Gemini (35 page)

Her love brought me back to life.

She wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me up to sit beside her.

I cupped her cheeks and kissed her. The nerves in my skin woke. The electricity between us pulsated faster as she drew me closer.

With one last tug on my bottom lip, she pulled back and rested her forehead to mine. “I’ve missed you. So much.” She grinned, then dived back into my lips, kissing me like the Zoe I used to know. My Zoe.

My Chayah.

"Do you feel better?"

“Much.” I ran my fingers along the line of her jaw.

"Good, because we need to go. Now."

I drew her into my arms, and she nuzzled into my chest and closed her eyes.

"I've never done this before, Cade. I need your help."

"Where are we going?”

"Eden,” she said. “The Great Hall."

"Focus your energy, love.” I tightened my grip. “Focus on me."

I concentrated on Eden and the Great Hall, on Zoe—her love, our time together this incarnation. Kissing her at the piano. The night of our date. In our bed.

Zoe’s light replaced the emptiness within my soul.

As I held her, vibrations moved through us, and our bodies began to hum and pull away from the cell.

I was never more proud of my Chayah.

The room began to fade out, until a new wind whipped in around us.

A portal was opening.

Our energies were sucked back to the dusky ground.

Lilith appeared in a cloud of dust. Her eyes widened when she saw Zoe beside me on the floor.

"What the hell are you doing here?” She growled. “Did you learn nothing from the past six months? You had an out. You really do have a death wish, don't you?" She pulled out her dagger.

Zoe wrenched herself from my arms and hopped to her feet. She whipped around me, drawing out a dagger from her side, and held it toward Lilith.

“Zoe.” Lilith cackled, shaking her head. “It pleases me to no end seeing you put up a fight, but you’re in way over your head with me, little bird.”

Showing no fear, Zoe lunged and thrust her dagger toward Lilith’s chest, but Lilith dodged and stumbled into the wall. Fell to her knees.

Zoe hovered over her, dagger pressed toward Lilith’s throat.

Lilith shoved Zoe back and hopped to her feet. She charged back for Zoe, but Zoe swung around, kicked up her foot and shoved Lilith back down.

In seconds, Lilith returned to her feet.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Lilith laughed.

“Nope.” Zoe pulled back and kicked, but Lilith caught her and pushed Zoe to the ground beside me.

“Nice try. You can do better than that,” Lilith grinned.

I reached out for Zoe, but she pushed me aside and bounded back up to her feet.

My energy was still low, and as much as I desired to help, I didn’t have the strength. Or a weapon. This was Zoe’s battle, and she was doing well on her own.

“Yeah, I can.” Zoe guarded me, kicking up her foot at Lilith, who surged forward, dagger at Zoe’s chest.

My heart raced, feeling Zoe’s pounding within her chests. Our hearts synced, her energy melded with mine as I began to feel better.

Zoe dodged to the right, and Lilith missed. They both stumbled but held their ground.

Despite my concern for Zoe, I was never more proud. She’d obviously been training and was giving Lilith a fair fight.

And Lilith knew it.

“I must admit—” Lilith inhaled. “I’m impressed,” she hissed and stalked toward Zoe. “But you really are no match for me. I do sincerely appreciate the effort, though.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, you haven’t gotten in one good jab at me. And you say I’m no match for you? Ha. I call your bluff, lady. If this is the best you got, you’re in a bit of trouble.”

“Guess we’ll see.” Lilith thrust her dagger at Zoe, who darted to the right and shoved hers into Lilith’s side, forcing Lilith into the wall. Lilith bounced, then fell to her knees, but quickly rebound, even with blood seeping through her clothes.

“And you say I never learn?” Zoe popped forward, hauling Lilith into the wall once more. Lilith fell into the chairs in the corner, knocking them to the side.

“You wanted a war, Lilith. Well, you’ve got one.” Zoe rushed Lilith.

Zoe was wearing Lilith down, one move at a time. Lilith put up a good fight, but her sighs and subtle moans made it clear she was beginning to tire. In reality, she was no match for Zoe’s agility. Lilith was lucky Zoe was new to this world. She would likely not survive her in full form.

