“I don’t know but it seems likely,” he answered, his eyes still locked on the monitors.
Another Grimlock came charging forward from the left side, swinging his deadly morning star. When the beast released its weapon, it again crashed into the barrier. The foundation of the house shook, and even more sparks rained down. It looked like a firework show, but this show was far from entertaining as it lit the horrors below.
The barrier held, but again, there was an even longer crack which extended upward toward the center with another two cracks branching off to the sides, making it look like a fork. My heart sunk until it slowly began to mend and disappear.
“They’re checking the integrity of the barrier,” Kade said.
“But the Grimlocks are blind,” I noted.
“Oh, believe me, there are others watching and directing. The Grimlocks and Hellhounds are merely pawns, but somewhere in the darkness, Lucian is watching.”
“Do you think the strength of their hits is weakening the barrier?”
“I don’t know, but it looks like if it sustains too many all at once, it could weaken it enough for them to break through.”
His words confirmed what I was feeling. “I wish this would all be over soon,” I sighed.
He turned to me. “Me too,” he said softly.
I yawned and felt drained.
“You need sleep,” he said, turning toward me.
“So do you. Will you stay with me?” I asked.
“Of course.”
He walked me over to the bed and yanked the blanket down. I crawled in and as he pulled it back up back up, I grabbed his hand.
“Wait,” I begged. “I need you right now. I don’t know how much time we have left, but I want to make every second count. Having you close, holding me, helps everything around me melt away.”
He paused and a grin formed on his face. “I told you, whatever I have to give is yours.”
I patted the empty spot on the bed, and instead of lying on top of the blanket like he usually did, he crawled in next to me. I rolled toward him and he wrapped me in his arms, our bodies pressed tightly together.
“This is exactly what I needed,” I whispered, enclosed within his arms. And as always, every stress beyond his arms dwindled away, like dust in the wind.
I felt his warm lips rest on my forehead. “I wish I could seal the bond, and make this whole thing go away,” he whispered.
“I do too,” I breathed. “We have hope.”
“Yes,” he said quietly. “And until the end, I will hold tightly to that hope.”
“So will I.”
Encased in his arms with the rising and falling of his chest with each breath, it was as if he had put the sleeper on me. In no time I faded into a deep slumber.
WHEN I WOKE, KADE WASN’T next to me, and the room was empty. I sat up and noticed a small note on his pillow.
His handwriting was so elegant. A smile rose on my lips as I picked up the small piece of paper. I glanced at the monitors and they were empty. As I was about to turn away, one of the Fallen, with black wings stopped directly in front of one of them. He stopped hovering beyond the barrier, but looking directly at the camera.
My heart sank.
“Ethon,” I whispered, glad to see he was still alive. His crimson eyes looked sad, and then he did something unexpected. He placed his hand over his heart and extended it toward the camera… toward me… like he knew I was watching.
How could he know? Maybe he was guessing.
His head snapped back like he heard something. He turned back to the camera, threw a quick kiss, then shot off over the forest, so fast it was like he’d vanished. My heart ached for him, and I couldn’t make it stop.
I needed to get out of this room. I felt like I was suffocating.
I took my duffle and left the room, running down the twisted hallway until I reached the hidden door we’d come through. Breaching the door I heard voices.
Before I reached the stairs I quickly threw my duffle in my bedroom, then spotted the group standing in the foyer.
“Hey, Emma!” Alex shouted
“Hey! I thought you guys would be sleeping.” I walked down the stairs into Kade’s awaiting arms.
“We were about to get something to eat first.”
Dom walked in with an apron over his fighting clothes, looking absolutely ridiculous.
“Wow, this room smells very sweet,” he said joining the group with his usual large smile.
I narrowed my eyes at him. What was he talking about? I sniffed the air and could only smell, wait… was that breakfast I was smelling?
James jumped in to explain. “Emma’s transformation is near, and her immortal scent is becoming stronger.”
“Well, it’s no wonder they’re coming after her. Her scent is very appealing. Nothing like I’ve smelled before,” Dom noted.