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

boy is pretty amazing, just like his father.” Her eyes sparkle with pride for her son as she hands me the shirt. “And he seems to care an awful lot about you, El.”

I blush a little as I sit up and pull the large T-shirt over my head, being careful not to rub it against my back. “Well, I guess I care about him too. He is a genuinely good person and you really don’t see a lot of those nowadays. Meeting all of you guys though, now I know where he gets it from.”

Camilla’s eyes begin to glisten at my words. “Thanks, sweetie. I’m glad he brought you to us today. I hope you feel comfortable enough to come back.”

There is a soft knock on the door before it opens just a crack. Gavin's voice comes through the space, “Um, can I come in now?”

Cami pulls the door open and lets him in. She gives him a soft hug, then she and Gram smile at me and exit behind Gavin. He is carrying a plate of delicious-looking barbecue chicken, mashed potatoes and green salad with ranch dressing. My mouth instantly starts to water.

Gavin sets the plate on the table next to me and sits down in the chair that his grandmother vacated. “Are you feeling up to eating something?” he asks, a small smile gracing his handsome face.

I sit up straighter and smile back at him. “Absolutely. I'm starving!” My stomach growls, agreeing with my statement.

“Good. I've been dying out there knowing how hungry you must be.” He pushes the food closer to me and I gladly dig in. He watches me for a moment, and I don't even care that I probably look like a pig as I scarf down the pile of deliciousness.

His smile falls a little and he nervously watches his hands. “Aella, I heard your story about what happened out there before I found you. I'm so sorry you had to listen to that thing talk about you and your best friend like that.”

He looks into my eyes. “I should’ve gotten there before he put his lips on you. I promise, I will do my best to make sure he never gets that close to you, or Kassy, ever again.” His eyes show the sincerest resolve and I know he believes that he is capable of protecting us.

I remember that he told me he has super-hearing abilities and I stop chewing. Shoot. If he heard my story, then he probably heard me tell his mom how amazing he is and that I care about him. I feel my cheeks warm up slightly. “Gavin, it's not your job to take care of me or Kassy.”

“Actually, it is. Kassy is my assignment.”

My eyebrows knit together. “Your what?”

He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “My assignment. Like I told you before, we were created to protect humans and that's exactly what we do. Each Seer is given assignments to protect a person who is the target of a demon. When the demon is eliminated, we move on to the next. This… Kassy, is my first mission.”

“There's that word again. Demon. Please elaborate on what you mean by that.”

He looks like he'd rather not tell me. “Well, demons are creatures from hell, that were once humans who killed someone in their lifetime. Some have the ability to come here to earth and take human form so that they can trick people into giving up their souls. Those who are soulless become demons themselves. It’s some sort of recruitment, I guess. They have persuasive abilities which many people can't resist, like that Max guy, for instance.” He looks guilty all of a sudden, probably remembering what Max did to Kassy and me.

I just sit, stunned, not knowing what to think about demons from actual hell roaming the streets and compelling people like freaking vampires from TV. “So, what you're saying is, your job is to protect my sweet best friend from a demon named Thrane, who wants to take her soul to the underworld! And he wants to kill me for what? Just for fun?”

My breathing picks up, “Why in the world would he pick Kassy? She is such a good person and has never done a thing wrong in her life.”

Gavin scoots his chair closer to me so that our knees are now touching. He grabs my hands in his, instantly calming me with his electricity.

“Hey, he's not going to get anything he wants from you two. Don't worry, that’s what I am here for.” He rubs his thumbs along the backs of my hands. “Kassy has a very pure soul. She is strong and it’s exactly the reason he is after her, but also why it's going to be hard for him to take anything from her. They like a challenge and it oftentimes gets them killed by my people.”

I suddenly feel sick to my stomach and incredibly angry, like when I pushed Thrane into that tree. My blood feels hot, as if it's boiling just like before. I guess Gavin feels it too because his eyes go wide and he releases my hands, which are gripping his a bit too tight.

He stands and climbs in next to me on the large bed, leaning his back against the headboard. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me to him, cradling my head against his chest. “Aella, just relax. Focus on me, okay? Listen to my heart.”

I curl up against him and listen to his heart beating against my cheek. The rhythm is like a calming song that soon soothes me and cools my burning veins. “Why do I feel so messed up lately?” I ask against his warm chest now that I’ve cooled down.

His voice is low and husky when he speaks. “It's part of your body changing and your mind expanding to take in the new abilities.” He chuckles a little, making his chest shake. “I guess it's a little like a second puberty, but worse.