Chapter Twelve
Alex
I tucked Eden into bed and asked Emma to come up and stay with her.
I needed to get to Midway myself and make sure they knew exactly what was going on. And I wanted permission to stay with Eden a little longer than a week, especially with everything going on. I wasn’t sure how this would all end, but I knew she would need some time to recover. We all would.
Dom decided to come with me. He knew we’d need all the extra help we could at the Gray estate, especially now that another Nephilim was under their roof. It seemed as if Alaine’s home was becoming a lighthouse. It was saving Nephilim, but also drawing in the Fallen.
Emma arrived with a book and a hot cup of coffee in her hand. “The portal is ready. Kade is going to stay in the other room until you return. I guess he wanted to make sure we were safe.”
“Thanks. We shouldn’t be long, unless Dom causes some trouble.”
Emma laughed. “Well, don’t worry about Eden. I won’t leave her until you get back.”
I nodded and headed out the door, down the hall to Emma’s old room. Dom and Kade were already inside.
“You ready, man?” Dom asked.
“I am. Are you?”
“I’m always ready. I just don’t think Ephraim is ready to see me. I’m like a good wine. Just a little goes a long way.”
Kade shook his head. “I think you’re more like gum, stuck on the bottom of Ephraim’s shoe. A sticky inconvenience.”
“Sticky but sweet,” Dom said.
“Not after you’ve been chewed for any given length of time.” Kade opened the closet door and ushered us in.
Dom stepped in. “You all don’t appreciate everything I have to offer.” He turned to face us, flexed his biceps and popped his pecks before stepping backward into the portal and disappearing.
“Good luck,” Kade said. “You better get in there before he puts Ephraim in a mood.”
“No kidding.” I shook my head and stepped toward the closet. “See ya.”
***
Dom was already making his way toward the guard in front of Ephraim’s door when I took off running after him.
“What do you want?” the guard asked, thrusting out his arm.
Dom stepped up to him, pressing his chest against his hand. “I’d like some fried chicken and a root beer float. Could you make that happen?”
“No,” the guard responded, making Dom grin.
“I’m sorry,” I said stepping next to Dom. I don’t know why I was apologizing for him. “I really need to see Ephraim. It’s a matter of life or death.” The guard looked at me and then at Dom. “Don’t look at him. I’m the one who needs help.” I turned to Dom. “Well, he obviously needs help, but not the kind that Ephraim can give him.” I held up a finger to Dom’s mouth before he could speak. “Don’t.”
The guard sighed. “Wait here.” He cracked open a door to Ephraim’s office and slipped inside, closing it quickly again.
“Little bro, don’t push me or you’ll end up in a wrestling match you can’t win.”
“I may not win, but I’ll tag Emma. And that, big bro, is a match you can’t win.”
“Touché,” Dom replied. “Touché.”
When Emma had transformed and received her powers, Dom was feeling happy and threw her a playful punch. Little did we know, Emma had more than one gift. When the punch was thrown, her instincts kicked in. With her newly gifted strength, she grabbed hold of Dom’s arm and without any effort, flipped him over her head and slammed him to the ground. Dom was in complete shock because a girl had kicked his ass. It was amazing and would always remain one of my favorite memories.
The guard returned and opened the door, his eyes meeting mine. “If you can keep him in line, you both may enter.”
Dom glanced at me. “Don’t worry about me.”
The guard stepped aside and let us through. Inside, Ephraim was at his desk. “Dom, I see you are alive and not in Guam. I’ve been trying to make contact with you, to no avail. Why is that?”
Dom moved toward Ephraim. “I found a Nephilim boy on the run from the Fallen. The little dude slammed right into me, so to save his life, I grabbed hold of him and dragged him from portal to portal, until we reached Alaine’s house. Because it has the barrier, I knew it was the safest place for him.” Dom took another breath. “I didn’t want to leave him. He’d grown attached to me in that short while. But I’m here now, and giving you the rundown.”
Ephraim stared at him for a moment, and when Dom didn’t say anything else, he stood.
“I suppose what you did was the right thing.”
“You suppose? I saved the kid’s life.”
“Don’t push it, Dominic.” Dom sighed, but kept his mouth shut.
Then Ephraim turned his attention to me. “I received Kade’s text not long ago. I’m assuming that’s the reason why you’re here.”
“It is,” I replied. “Thomas has been taken and is being tortured. They sent us his severed wing, and now they are demanding a trade, which must be fulfilled within three days . . . Thomas’s life, in exchange for Eden.”
Ephraim’s expression turned solemn. “I’m sorry, Alexander. I know this must be a trying time. I’ve sent word to Grandia, but if Thomas is in the Underworld, there might not be much they can do because of the pact. But, if you can find a way,” Ephraim’s eyes widened, “I will turn a blind eye. However, I do realize that stepping into the Underworld is like accepting a death wish. I will neither approve nor disapprove.”
“Ephraim, is there a really a heart under that iron chest?” Dom questioned.
