by P. C. Benson
“It could have gone in a very different direction tonight if the Regent had chosen the old way. I foresaw most of them, and some soldiers decimated. This would have taken a big toll on your soul.” She walked towards me and grabbed my hand. “You truly scared me tonight. Like you said, you were brought here, not as good or evil. I was terrified that if you took that many lives, it would taint you. I am sorry that you were placed in that position. Although, I would never have allowed them to hurt him, I still should have protected Daemon.”
I embraced Celeste. She then went to Daemon and did the same. He stiffened up and wrapped his arms around her, the nape of his neck getting red.
“I agree with Celeste. I apologize to both of you. It was my responsibility as the first Nephilim to remind everyone why the Regent was formed in the first place. I had allowed it to become what it was. You should not have had to step in, Gabby. I failed in my duties. I suppose the loss of Miriam affected me more than I thought it did. She would never have allowed this to happen. I thank you, Gabby, for bringing back the core values of the Regency.”
I smiled at Mr. St Clair.
“Now that the Regent is back on track, will they focus the fight on Abaddon?” Vik asked.
“Damon, why do you think he wants a new race of hybrids?” Ti followed.
Daemon shook his head.
Celeste shrugged. “It would be nice to find out why he is obsessed with creating a new race. As for the Regent, only time will tell. It’s good to have Gabby as a backup if we need to shake them up.”
“I think he wants more power,” Daemon said. “He is stronger than Lucifer. He was created to keep Lucifer in check. The Fallen are Lucifer’s army, and Abaddon is only there to make sure there is balance. I believe he is tired of that. He wants something to call his own. He was convinced that he was able to do that with Miriam.”
“Well, it wasn’t Miriam that created Nephilim but me,” Mr. St Clair stated.
Suddenly, Celeste slumped over, and Daemon caught her before she fell from her seat. He laid her gently on the long couch.
“What happened?” Ti asked.
“I don’t know, she just passed out,” Alec said. He squatted in front of her while Daemon sat by her head.
I scanned her energy, ready to heal her, but she was fine.
“Does she faint often?” I asked.
“It’s happened in the past when she has had a significant premonition,” Mr. St Clair said.
“When was the last one?” Vik asked.
“When she prophesied about Gabby coming,” Alec said.
“This must be a big one,” Ti said.
Celeste blinked and groaned. She looked at us all surrounding her and rolled her eyes. “I hate it when that happens. Let me up, everyone.”
We got out of her way as she sat up.
“Are you okay?” Daemon asked.
She nodded shyly.
“What happened?” I asked.
“When a major premonition hits, it takes over. Usually, I just see different possibilities, even past occurrences or a new path opening up. I determine if the path I’m seeing is the present or if we needed to follow a different path. But, when I’m hit with prophecies, it’s a damn riddle, and it always knocks me out.”
Everyone stared at her with a confused look on their faces, not quite understanding what she’d said.
“What was it?” Mr. St Clair and Alec said at the same time.
“The dawn of God’s creation will come. This marks the beginning of the end. The light, which is both, is the one who wields the sword. Dark or light will be defined by the guardian’s love. Humanity defended by the father. Humanity forgotten, humanity renewed, humanity sought. Blood will burn blood. Bonds will break. Through blood and through essence, blackness will be born. The bringer of darkness will ascend. The Nephilim and humanity’s only hope is for the bonded to persevere or the destruction of all is imminent. The father and mother must reunite, and the guardian must succeed in guiding both the essence and the flesh into light, who is our only hope in preventing the destruction of all.”
“So the first line is Gabrielle,” Alec stated. “That’s a given. It is the beginning. She could be dark or light.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. Why did it always come up that I could be evil?
“Who is the father?” Mr. St Clair asked.
“You?” Asked Ti.
“No, he didn’t forget his humanity,” Vik said.
Everyone turned to Daemon. “What? You think the father is referring to me?”
“You were Adam, the first human, father of humanity who was reborn as a Nephilim, your mandate is to make sure humanity prospers, so the line humanity defended by the father, fits. You forgot who you were and are slowly gaining your humanity back, thanks to Gabby. I think they are correct in referring to you, Daemon,” Celeste said gently.
“I really was Adam, the first human…your mate?” he whispered.
They held each other’s gaze, and Celeste nodded. “Yes. You are my mate, and we have been mated through many lifetimes and many hurdles. This is just one of them. This too shall pass.” She reached for his hand and squeezed it.
Watching both of them made me uncomfortable, as though we were intruding in a very personal moment. I knew he was important to our fight against the darkness because something had compelled me to protect Daemon, something unexplainable.
“Blackness born is Lilly.” I sighed. Alec pulled me to him.
“Is the bringer of darkness, Lilly as well?” Ti asked.
“It could be her or Abaddon,” Alec said.
“The bonded are Gabby and Alec, and father and mother are you, Celeste and Daemon. It says you must unite. So you two work on whatever it is you need to work on,” Mr. St Clair said.
They peeked at each other and quickly averted their eyes. They were cute. I hid my smile.
“The guardian is easy. It’s Alec,” Vik started.
