Crave (Tainted Angels Book 1) (31 page)

“I’m sorry,” she said, pulling away from me when she felt me stiffen in pain.

Shaking my head, I refused to let her go, needing the softness of her unique scent to soothe me, and the feel of her in my arms to regulate the beat of my heart. “No, I need you.”

She nodded, her cries breaking my heart as she clung to me.

“I’m sorry,” I choked out. “I’m so sorry. He said he knew things about you. He took my hand and then all this … stuff, this sick stuff filled my mind. Pictures of you … and others, and …”

She placed her finger to my lips, her head shaking from side to side. “Shh, I know.” Her hand slid to softly hold my cheek. “He used the thing that destroyed my father, enchanting you to do his bidding. It wasn’t you, Rax. I know it wasn’t you.”

“But I hurt you. I hurt you.”

“But your love was enough to save us,” she whispered. “Our hearts saved us, Rax.” She frowned, dipping her voice. “Just like he said.”

“Who said?”

“WILLA!” Delilah came tearing through the trees, her long black hair embroiled with a vast array of broken twigs and leaves. “Jesus, my darling.”

Pulling Willa from my arms she scooped her up, hugging her tightly as she sobbed into her hair.

“I’m okay, Delilah. I’m okay.”

“I swear I shat my fucking soul out back there!” Delilah said as she frantically checked Willa over. “Snagged my bastard stockings on a bloody branch as well. And I’m sure I stood in some sort of animal shit … God knows what lives in there!”

Dexter ran over with the others and took my hand, pulling me up. “Fuck me, you don’t half get into some shit.” He looked around. “Where’s your father?”

Willa looked pained as she slipped her fingers through mine. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

I couldn’t say it didn’t hurt because it hurt like a motherfucker. My own father had tried to kill my mate, just for some crazed idea that he could rule the damn world.

“Don’t you dare be sorry for what that insane bastard did!” I scolded, wiping her tears away with my thumbs. “I should be the one who is sorry. What he did …”

“What he did was his decision,” Willa cut in, her eyes angry on me. “He chose his own path, Rax.”

Jaron sighed and shook his head sadly. “Always knew he was a crazy fucker.”

“Always suspected he had a green knob,” Delilah added with a disgusted curl to her lip. She looked around in bewilderment when we all stared at her. “What? I did.”

Lincoln shook his head in amusement then when he started to cough, a deep chesty hacking sound that caused me to wince, Willa looked at me and then gave me a faint nod.

I meandered slowly over to Lincoln then jumped on him, pinning him down. “What the fuck are you doing?” Linc shouted as he grappled with me.

“Get his arms!” Willa told Zak, who nodded and took one of Lincoln’s flaying arms in a tight hold as Dexter took control of the other.

“Now, brother dearest.” Willa scowled. “You’re going to take what I gift you.”

He frowned at her but when she snagged her wrist with her teeth, he sagged, a tear rolling down the edge of his face. “I don’t want you to …”

“But I do,” she grumbled. “You don’t owe me anything, Lincoln. You’re my brother, and I need you. Shit’s gonna hit the fan. I’m going to need all the damn support I can get. Call me selfish if you want but there’s no way you’re not taking what I’m going to give you.”

The love in his eyes expressed everything as Willa brought her wrist to his mouth and watched as he gave in and took the nectar she offered.

Willa’s mother rushed over and took her hand, tears in her eyes. “You can cure the virus?”

Willa’s smile was breath-taking. “There are some positives to being a freak.” She winked before turning to Delilah. “Your father isn’t to blame for this, Delilah.”

Delilah froze, her eyes probing. “You’ve spoken with him?”

She nodded. “Yes. I’m not going to tell you that you need to do the same because I know what he did is unforgivable. But he also knows that. He knows what he did to you and he’s paying the price, but this virus is not him.” She blew out a long breath, anguish filling her eyes. “The council,” she revealed as she checked on Lincoln and smiled. “They are preparing an army. Things are going to change.”

Sadie nodded. “The Almighty informed us.”

I frowned when I spotted her hand clasped tightly in a man’s hand. He was human, but his eyes were full of something soft as he stared back at her. Sadie blushed, her eyes smiling but apprehensive. “This is Sgt Grant Miller,” she said. “He’s aware of a little but he’s on our side.”

When a marbling in the air appeared beside Willa and she gulped, closing her eyes as if to brace herself, I took hold of her hand, knowing exactly what it was. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “It’s time.”

Delilah framed her face with her hands, her eyes brimming once again with tears. “You were created for this, Willa. I’m so proud of you. You will both lead us into battle and deliver us safely on the other side of it.” She gave Willa a firm hug. “Go take what is yours, my darling.”

“See you at home,” she answered with a small nervous chuckle.

Things were changing so much that saying mundane things like that seemed surreal but I supposed I was going to change too. Hell, I was about to become The Almighty’s mate. Things couldn’t get crazier than that.

“Oooh can you ask for her autograph,” Delilah asked with an eager nod. “Those things sell for insane amounts on eBay!”

Okay, things couldn’t get crazier than Delilah.

“W
elcome to Erewhon, my dear children.”

Mary smiled at me from where she sat on a long Greystone bench amid a pink field of tiny but extravagantly scented tiny flowers. Greenery and a mass of multi-coloured blooms were encased within a band of crystal clear water. The sun beat down from a cloudless sky and an array of insects buzzed in the air around mine and Rax’s bodies, their vigorous humming heralding our welcome into the higher realm.

