Unveiled: The Cursed Trilogy, Book Three by Betty Legend (recommended ebook reader txt) 📗

Where is he?” I grit my teeth as anger rages inside of me.

The sand continues falling, and the devil taps a claw on the side of the timer. My heart pounds heavily in my chest.

“Time is wasting, witch.”

Cataleya was right. It’s going to take all of us.

“Death!”

The moment the word leaves my mouth, our hands rise, magic forms in our palms, and we release it. A torrent of magical energy erupts in front of us, combining into a sphere of dangerous power. Pushing my energy forward, the sphere of magic hurls toward the devil. The glass sand timer crashes to the floor, shattering into pieces as our magic binds him, holding the devil in place.

“With these words, let my power be free, free to condemn, to bind, to hold this creature to the dimension where he belongs.”

“You pitiful witch! You think you can contain me!” The devil fights the magic binding his arms to his back, his feet to the floor, but he’s unable to break it.

A ruckus breaks out in the hallway, but I don’t stop the force of magic flowing from us.

“With our magic, we bind thee, we bind you Lucifer to hell, unable to leave your plane, unable to shift from the confines of your being, unable to seek out the blood of your blood, unable to hurt the innocent. We bind thee to your body and form, to your dimension, and to only the magic that serves this dimension. Now and forevermore!”

Blood covering his face and left side, Emeric bursts through the threshold and spears the angel blade through the devil’s chest. A roar, grisly and grotesque, erupts from his throat. Black blood spatters across the floor and onto my legs. Holding the magic steady, my body trembles as the devil rises in the air, our magic controlling his motions. Magical chains form across his chest, around his arms and legs, then seep into his leathery skin, tearing flesh from bone. As the chains disappear inside him, the magic explodes, sparks of light and color dissipating as the devil slams to the ground.

In agony, he spits blood from his mouth and struggles to stand. Fire blazes in his eyes as he locks his gaze on me. Charging me, his wings expand, and his fingers bend to reveal more of his sharp claws. Just as he reaches for me, he’s thrown back, a magical protective barrier stopping him from touching me. Landing on his back, he roars with fury.

“Get Emeric! We need to leave, now!”

The guys grab his wounded body and help him stand. Rushing to him, I place my hands over the worst wounds I can see, allowing them to heal.

“Can you get us out of here?”

Emeric grimaces as he nods. “Yes.”

Like a flash of light, we’re transported, all of us landing on the cave floor of Catskill Mountains.

“Close it,” Emeric sputters, holding his side as blood trickles from the wound. “Close the gateway.”

Phoenix takes one look at Emeric’s wounds and pulls him close, biting into his neck. As Phoenix drinks from him, removing the demon venom, I raise my hands over the gateway.

“With these words, let my power be free, free to seal all gateways to and from hell.”

Killian, Cyrus, and Griffin place their hands over mine, adding to my flow of magic. Together, the magic builds, forming a circle of essence over the gateway. The ground closes, a circle of bluish-white light looping around it, sealing it and every other gateway that exists.

“It’s done.”

Rushing to Emeric’s side, I wait for Phoenix to finish removing the demon venom. When he does, Emeric collapses into my lap. Placing my hands over him, I heal all his wounds, then lift his head, staring into his crimson and black eyes.

“You’re going to be a father.”

Lifting his hand, he cups my face. “You and my son are the best damn things that have ever happened to me.”

Tears fill my eyes as I smile at him, my heart so full, it aches from the swell of love.

“It’s time to go home.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

SELENE

SIX MONTHS LATER…

My son leaves my body wailing into this world. The midwife places him on a blanket, cuts the umbilical cord, then cleans him as Ancor checks his health. After wrapping my son in a soft new blanket, Carmella hands him to me. Looking down at my son, I cry. He’s beautiful, soft, his tiny hands and feet so precious. Under the blanket, I feel him shift. As he latches onto my nipple, the rounded tops of his wings peek out from the blanket.

“Emeric, look!”

Emeric slides onto my bed next to me and hugs me and his son.

“He’s breathtaking, Selene, completely breathtaking.”

“I love his tiny wings. Did you notice they’re all white? Will they stay like that?”

“Yes, babe, they will.” Emeric kisses my temple. “He has wings just like my mother’s. Hers looked like that.”

“I love him so much.”

“I love him, too.” Emeric caresses our son’s forehead. “You both are my world. I’ll always protect the two of you.” Looking at Emeric, there are tears pooling in his dark eyes. He looks at me and laughs to himself. “This is the best day of my life.”

Leaning over, I kiss him, our love shown through the heat between our lips.

“What do you want to name him?” Emeric asks me.

“Something with an E, after his father.”

A single tear falls down Emeric’s cheek. “Babe, you’re killing me.” He wipes at his face. “I’m fucking crying.”

“I know, and I love it.” I giggle.

Emeric sniffles. “Do you like the name Edric?”

Staring down at my son, so cozy and content in my arms, I smile, my heart so full.

“Edric is perfect.”

Looking out into the hall where Ancor and Carmella are standing, talking to the other guys, I laugh to myself.

“Edric, the druid angel.”

Ancor knew all along.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

SELENE

EIGHT YEARS LATER…

Edric flaps his wings and rises in the air above my nephew, Devon, then rustles his dark hair.

“Hey!” Devon shouts before outstretching his arm and releasing water magic at Edric.

“Boys!”