“Yes, he must guide Gabby to the light, or it will be the destruction of all if Gabby turns dark. Fuck. Did you hear that, Gabby? No more freaking randomly killing Fallen and overpowering tyrants. We don’t want you to go dark, or it will be the destruction of all,” Ti said.
“Tatia!” Celeste scolded.
“What? It’s true.” She shrugged.
Thirteen
Chapter 12: Choice
Alec
I had been quite busy with the revamping of the Regency. Gabrielle had started it the night of the meeting, but, in retrospect, it was for the best. The remaining Regent members had been more open to policies that would be better for the Nephilim. Gabby’s method might have been heavy, but it got the job done. I usually tried not to be part of the Regency politics, but since she had started all of this, I felt obligated to pitch in. All ten Regent members were now in place, and I agreed with Gabrielle; the people had chosen well. We had been working tirelessly, rebuilding the Regency, and getting our people ready for the war with the Fallen.
I was walking through the garden on my way to the training room to find Gabrielle. We hadn’t had much alone time together in almost a week, so I was looking forward to spending all morning with her. I tried not to think about how much time she had been spending with Daemon—training.
Daemon walked out of the training room as I approached.
“Is Gabby in there?”
“No, she left about half an hour ago after we finished training.”
I gritted my teeth at that statement, which he didn’t miss.
His shoulders stiffened up as he spoke. “Look, I know it bothers you that Gabby and I are training, but I think it’s best that she stays sharp with her energy training. She won’t be able to rely on her raw energy all the time. She is still lacking in manipulating different energies.”
I crossed my arms and spread my feet apart. “Well, a lot happened, and we didn’t have time to touch on that, but I think she is doing fantastic. Considering.”
“I didn’t say she isn’t. I was
just saying that there isn’t anything to be worried about.”
My eyes narrowed. “Who says I was worried?”
Daemon shrugged. “Forget it.”
“No, let’s not. You have something to say, so let it out.”
“Look, Alec, I can’t help that we have a bond. I’m aware that it bothers you, but you know there is nothing else going on between us. We can’t sever the bond even if we wanted to.”
“Oh, clearly, you wouldn’t want the bond severed.”
“Celeste is not bothered by the bond. Why are you so insecure about it?”
“Who the fuck said I was insecure?” My arms dropped to my sides, and my face got hot.
“Look, I don’t want to fight. I know no matter what I do or say, you won’t like me because of the bond, but I’m just trying to help her with training. I’m not encroaching on your territory.”
“That’s really hard to see sometimes since she is ready to fuck up anyone that crosses you, and I don’t see you complaining.”
“Sounds like you two need to talk about that. There is nothing I can do about that.”
“Yeah, there is. Stay the fuck out of my way.” My fists were balled, and I was trying not to punch the prick.
“What is going on?” Gabby asked from behind me.
Daemon raised both his hands. “Ask him. Clearly, you two need to hash some stuff out, but keep me out of it!” he snapped and stomped off as he bumped my shoulder.
Gabby glared at me.
I needed to cool off, so I stepped inside the training room, went to the punching bags, and started with a combination workout. I didn’t bother wrapping my fists.
Gabby followed, but stayed quiet and allowed me to simmer down.
When sweat dripped down my face, I grabbed the bag and got my breathing under control, ready to face her.
She sat on the floor and looked up with a raised brow. “Are you ready to tell me what that was about?”
I pulled her up by the hand, grabbed her waist, and kissed her deeply. She wrapped both her arms around me, and I walked her back to the wall. I trailed kisses down her neck as I lifted her shirt, ready to tug it off.
“Alec, wait. I want to talk first.” She breathed as I continued to kiss her neck.
“Hmm…” I kissed the other side of her neck and traced the smooth skin on her waist.
“Alec.” She grabbed both my shoulders and pushed.
“What?”
“I want to talk about what happened.”
“It was nothing.”
“Sure, it was nothing. I felt your anger. It’s what called me to you. Why are you so angry with Daemon?”
“Can we not talk about it?”
“No. You told me not to bottle it in. I think you should take your advice,” she said with her stubborn face on.
I sighed. “Fine. Can we talk back in our room after I shower?”
“Sure.”
We walked back, hand in hand, as she told me about her training. “I am getting really good at deciphering different kinds of energy and how to manipulate them. It doesn’t take me as long, and I don’t use any raw energy when I do,” she said excitedly.
I tried not to get annoyed that Daemon was the one teaching her this and tried to be happy with her achievements, but…
“Ti and Vik gave up on trying to train me, even on sparring. Turns out, my strength and speed activate when my adrenaline gets going, and they can’t keep up with me; no one can. We tried several ways for me to actively turn it off, but it’s no use. Maybe you and I should try it sometime?”
“Yeah, definitely.” More fucking guilt hit me that I hadn’t been spending time with her and that I was failing as a guardian.
“Although I’m not complaining. Those two are brutal when they train.” She shrugged.
“I’ll just be a second.” I kissed her lips and took a quick shower.
I tried to think of what I was going to say, but every time I thought of Daemon, my temper flared.
She looked up from her book and asked, “Ready to talk?”
