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

“Heck yeah. I’m totally in.” Gavin’s cousin Jed stands from the dining room table with a wicked smile on his face. “I’d do anything for Gavin, and now you too, El.”

I pull in a grateful breath at the love and support in this family. “Okay, then. Let’s go tonight.” I have a vague map written by a demon, a Wicca to guide me, and a group of Seers by my side. I always knew I’d need an army to go up against Barron. Looks like I’ve got one.

Chapter 6

Gavin

The cold against my face and the burning in my chest wake me from the dream I found myself lost in. Dreaming of Aella after our first night together as a Bonded couple is a whole new intoxicating experience.

I groan as I turn over in bed to find my new wife, but my hand only rests on hard, freezing cold stone. I try to blink past the hazy film in my eyes from a heavy night's sleep, but the dark world around me remains a blur. I am unable to focus on anything other than what I can feel.

I slowly force my groggy body to sit up and I reach in all directions around me. Everywhere I touch is just the same cold rock of some sort. I’m only able to extend an arm in each direction before finding the rock.

I’m in a cave.

“Aella!” I shout for her, but my voice echoes back at me. It’s no use, I already know she isn’t anywhere near me. The throbbing ache in my chest tells me that we have been far from one another for hours.

A low rumbling chuckle has me spinning to my left. “Who’s there?” I yell, trying to keep my voice steady. I will not show fear to whomever has taken me.

“An acquaintance of your little girlfriend, I suppose.” The man speaks in a way that reminds me of an old movie.

“Barron?” I ask him. Of course it would be him. I knew the day would come where I’d have to fight alongside Aella against this demon. I never expected to go into it blind, though.

He chuckles again, but the sound isn’t happy. “Good, she talks about me.” The sound of metal cranking pierces my ears and Barron’s voice is closer. “That means she will likely take me up on my invitation. It will be a miraculous dinner.”

I turn toward him and throw my fist out, connecting with something hard, but not like the rock wall. This is muscle.

Yes!

Barron growls and I’m shoved to the floor beneath me. The impact knocks my head around and my vision begins to clear up. I blink up at the dirty cave ceiling above me and a bloody face leans over me.

His dark hair hangs just over his ears and a small trickle of blood drips from his nose onto my shirt. “Do not attempt that again, boy. I need you alive to enact my revenge in the way that I want, but it is not the only way.”

I hold the rising anger within me, saving it for my opportunity. I’m weak, and I need my strength to take on the ancient demon. Barron steps back to a big metal door I hadn’t noticed before. He is tall and strong, but younger than I expected.

I sit back up and brush the dirt off of me, taking in my surroundings. I’m in a cave of sorts like I thought, but the rock around me is entirely black, like obsidian.

“Where am I? Did you drug me?” I have a lot more questions, but I need answers.

Barron leans his back against the metal door and crosses his arms. “My charge brought you here. He gave you a very special injection while you slept. For a human it would not have worn off for days, but you have only been here for mere hours.” He shrugs. “As for location, we are just feet below my home. Some people refer to this place as “Sheol” or “Kur.” I like to stick with the simple word for it… “Hell.”

Fear settles into me, but not only for myself. If Barron is keeping me alive here in hell, it’s only to bring Aella here. Anger and hatred boils beneath my skin, but I continue to press it down. “What about Aella… my girlfriend?” I can’t let him know we bonded. Any chance at surprise is an upper hand. “What are you planning for her?”

I clench my fists at my sides. Even just the thought of him having plans for my Intended causes my body to prepare for war. Having completed the bond, the feeling of protection for Aella is almost overpowering.

Barron is very calm before me. He either has no idea what is happening inside of me, or he is powerful enough to care less. That thought is the scariest of all.

“I only invited her to dinner. I have spent so many years waiting for the moment where I could end the Ganis line. I thought a celebration was in order. We do not have too many of those around here.”

I stare down at the too-large torn pants that were placed on me sometime in the night. Every inch of me wants to fight this demon, for myself and the woman I love. I stand calmly from my seated position on the dirt covered hell floor.

I continue to keep my eyes down as I talk, not wanting to show the fire in my eyes. “Will you not fight me, demon? It’s not polite to kill an enemy without even a fight.”

His low voice echoes in the small room. “No. I will not fight you, unless you make it necessary to do so.” His body shifts, but I can only see his feet while he talks. “I will allow the Ganis girl to fight me, though. I have been rather curious to get my hands on her.”

It only takes those last