting her curls and caressing her face. She concentrated even harder, seeing Antonio in her mind as she chanted along with the others. She imagined how he looked when he gifted her with his devastating smile and how he sounded when he sang to her, as awful as it was. The breeze picked up and turned into a stout wind. Then, all hell broke loose.

  The floor began to rumble and things started falling off shelves, but still the chanting continued. Then there was a sound that Macy had no idea how to describe. It was like the sonic boom of an airplane breaking the sound barrier. She opened her eyes just in time to see a blast of who the hell knew what (It looked a little like a horizontal ring of smoke or fog) fly out from the circle, throwing everyone back on their asses.

  Macy picked up her head and looked around. The room looked like a tornado had hit. Everyone was helping each other back up. The circle was undeniably broken. Her heart sank in her chest. They had failed. She looked at the circle of candles that were now blown out.

  There, in the middle, was a person. He picked up his head and looked at her with wonder in his eyes. Antonio was there. He was disheveled and dirty, sweaty and… oh my… completely naked. He was crouched down on the floor, like in a fetal position but on his feet. Without thinking of the consequences, Macy leapt to her feet and ran to his image.

  She didn’t know what she was going to do; she was only thrilled that their magic had worked! His spirit was here! She plowed through the circle and leaned down to him. “Antonio, are you ok?” she asked.

  He looked up at her with those dark eyes. “I think I am,” he said. Then he stood. Macy didn’t want to look at him, but oh how could she not. He was taller than she had remembered, his dark hair wisping around his face, and that boy was stacked. Just saying he had a six pack didn’t even come close to doing his body justice. He reached out his hand to her. He had done it many times before when he was asking for help, but this time, it was different. It was as if he wanted to touch her.

  Macy knew he would not be able to touch her, but her hand went to him anyway. When she expected to feel some kind of electricity when her hand passed through him, she got something completely different. Her hand did not pass through him. He felt as real as anyone as he took her hand.

  Antonio didn’t know and he didn’t care how he got there. All he knew was that Macy was in front of him and he was touching her. He pulled her by the hand until her body was touching his. Then he wrapped his arms around her in the tightest bear hug he could. He barely noticed the rest of his family standing around him with their mouths hanging open. Finally, he felt a little bit of peace. He was home.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Merrick turned his whole body so that his eyes could have a better look at the light that was disturbing his dark, personal hell. Not once in the days, months, or years (he didn’t know how long he had been there) had he seen even a sliver of light. He had wondered, alone, in the dark, ever since the day he died. So this was different. He commanded his feet to walk toward the strange light. The closer he got, the clearer it appeared. It was brilliant, beckoning. Had he earned his way into the Heavens?

  The light began to take the shape of a door as he approached it. When he was closer, he saw that it was in fact, a door. But it didn’t lead to Heaven, instead, on the other side of the doorway, he saw Leigh. She was round with pregnancy, courtesy of that blood sucker. The asshole was standing next to her, holding her hand. There were several people, he noticed, holding hands. They were chanting. A spell then? But surely they weren’t trying to contact him. But he could feel Leigh’s magic; he could always sense her. It was calling to him.

  Merrick understood when he saw the spirit of the vampire he had toasted months earlier sprint through the door in front of him as if he hadn’t seen Merrick at all. Merrick watched as the family was blown back and the vampire took on real form. A real body. Perfect, as if it had never been ashes at all.

  Merrick looked up at his body. He was damned tired of holding his severed head under his arm. That filthy bloodsucker Leigh called her mate had borrowed her magic to rip it off his shoulders. And then it occurred to him. If the vampire could cross the threshold, so could he.

  Merrick placed his head back on top of his neck and walked into the light. It was time for some payback. He crossed the threshold and felt a jolt like he had been hit by lightning. No one noticed that he had arrived; they were far too worried about the vampire. He felt like he had been hit by a truck. He took inventory of the room and realized that he was surrounded by the enemy. If they noticed him right now, he wouldn’t stand a chance against them. They would send him right back to hell. No, he would have to gather up some strength first. Merrick mustered up what little strength he had to cross the circle of candles and teleport away before he was seen.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Leigh couldn’t believe her eyes. Antonio was literally standing right in front of them. Rebel took her hand and helped her to her feet, but she couldn’t take her eyes off Antonio. He was really there, and Macy was really hugging him.

  Of all the scenarios she had played in her head about how this spell would work out, this was not one of them. Dead people stayed dead. That was the way life worked. How in the fuck was he standing there? The baby kicked in her belly and she subconsciously rubbed her belly to sooth her, which triggered another thought in her head. Thank God Angel’s daughter was spending time away for her school break. This was not something they wanted to explain to a five year old.

