by C B Samet
“I have Abigail and her children. I have you and Snake Eyes. All of these people make me whole. I don’t need accolades for helping the Champion.”
“Abigail can see me now on her own,” Snake Eyes said.
“Oh. That’s a pleasant surprise.”
“She let me touch her stone in the silver necklace—or, at least, try to. She cleaned it up so it shines brilliantly now. I told her the best way to clean silver—vinegar, salt, and baking soda. Now the silver and the stone sparkle.”
“Speaking of stones. Orrick, I’ve a thought. Do you have the Spirit Stone with you?”
He pulled it out of a pouch, within a satchel he’d been packing as it hung from the dresser.
As he held it, I placed my hand into it and, together, we activated it. My mother dissolved into the room and assessed at her surroundings.
“Mother, I need to ask you a question. Is there a way to lift my obligation of Malos—but still contain man’s evil? Abigail and I need to fix the scepter, and since we’ll be using magic to do that, can I be freed somehow?”
Isabel considered the question. “I can provide you with the spells used to recreate the scepter stone, but it still needs a human host. One of the requirements of the spell was a willing host. It stands to reason that a willing host could take your place. But you would have to find someone who agreed to bear that burden.”
A willing host.
I pulled my hand back, and my mother’s spirit vanished.
“Who’d be willing to subject themselves to that?” Snake Eyes asked.
I shook my head. “I can’t think of anyone I could even ask.” I’d taken this role because I’d been dying of poisoning, and becoming Malos was my one hope to save the people I held dear.
“But there’s a way,” I added in a whisper of hope. “Knowing this lets me hope there’s a way.”
Epilogue
ABIGAIL
Emerald was right. The star on my hand was damaged, not destroyed. After a week of Mal’s mother’s spirit tutoring me in magic and deep meditation, I was able to transport myself to Misty Isle and bring Rebekah home. The concentration was slow and taxing, nothing like the quick trips I’d been used to, but it worked. I needed to find Blue, the gypsy, to fix it completely—but for now, my family was back together.
Emerald, for his part in helping Crithos, was allowed a hearing to discuss his release. I spoke on his behalf and, with Mal’s help, explained the key role the gypsy had played. The royal judge deemed his action worthy of release from imprisonment. I wasn’t present the day of his release—and hadn’t spoken with him at the time of his hearing—so I didn’t know what plans for travel or living he would make.
I was busy relishing the time I had with my family—and we had the enrichment of Mal’s presence. He laughed and joked with Rebekah, created imaginary dragons for Paul to slay, and he played chess with Natalie.
When Orrick had asked me about sharing Mal with my children before I’d left for Bellos, I thought it was a wonderful idea. They ought to know the man who’d saved my life (on more than one occasion), their father’s life, and my mother’s life. They ought to know Orrick’s brother. Watching Mal interact with them on my estate solidified my sense of having made the right decision.
Yet, our days together were numbered, which meant my children were forming bonds with someone who would be present in this world for a finite time. Once we found the way to repair the scepter, Mal would be gone.
Still, Natalie, Paul, and Rebekah would be better for knowing him. We couldn’t avoid enjoying relationships in life for fear of pain when they ended.
“What are you grinning about?” Raven asked.
I leaned against the frame of the back door of my house. “Mal is playing leap frog with Rebekah.”
Carrot swooped in to perch on the pole beside where Raven stood.
Raven shook her head. “You and your spirits. First Malakai, and now you’re practicing magic with the spirit of his mother. You know, from my perspective, you talk to yourself all of the time.”
We’d offered Raven the opportunity to try Orrick’s magic and possibly see Mal, but she declined, saying that the house was crowded enough.
I shrugged. “I’m okay with that. This is my family, including Orrick, and Isabel, and Mal. Including a brownie, a hawk, a wolf, and horses.”
I glanced at Snake Eyes as the small brownie, dressed in green, gazed upon Raven with adoring eyes. She had spirits, too—she just didn’t know it.
“What are you and this Mal character to each other, anyway?”
As I watched Rebekah jump over Mal and giggle, I considered Raven’s question. ‘Friends’ didn’t encompass the breadth and width of our relationship. ‘Lovers’ seemed too one-dimensional. Soul mates? The term felt closest to the truth, but I didn’t like the way it sidelined what Joshua and I shared.
I finally answered, “When I figure it out, I’ll let you know.”
After Abigail’s children were tucked into bed and the house rested in quiet slumber, I lay beside her in her bed. She lay on her side and stared at me with large, blue eyes. She looked relaxed and happy in a way I’d seldom seen her. I liked to think her current state of emotions was at least partially due to the pleasure I’d just given her. I couldn’t do everything I wanted with her—to her—but I felt such a thrill at the absolute control she relinquished, and the way she surrendered her inhibition.
“Can you stay a little while longer?”
“As you wish.”
“You’re exceptional with the children.”
I grinned. “I’ve got the perfect role. I can entertain them with no authoritative obligations, and I never have to clean up after them.”
Abigail laughed. She reached a hand to gently cup my cheek. I felt the tantalizing sensation of her touch.
“Do you think I should tell Natalie?” she asked.
“That you’re madly in love with me? You might want to wait until she knows me better.”
Abigail grinned. “No. That she’ll be Queen one day.”
“Ah. Yes—but you have time. Let’s finish the next quest first.”
She frowned. “The one where we fix the scepter and we become separated forever?”
“I’ll still be able to visit your dreams.”
She rolled onto her back and pulled the covers over her. “It’s not the same.”
“Agreed,” I said dismally, wishing she hadn’t hidden her wonderful, voluptuous curves under the blanket.
“When do you want to leave?” I asked.
Abigail had had two weeks to recover, enjoy the company of her children, and work with Mother’s spirit on magic. I sensed the angst of fixing the scepter weighed on her mind. She’d already been scouring the Book of Stones to see if she could find the needed components.
“Two more weeks,” Abigail replied. “In two weeks, the carnival will be in Meredith. We’ll go there, get my star repaired, and begin the hunt for the stones.”
Two weeks with the children, and then my last adventure with Abigail would begin. I was determined to be grateful for every moment I had and would have with her. Every moment was a treasured gift I would take with me for eternity.
“Abigail.” I traced a finger along an exposed collar bone. “What if we find a way to replace Malos and free me to be with you?”
<< THE END >>
Book 5 ~the finale, coming 2020
About the Author
You can find a map of Crithos and a map of the world at http://www.cbsamet.com/epic-fantasy.html. There is also a link to download Malakai, an Avant Champion story of Malos, for free, as well as The Book of Stones on pdf.
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Also by C.B. SAMET
The Avant Champion Series
Rising, Book 1
Honor, Book 2
Malakai, a story of Malos (prequel)
Ashes, Book 3
Brothers Bond, Book 3.5 (novelette)
Conquest, Book 4
Book 5 coming 2020
Paranormal Romantic Suspense Novella Series
Romancing the Spirit
Sadie’s Spirit
Willow’s Windfall
Cassie’s Chase
Phoebe’s Pharaoh
MODERN ACTION AND THRILLER BOOKS
BY CB SAMET
The Rider Files:
Meridian File, Book 1
Masters File, Book 2
McMillan File, Book 3
Maltisse File, Book 4 (coming 2019)
The Dr. Whyte Series:
Black Gold
Whyte Knight
Gray Horizon