Lilith turned back, and they both danced around the room, taking turns jabbing and lunging, only to end in a stalemate.

My gaze scanned the room, searching for some form of distraction. If they proceeded in this stalemate, we’d never get out of here.

Familiar voices outside the cell must have had a similar idea, as they were in the midst of a battle of their own. Julian and Nate must have been sent as back up, though unable to penetrate this cell, I’d hoped now with Zoe’s intrusion, the enchantment would soon be broken and we could forge a portal home with ease.

I made to stand, feeling a little stronger, when a new portal opened up, and Elijah materialized.

Lilith was caught off guard, and she whipped around.

Zoe surged, burying her Eternal dagger into Lilith’s side.

Disabled, Lilith slumped to the ground, clutched her chest, and dropped her dagger, while Zoe stood over her, beaming with pride.

Elijah moved beside her. “I’ll cover her, and the boys are outside. Go. Take Cade home.”

Zoe rushed to my side just as another portal opened above us, and two familiar adversaries came through. Azriel and one whose name I couldn’t recall.

Landing on his feet, Azriel lurched straight for Zoe.

Zoe darted around so fast, she gave me whiplash. She didn’t stall a second and forced her dagger into the demon’s leg. It didn’t make much difference though, as he pulled back and kicked out his foot.

Zoe was sent flying across the room, into the chairs.

Elijah came beside Zoe and pulled her to her feet. “Take the demon, I’ll get Azriel.”

The demon dove for Zoe, but she didn’t blink. She thrust her dagger toward him, but he cast a blow, knocking the dagger to the ground, leaving Zoe defenseless.

She eyed the dagger, but the demon pressed forward. His hands went straight for her neck.

Zoe pulled her fist around and punched him under the jaw.

His dagger fell from his hand as he flew around. Too far from his reach, the demon picked up a wooden chair and held it over Zoe.

She didn’t hesitate, but swung her foot as he thrust the chair toward her, and she knocked him off his feet. Zoe picked up her dagger, surged forward, and thrust the metal weapon into his stomach.

He howled, as the bite of the Eternal dagger pierced his soul, which from what I’d been told, was much more painful than a Fallen weapon—lethal to those who befell its wrath.

The demon’s soul would be sent to the dark realm, where it belonged. He would not be coming back from that.

Elijah and Azriel were in their own stalemate when Zoe jumped in, distracting him long enough for her dagger to thrust into Azriel’s thigh.

“Bitch!” Azriel pulled out the dagger and threw it on the ground. “I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.” He charged toward her.

Zoe stood steady, her dagger prepared to bound forward.

Elijah stepped between them, hurtling Azriel to the ground.

“Zoe, go. Take Cade now.”

She nodded and dropped down beside me.

Over Zoe’s shoulder, I could see Lilith stirring from the corner.

“Lilith.” I tipped my head toward the door as she rose to her feet, dagger in hand, rushing toward us.

Twisting around, Zoe leapt to her feet. Grabbed her dagger, pulled back her arm, and sprang forward.

Lilith charged, but stopped short as Zoe plunged her dagger deep into Lilith’s chest.

Lilith wheezed, gasping for air as the color drained from her face.

Zoe stared blankly into Lilith’s eyes, holding the dagger in place. Frozen.

A moment later, Zoe pulled out the dagger.

Lilith’s eyes fell shut, and her limp form crumbled to the ground.

Zoe stared at the wall for a moment, then dropped her dagger and fell to her knees beside Lilith. She blew out a breath, and sat back on her heels, shoulders slumped, staring at Lilith’s now lifeless body.

“Lilith!” Azriel shoved Elijah and ran to Lilith’s side, picking up her sagging figure from the floor. “You’ll pay for this, bitch.” He threatened Zoe, then took off out the door.

I moved toward Zoe and drew her into my arms.

She just stared at the, pool of Lilith’s blood as it seeped into the coal floor and disappeared.

“I killed her.”

A second later, Julian and Remie stormed in through the door.

“Azriel took Lilith,” Julian said. “What do we do, boss? You want them, or what?”

Zoe remained silent, her body trembling in my arms.

“Boss?”

“Let them go.” She breathed out.