  Then Leigh felt something different. A shiver ran down her spine and she sensed a power that was not there before. Something familiar. Something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. “Something’s wrong,” she said quietly. No one seemed to hear her. Where had she felt that power before? It wasn’t the fae, and it wasn’t the witch. She had been with her family long enough to know each of their magic. It wasn’t the necromancer either. This was something she knew.

  “Oh shit!” she yelled out. “Get back in the circle! Hurry!” She remembered that magical signature. It was Merrick’s.

  Frankie looked at her questioningly.

  “The circle! We have to
close the circle!” Leigh yelled out, taking the hands of Rebel and Brea. “Before anything else gets out!”

  That seemed to kick everyone else into motion, including Macy. She shoved Antonio out of the circle of candles before taking anyone’s hands.

  Frankie said the prayer to close the circle loud and clear as soon as the circle was complete again. She only worried a little about the consequences of Antonio being on the outside. She prayed he would stay that way.

  After the spell was closed, Frankie checked to make sure everyone was ok. They were; only a few bumps and bruises. She approached Antonio, but was cut off by Jacque.

  “Welcome back, brother,” he said, throwing his arms around Antonio.

  “Jacque,” he choked out, “Can’t breathe.”

  “Oh sorry,” he laughed. He stood back and looked at him. He was really back. “Do you have any idea what I have been through looking for you?”

  “Actually, I do.” Antonio embraced each of his family members, never once considering that he was completely naked. That is, until he hugged Frankie. “Thank you,” he told her as he squashed her into his chest. “I would still be lost without you.”

  A low growl filled the room and Antonio looked up to see Jacque’s eyes damn near glowing with anger and he was trembling all over. “Put some clothes on,” he said through clenched teeth.

  It was then that Antonio realized he was completely naked. “Oh,” he said with a smile. He looked at Frankie’s neck and then at Jacque’s. “Nice hickeys. When did we start marking our mates that way?”

  Jacque resisted the urge to tell him to shut it. It wouldn’t have been nice, seeing as how just a few moments ago he was dead and all. Instead, he told him, “Come on brother, let’s get you dressed.” The pair walked side by side to Antonio’s old room, which was still the way he left it.

  Rebel watched him go, still a little awestruck that he was even there at all. When they were gone up the stairs, he turned to Leigh. “What the fuck just happened?” he asked his wife.

  “I’m not sure,” she replied. “I don’t know how Antonio got here, I don’t know how long he will stay, and I don’t know why but I was sure I sensed Merrick’s magic.”

  Rebel shook his head. “When? Was it when you started geeking out about closing the circle?”

  “Yeah,” she said softly.

  “Makes sense,” Serena said, jumping into the conversation. “When you call the dead, you call those you know. If Merrick sensed your magic, he might have been close. At least we got the circle closed before he passed through to us.”

  “No shit,” Rebel said. “I know I kicked his sorry ass before, but honestly I’m not looking forward to doing it again.”

  “Not now, with the baby coming.”

  “When is your young due, anyway?” Serena asked.

  “In just a few weeks,” Leigh replied, rubbing her belly. It felt tighter than normal and was just damned uncomfortable.

  “Congratulations,” Serena told her. “A baby is a blessing. Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?”

  “No,” Rebel answered for her. “We call it her but we haven’t been able to tell yet.”

  “Have you decided where to have the baby?” she asked.

  “Here,” Leigh said. “We figure Jacque is the closest thing to a doctor who would even come close to being qualified to handle it. Plus, he has been researching myths and lore about dragon births.”

  “I thought dragons were supposed to lay eggs,” she said with a smile.

  “Well, I guess if I deliver an egg, Rebel is gonna have a great time sitting on it!” Leigh joked back.

  “Oh no, I’m no egg sitter,” Rebel chimed in, putting his arm around his wife.

  “But what if it is true?” Macy asked. “I never really believed in ghosts until I met one, and I never thought I would see a ghost brought back to life.”

  “That’s true,” Frankie said. “I think at this point, we should be prepared for anything.”

  “So you have decided to stay,” Leigh said, making a point to eye the hickey on her neck.

  Frankie rubbed her neck uncomfortably. “I, uh, I don’t know.”

  “Whatever,” Leigh said, “You belong to him and you know it.”

  “I have known that for a while,” Frankie said. “It’s he who does not belong to me.”

  Brea rolled her eyes. “You just keep telling yourself that.”

  Jessica outright laughed. “I’m glad you’re home,” she told her best friend.

  “I think I’m gonna go check on Antonio,” Macy said. “Where is his room?”