I sat next to her in bed and sighed. “If we must.”
“This is payback from all the times you made me talk.” She made air quotes.
She was so fucking adorable. My lips twitched.
“What’s going on, Alec? You know that there’s nothing going on between Daemon and me. You are my world. You’re all I have left. You can even feel what my feelings are towards Daemon.”
I looked away from her, out of the windows, and at the grounds. I knew what she felt towards Daemon, and I didn’t like it. I was being unreasonable, but I couldn’t help my feelings.
“Hey. Talk to me.” She gently placed her hand on my face.
I turned to face her and sighed. “Since you brought Daemon back, you’ve had this fierce protectiveness towards him. You have said several times that if we go against him, then we go against you, and that you two will leave. You mean it when you say it. I believe our bond is strong, but it seems like I’m sharing you with him.”
“But…”
“No, please, let me finish. I understand that he is your responsibility, but it’s more than that. You two are bonded. You are supposed to be bonded to just me. Because of my responsibilities to the Regent, I’m failing at my duties in training you, and he’s there when I’m not. I just can’t help but feel that there are two of us in your life. I’m a possessive bastard, Gabrielle, and I don’t share. You’re mine, and right now, I don’t feel like that’s the case.” I bowed my head in shame.
She was quiet, so I looked up to assess her reaction. “Please say something.”
“I didn’t realize that you felt that way. I mean, I thought you were jealous because you thought I had feelings for Daemon or something. I just… I mean, I suppose if it was another girl, I would totally feel the same way.”
“Really? You don’t think I’m mad or a possessive prick?”
“Well, it’s kinda sexy.” She smirked.
My heart raced, and my groin twitched. “Do you now?”
“Yes. I like being yours, and I would never pick anyone over you. Not even Daemon.”
“Hmm… I like the sound of that. Say it again.”
“What?”
“Say you’re mine.”
“I’m yours, Alec, always.”
Those words shot straight to my heart and into my groin. I grabbed her neck and kissed her fiercely. This time, I successfully got her shirt off, which exposed a lacy bra, her nipples peeking through, begging to be let out. I flicked my tongue over her nipples, and her moan made me as hard as steel. I teased both breasts over the lace before freeing them. She was so responsive. I needed her. “Gabby, I need you. How much control do you have?”
“I need you too, Alec.” She breathed hard.
“Do you think you can hold it?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t expelled a lot of energy, but we can try. I want to…”
That was all I needed from her. She wore a skirt which I loved—so accessible. I raised it up, moved her panties to the side, and rubbed between her wet folds. “Fuck, you’re dripping wet. So fucking ready.”
I quickly undressed, kissed inside her inner thigh, and made my way down.
“Don’t tease me, Alec, it’s not helping.”
“Fuck. I don’t want it to be quick.”
“I don’t care.”
I hesitated. I wanted her badly, but I wanted to savor our first time and take it slowly.
She got up, pushed me onto the bed, and took control. She flicked her tongue out and tasted me, then she wrapped her lips around my girth and swirled her tongue around as she tried to swallow me whole. She added her hand with her rhythm, and I about lost it. I grabbed her hair and watched her talented mouth.
I noticed her leaking energy. I loved that what she was doing turned her on. I siphoned off her energy and built a dome around us. I kept taking and taking, and soon we had the same dome we had in the forest by the lake.
“Com
e here, baby.” I panted.
She climbed on top, and I knew what she planned on doing, so I flipped us quickly, and I smirked at the pout on her lips.
I wanted to make sure that she was ready and that there weren’t any unexpected energy bursts from her.
I lowered my mouth in between her legs and tested her reaction. No energy flare, so I continued to savor her. She grabbed my hair, then pushed my head down. Her moans were a fucking turn on. I added my finger and her muscles clenched hard, she thrust up and down as she tugged on my hair. Her ragged breathing was interrupted by her sweet moans. She was close.
I kept pulling energy from her as I teased her entrance. Her energy was stable—the dome was fucking glowing, so I prodded her slowly. She sucked in a breath and held it.
I kept going and was about halfway in—fuck, she felt amazing. I kept taking her energy, and a moan escaped her as I sucked in a breath, and goosebumps ran down my back.
“Fuck, Gabby, so fucking good. Better than I had imagined.”
“Alec, please don’t stop,” she said breathlessly.
I thrust further and was all the way in. She was so fucking tight that I had to pause and adjust to the sensation.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded as her face flushed, her energy seeped into me, and our energy mingled. It made me more attuned to what felt good for her. My whole body tingled with pleasurable zaps of her energy.
I moved, and our breaths hitched.
We kissed savagely, and there were tears in her eyes. Fuck, this was heaven. I wouldn’t last. I started slowly, but she felt too good, and soon I pumped harder and faster, and our breaths and moans got louder. Our energy swirled inside the dome. I wasn’t sure if I could keep feeding the dome because it was oversaturated, but Gabby’s energy kept rising, and I needed to absorb some of it. I didn’t want to stop, so I completely opened myself up and allowed her energy to seep into me. Instead of pain, the pleasure intensified.