I closed my eyes, and her voice whispered in my mind, communicating as we used to.

"Take me home."

The heat spiked in the room as our heartbeats merged into one. A rush of wind pulled in through the door, and my head swarmed.

Julian said the incantation and opened a portal, but Zoe opened a portal of her own. One just for us.

Zoe held on tight, electricity jolted through us, transforming our bodies into their purest energy state.

The room faded out, and our lights pulled away into the darkness.

I closed my eyes, held Zoe, and focused on Aravot and the Great Hall, on Zoe's essence that was merged with mine.

The lights surrounding us disappeared and the cell faded.

The pressure changed. A hum soared through the air.

Zoe brought us home.

The peacefulness of our journey was disrupted when our bodies were sucked back into the physical realm. A jolt roused us. Her arms tightened around me as our souls separated.

I opened my eyes. Eternals circled us.

Zoe and I lay there on the floor amongst their Infinity Circle. She opened her eyes and moved closer. The chanting stopped, and the room fell silent.

We had materialized.

Zoe sat up and tugged me into her arms. I laid my head on her chest, her heart hammering against my cheek. It slowed to a normal pace, and my own heart began to synchronize with hers.

We both let out a breath. We were home.

"You saved my life, Zoe."

She peered down at me and lifted my chin with her thumb.

"No. You saved mine."

And although we were in a room full of people, it was just Zoe and me. Nobody else.

The rest of the room faded as she leaned in and rested her hand against my cheek. The background noises silenced, and the only sounds came from her breathing and the beating of our hearts.

Energized, I sat up and ran my hands along her cheek to her shoulders, then down her sides. I rested them on her hips and tugged, gently flipping Zoe onto the floor beneath us.

She giggled, such a beautiful sound that sent goose bumps racing to my heart.

I bent down and nearly brushed her lips against mine.

“Chayah," I whispered. "I love you."

Her eyes welled with tears, staring back through drifting lids.

I pressed my lips to hers. As I held her close, the softness of her skin brushed against mine. My body came alive and heat rushed through me. I needed her.

Now.

I kissed along her jaw and down her neck, nuzzling into the soft spot behind her ear to capture her sweet vanilla scent that wrapped around my senses.

Remembering we weren’t alone, I pulled back and rested my forehead to hers.

She laughed and closed her eyes. "I love you, Cade Adams," she whispered. "For Eternity."

"Then let's go." I drew away and stood quickly, extending my hands.

She reached up, and I pulled her to her feet.

"Where are we going?"

“Home.” I set my hands on her cheeks. “I’m taking you home.”

“But wait, don’t we have to do that Ceremony thingy?” She narrowed her eyes. “I thought we didn’t have all night?”

“We do have to do the Ceremony
thingy
first.” I held back a chuckle, gently running my finger along her jaw. “But tonight is the Winter Solstice, love. The
longest
night of the year?”

Color splashed across her high cheekbones. Her burning gaze locked onto mine as her breaths hitched, and her heart picked up its pace, sending mine into a frenzy.

“Tonight, Chayah, our Twin Soul’s Converge.” I ran my thumb across her bottom lip and leaned closer, narrowing the distance between us. “And for this night—” I whispered low. “Time stands still.”

The
End
Beginning…

Stay Tuned for a Sneak Peak…

~Evanescence~

Book Two of the Eternal Sacrifice Saga

Coming December, 2016

Since sneak reading her first big girl romance at the age of eleven, Dylan's been addicted to Happily Ever Afters. Playing pretend with swoon-worthy book boyfriends and their strong leading ladies often keeps Dylan sleep deprived, though she seldom complains about dreaming in dialogue.

With juxtaposed interests, Dylan writes it all ~ Character driven romance in NA, YA and adult, from sticky sweet to taboo heat ~ Urban Fantasy to Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense. Nothing's off limits.

When she's not writing guilty pleasures, Dylan plays stage mom to her daydreamer offspring in the Midwest. This Music fangirl goes nowhere without her beats and playlists. She has an affinity for Moscato and chocolate-covered strawberries. Dreams of singing on the Voice with Adam and Christina, and fantasizes about getting trapped in Mystic Falls with Damon Salvatore.

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