  The women exchanged knowing smiles. “I’ll show you,” Brea said. “Follow me.”

  The others watched Brea lead Macy up the stairs. Frankie didn’t know what to do. Her job was technically over now. Antonio was back and he would tell them whatever it was that was so important just as soon as he got his bearings, the fae would return to her home, and the married couples were pairing off and heading to their rooms to celebrate. She checked her watch. It was four in the morning. No wonder she felt so damned tired.

  She gave in to the urge to yawn. “I think I’m gonna turn in,” she told Jessica. “I don’t think I can keep my eyes open much longer.”

  “You go on then,” Jessica told her. “If anything happens tonight, I’ll come and get you.”

  “Thanks,” she said. She told everyone goodnight and headed for her temporary room.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Merrick didn’t know how he managed to flash himself all the way to his former home, but he made it. Once he was safely inside, he collapsed into a heap on the floor. His body was weak and just so damned tired.

  He wanted to get up and find some clothes. He wanted to check out his home and be sure that it was the way he left it. He wanted to form a plan to exact his revenge on the vampires. But his new body, that wasn’t feeling very new, had other ideas. Instead, he stayed on the floor as sleep overtook his conscious mind and he passed out cold.

  ***

  Macy knew the sun was up. It was ten in the morning and the house was very quiet. She looked to her right again and studied Antonio. He had passed out almost immediately after she came to check on him the night before. Actually, earlier that morning, she corrected herself. He had managed to put on some jeans, but that was all. His torso was bare.

  He lay on the bed on his stomach, on top of the blankets. She studied the lines of his muscular back, noticing how the shape tapered into a nice V near his slender hips. His skin was smooth and unflawed, and slightly tannish for a vampire. Given his name, she figured he was of Spanish decent, but she hadn’t been sure.

  She was gonna ask him when he got up. Macy had intended to talk to him the night before, sitting on the bed and waiting for him to tell her just what the fuck was so important that he defied death for. As soon as he hit the bed though, his body gave out on him. So she had sat there all night, watching him sleep and listening to him snore. She had to pee for the last hour or so, but didn’t want to get up off the bed because she was afraid she would wake him.

  Macy had always thought that vampires went into some kind of death sleep during the day, but given the lumber mill noises coming from Antonio, she guessed that was wrong. She supposed there were a lot of myths about vampires that she was wrong about.

  Like Rebel. He was a vampire, but his mate was a dragon. From what the women told her, Leigh’s magic changed Rebel when they mated. Now, Rebel could go out during the day, eat regular food and could even kind of fly!

  The women regularly drank from their husbands, so they would live a long life with them. Vampire blood was a known aphrodisiac as well as having some longevity traits. So long as they drank from their mates, Jessica and Brea, who were only humans, would live as long as their husbands.

  Macy couldn’t imagine living that long, but there had been a lot of things lately she had never imagined.

  She looked at Antonio again. Dead people were supposed to stay dead. Antonio had defeated
death with their help, but Macy couldn’t help but wonder how long it would last and how long they would have with him before the Angel of Death caught up with them.

  Frankie tried to roll over but found that she was securely bound by something much bigger than she was. She cracked open an eye and found herself in the guest bedroom once again. The room was dark, but the light on the clock told her it was lunch time. She wiggled until she could move a little more freely, and discovered why she couldn’t move.

  Jacque was wrapped around her tight. He had his body against her back and his arms around her, his leg over hers. When Frankie went to bed she had been alone. Jacque was with Antonio, catching up and getting him dressed.

  At some point after she fell asleep, he had come to her. He didn’t wake her, but he was there with her just the same.

  She tried to get up out of the bed, but he only tightened his hold on her. It was as if even in his sleep he was afraid she would bolt again.

  That wasn’t the plan. Not now. Frankie had opened herself up to him the night before and she was lost to him. She knew it.She only hoped that she wasn’t making the biggest mistake of her life.

  She tried to move again, and she felt his breath on her neck when he pulled her back against his chest. “No,” he murmured in his sleep. “Stay.”

  “I have to go to the bathroom,” she whispered at him.

  “Hurry,” he muttered without letting her go.

  “You have to let me go,” Frankie chuckled.

  Jacque groaned and grumbled something in French, but released her. “Two minutes,” he said without opening his eyes. “Then I’m coming to get you.”

  Frankie rolled out of the bed and went to the bathroom. After taking care of business, she looked in the mirror while washing her hands. Her hair was a mess and her mouth tasted awful. She left the water running while she fumbled through her makeup bag until she found her toothbrush. She brushed her teeth quickly and shut it off.