“Only when necessary,” he replied. “In regards to your mate, Alexander. I suggest you keep her under lock and key for the next three days. If the Fallen get their hands on her, there is no telling what could happen. You may never see her again.”
“Hey, Eph, before your heart fades I’d like to put in a petition to stay at the Gray estate. Right now, they need all the help they can get. And since I found Mateo, I thought it necessary to be his Guardian until this all blows over.”
“Fine. I’ll set up a new file. You can remain at the Gray estate until this is resolved.” Ephraim then narrowed his eyes at Dom.
Dom glanced at me then back at Ephraim. “You’re not shitting me, are you, Eph?”
“No, I’m not,” Ephraim replied. “And, please don’t use that hideous mortal verbiage here. Also, my name is Ephraim. I don’t appreciate being called a consonant.”
“Fair enough.” Dom clenched his fists and gave a silent cheer. Even I was shocked that Ephraim gave in so quickly.
“I will let you know what Grandia has decided. Until then, I suggest you start to make some decisions of your own.” Ephraim’s eyes bore into mine, indirectly telling me what needed to be done.
“I will,” I said.
Ephraim made his way to the back of his office and created a portal. “I hope your friend Thomas is okay. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Thanks, Ephraim,” Dom said, annunciating his name with a punch.
“Please leave before I come to my senses.”
I grabbed Dom by the arm and pulled him through the portal.
Exiting the closet, Kade was on the bed eating a sandwich.
“Is there more?” Dom asked. “I’m starving.”
“Starving?” I spat. “You just ate steak and potatoes.”
“I have a fast metabolism. That meal has long been processed. Besides, these babies need protein.” He slapped a hand to his bicep.
“The kitchen is closed, but you can make one yourself,” Kade said.
“Fine. I guess I’ll head to Alaine’s office first and see if I can get my old room back.”
“You’re staying?”
“Yep. Since most of you are bonded, I’m here to keep the balance.”
“Okay,” Kade said, taking a large bite. He then took his plate and stood from the bed.
We all left the room. Dom headed downstairs, and Kade and I made our way down the hall toward Eden and Emma. When I opened the door, Emma was curled up on the chez lounge reading.
“Back so soon?” she whispered, sitting up.
I nodded. “Ephraim knows what’s going on and has already made contact with Grandia. He said he’ll be in touch, and he even allowed Dom to stay.”
“That’s . . . shocking,” Kade answered from behind me.
“Yeah, even Dom was speechless.”
Emma made her way to Kade. With his free arm, he hugged her. “We’ll see you in the morning. Alaine wants everyone in her office at six A.M.”
“We do have a lot to discuss,” I said, looking at Eden. She was sleeping so peacefully, as if nothing had happened. I only wished that when she woke from the sleeping spell, that she would forget everything that had happened tonight.
Ephraim was right. We needed to keep her safe and inside, until this ended. I knew Thomas better than anyone, and he would be pissed if she were taken. The trouble would be trying to convince Eden that she needed to stay put and not do a thing.
I wished I could just keep her asleep for the three days, but if she ever found out, she would never forgive me. The best thing to do was to make sure she had a deep and restful sleep. Tomorrow we would put our heads together and come up with a plan.
Ephraim was practically telling me to get a group together to rescue Thomas. But going into the Underworld was not as easy as it seemed. Yes, we’d done it before, but a life was lost. Was it worth risking multiple lives to rescue one? For me, I would risk my life to rescue my friend, because I knew that Thomas would do the same for me. As for the others . . . I couldn’t make that decision for them. They’d have to decide their own fate themselves.
After making sure Eden was comfortable, I took a shower and slid into bed next to her. Holding her in my arms, the events of the night came rushing back to me. The look on her face when she saw the bloody wing, and the note saying they wanted her in exchange for Thomas’s life. I couldn’t explain the agony I felt, unable to console her. I was her mate and her Guardian. I was supposed to protect her and keep her safe, yet at that very moment, I felt incapable and powerless. She was my world, and I helplessly watched it crumble apart.
I hugged her tighter, wishing I could squeeze every negative thought from her and replace it with every wonderful thing I knew about her. Although the war between the Fallen and Nephilim was far from over, when we survived this particular one, I would take her to Grandia. I’d promised to take her, but Alaine insisted on starting her training.
She would love Grandia and the place I grew up. It was beautiful, a land bathed in heavenly light, filled with lush green grass and flowers of every color imaginable. The trees were full and blossoming with colors and the sweetest fruit. The rivers and lakes were crystal clear and the air was sweet. There was no darkness and no evil, and the longer you stayed, the more at peace you became. Not only with yourself, but also with the environment and all those who resided there.
“I’ll take you to Grandia soon,” I whispered into her ear. “I love you, Eden. We’ll get through this.”
I clicked off the lamp and held her in my arms, listening to her soft breathing. And although it took a while, with her wrapped in my arms, I eventually fell asleep.