Mary patted the space beside her and with Rax’s hand tightly grasping my own, we sat.

For a moment she silently smiled at us both before she inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. “You did well, Willa. You trusted your heart which in turn gave you the advantage. Your love for your mate in the end gave you an easy choice.”

I nodded, not quite interpreting the last few hours the same as she did, but hey, what did I know?

“You will come to learn many things Willa. Your abilities over the coming months will rapidly change, as they have been doing in the previous months to prepare you for your destined role. And with a grave sorrow I tell you that you will need to summon each and every one of those gifts for the upcoming battle you and your friends will face. The members of the council will continue to stop at nothing to take want they want, as will many others. Damon Torres was only the start of the war ahead. Your friends and family will become your militia and for the first time ever Erewhon will welcome those who devote themselves to you. And I’m glad for that. It can get quite lonely here when your only company is the many magical creatures that fill the woodlands. But this place is untouchable and will provide a safe haven for your family. The human sergeant will do his all to prepare his world for what is to come. However, I know you will, as you always do, put your heart and soul into what will be needed. Your strength astounds me, darling girl. You have your father’s might and your mother’s courage. You will be good for your people.”

Rax squeezed my hand and smiled down at me. “I agree.”

Mary moved her eyes to Rax. She was so relaxed and I’d never felt more content in someone’s presence before. “As the Alpha’s mate, you will have many battles before you, but I feel in your heart your love for my granddaughter and I trust that together you will overcome many hurdles. I offer my appreciation for the strength of love you hold for Willa. It will not go unrewarded.”

Rax frowned. “The love Willa returns is reward in itself. Her gift to me will never be unappreciated.”

“But you have lost many things.” She spoke with a sadness that caused a lump of emotion to build in my throat. But then she waved her hand towards a hill on the horizon. “The house lodges in the middle of the Elysian Fields. I know you will both be very happy there as I have for many years.”

It was all a bit surreal and all I could do was nod lamely.

“Herb will especially enjoy the surrounding space.” She chuckled. “Talking of Herb, you did not open the gift I sent you.”

I frowned then realised she was talking about the small square box that Lincoln had informed me of. “Everything went a little crazy. I didn’t get chance to.”

She nodded, still smiling. “Well, unfortunately Herb has now eaten it.”

My mouth fell open. I was happy that the huge beast was okay but rather embarrassed that he’d decided to eat The Almighty’s gift. But Mary patted my knee. “Do not fret, child.” She bent and picked up an identical box as though she’d just conjured it from fresh air. “My gift to you both before I depart this world.”

Excitement bubbled in my gut. I loved gifts. Rax grinned at me like it was Christmas, his obvious love of surprises matching my own as I tore open the paper.

I dropped the lid to the floor as I stared inside the small box. My heart rate trebled as my soul started to vibrate with shock. “I …”

“Oh … oh my … shit …” Rax mumbled as I gently slid my hand into the box and took out the two items.

I couldn’t speak as I stared down at the matching pink and blue baby booties.

“The boy in your mate’s belly possesses the soul of the small child cruelly taken by your own blood,” Mary spoke softly to Rax.

As strong and tough as my mate was, the sound of his choked emotions had me glad I was already sitting down.

“And the girl,” she said softly to me as she leaned into me, “she’s a surprise.”

Pushing down the lump in my throat, I blinked at her through my tears. “Twins? Two. We are blessed with two children?”

Mary nodded. “You are. You deserve many more in this lifetime but alas, I can only grant you two.”

One was a dream I could only have hoped for, but two, in a world where couples were only ever blessed with one child, was a miracle. “I … I have no words, or any way of …”

She shook her head. “Your happiness before I leave you is all I need.” She reached for my hand and smiled. “And now it is my time to pass over all my wisdom and grant you the many miracles and devastations that this responsibility awards.”

A sear of heat surged through me, my vision going white as a multitude of bright colours burst in my head like fireworks over a field of snow.

My mind cleared and I blinked. I was a little disappointed that all the secrets of the world weren’t exposed to me and I didn’t feel any different to how I had thirty seconds before.

“I’ll never be far from you, Willa Eden,” Mary whispered, and then she was gone, her essence vanishing.

Rax slipped his arm around my shoulder when I burst into tears. Although I hadn’t known my grandmother long, I couldn’t say it still didn’t grieve me that I was now left without her.

“I’m so proud of you, Seraph,” Rax whispered in my ear as he pressed a tender kiss to my temple.

His eyes filled with tears when he placed his hand over my belly. “There are no words to describe the immense happiness that I’m feeling right now,” he breathed as he touched a finger to my chin and turned my face to his. “But there is one thing that troubles me.”

My heart rate dipped when anxiety burnt my stomach. “What?”

“Our children have Delilah for a grandmother,” he uttered as his face paled.

Oh hell, controlling Delilah around my babies would be a battle within itself, but a task that was sure to provide many happy memories.

Rax stood, pulling me up and into his arms for the most amazing kiss, his adoration making my heart gasp with joy. “Are you ready?” he asked, the love he’d just kissed me with still shone brightly in his gaze.

I nodded, my eyes wandering to the small hill that Mary had gestured to, the top of what appeared to be a castle just visible on the horizon.

“Then let’s go home, Seraph.” Holding my hand tightly, Rax took a deep breath and then led me into paradise.