Intended Series Collection: Books 1-6 by Abigail Grant (best summer books .txt) 📗

throwing attacks for a half hour and she only has a small sheen of sweat just below her red hairline. I, on the other hand, am sweating a lot more and panting a bit from trying to avoid her throws. Yeah, I’m a mess.

“El, you’re doing it again! You are spaced out and not paying attention!” She grabs her hair in a large wavy red bushel and ties it quickly with the hair-tie she keeps on her wrist. “What’s going on?”

I shrug and rub the sore spot on my shoulder where the rock made an impact. “I can’t stop my brain from worrying, like usual.”

Alexa walks closer to me and pulls me to sit on the polished wooden floor with her. She crosses her legs and leans toward me. “Let’s talk about it, then. I’m going to really listen this time, so no hiding and lying.” Her golden eyes watch me, unblinking.

I sigh. “I promise, no more lying. Barron visited me last night again, in my dream.”

Alexa growls and rolls her eyes. “That bastard!” She shouts the word and I can’t help my small flinch. She is a scary woman when she wants to be.

“Honestly, Lex. I feel like he doesn’t actually want to kill me. I know it probably sounds stupid, but he is different than the other demons I’ve met.” Still evil though.

Alexa raises one eyebrow. “Different? I’m pretty sure that is impossible for demon-kind.”

She is right, I’m sure. I haven’t been in this world very long, so I am likely just being hopeful. I lay back on the hard floor with a harumph. “Yeah, I don’t doubt that he’ll try to kill me either way.”

Alexa is quiet as my mind continues to stress. I have been thinking about the safety of a couple certain humans as well, so why not talk to my trainer about it? I sit back up. “Lex, I think we should send Kassy and Liam somewhere safe for a while.”

Alexa sits up straighter. “I was thinking the exact same thing! And I know just where they can go, too!”

I tilt my head at her. “Where?”

“England!” she shouts and my eyebrows raise.

Before I can ask why England, she continues. “Cy’s fiancé, Amalia is from England and I have been talking to her a lot lately. She has a huge family over there and she already offered her home in case anybody needs it.”

“Wow!” I say. “That is just perfect, isn’t it?” I mull over the idea, rolling my tongue around in my mouth. “I guess I’ll have to break the news to Kass, then…”

“What news?” Kassy’s voice breaks into the gym, bouncing off the high ceilings.

I spin around to see her and Liam standing at the entrance, eavesdropping on our conversation.

Crap…

***

I’ve spent the last two hours convincing Kassy and Liam to leave our little army and go to England. We ventured into the main house where Gavin joined in on the argument. Then Cy, Amalia, and Neo showed up to the party with their opinions.

It turns out that everyone is in agreement about protecting our human friends. Since I have been gone, Amalia has gotten close to the group and become good friends with both Kassy and Alexa.

I’m almost jealous that I’ve missed the budding friendship, but I made my own choices for a reason. It’ll just take some time to catch up.

“Okay!” Liam shouts above the chatter in Gavin’s large living room.

All eyes turn to him and he wraps an arm around Kassy’s shoulders. “We’ll go to England, guys. I’m happy to take a vacation with Kass any day.” He smiled down at her and she sighs.

Kassy shakes her head. “If everyone wants us to go, we’ll go. I just thought that maybe I could be helpful in the big fight, ya know?” Her eyes fall on me and the brown in them is sad.

I go to her and Liam and wrap them both in a hug. “I love you both. I just can’t risk something happening to you.”

Amalia comes to my side, her dark curly bob bouncing with each movement of her head. Her dark cheeks stretch with a big smile. “You will love England. It’s quite romantic.” Her English accent frames the statement with its romantic lull.

“Oh yeah! I can agree with that, babe!” Cy’s voice breaks in and Amalia’s smile only grows.

A small pink blush tries to pierce through her brown cheeks, faint against her dark complexion. She wraps her arms around Cy’s muscly neck and he kisses her sweetly.

“Cut it out, you two! Save it for Friday!” Alexa groans at the two almost newlyweds and everyone laughs.

The kissing ceases and Cy rolls his eyes. “Come on, cuz! You’ve got your own Intended now.” He nods to where Neo sits, causing him to hold his hands up in surrender. “You two will be in the same spot as us soon enough.”

Alexa’s mouth drops open with a bright red blush erasing her many freckles. “Cy!” she shouts and her eyes fall on Neo.

Neo laughs and stands from his seat. “Well, since I’m in the spotlight…” He walks toward Alexa and bows before her. “Alexa Cole, will you go to the wedding with me this Friday?”

The group erupts in a synchronized “awww” and Alexa shakes her wild red waves with a happy grin gracing her small face. “Yes, Neo. I will.” She takes his hand.

Feeling romantic, I grab hold of my own Intended and kiss his cheek. “I love you,” I whisper in his ear, trying to make up for all the times I couldn’t say it to him.

He looks down at me with dark golden eyes and a half smile. “I love you more,” he whispers back.

Very doubtful, Mr. Cole.

Chapter 6

“That looks disgusting, Maggie!” Kassy’s pink nose scrunches up as she watches Aunt Mags create her mixture.

Aunt Mags throws all kinds of herbs and mushy stuff that I have no name for into a large red mixing bowl. She stands in Gram’s usual spot, but