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

From where I stand, I can see his jaw ticking and a bead of sweat trickling down his scruffy cheek. I know he must not have shaved in a couple of days because the hair on his chin is longer than I’ve seen it.

Thrane chuckles evilly. "Now, why would I go and do a thing like that? I just got her back. I'm not letting her go without having my fun!" His voice sounds obsessed and sadistic.

I whimper slightly, wanting to speak but afraid that it will cause my neck to rub against the sharp knife.

Gavin's eyes flash to me with so much pain, but he hides it quickly. "What do you want?" He asks, and his eyes shift downward briefly before snapping to mine. He gives me a pleading look before staring angrily back at Thrane.

I am confused but I look down, thinking that maybe he wants me to see something. I notice a small shine coming from Gavin's pants pocket and see part of the hilt of one of his throwing knives poking out.

My eyes widen, and I shift a little, feeling a small sting on the skin of my neck. I know it's just a scratch, but I push back further against Thrane to try and put space between the knife and my vital arteries.

Thrane squeezes me tighter and purrs, seemingly enjoying our closeness. "I want her and that is all! So, why don't you just scurry along?" he says to Gavin like he's some annoying kid that won't leave us alone.

Gavin's eyes flash to me again and then back to Thrane. I turn my head slightly, so I can speak to the demon and try to divert his attention.

"I'll go with you, Thrane," I say to him and he snaps his gaze to me. He watches me for a second before I hear a whistle in the air and then I am released abruptly as Gavin's dagger imbeds itself in Thrane's stomach.

I fall to the ground as the blade of Thrane's knife slides across my arm, leaving a long cut but nothing life threatening. The knife clatters on the dirt beside me.

I moan from the pain of landing on my broken ankle but roll quickly away from Thrane so Gavin can get to him.

Gavin wastes no time and pounces on him before he has a chance to get up. Gavin punches Thrane in the face repeatedly, avenging me with each blow of his fists. After a few good hits, he is shoved hard away from Thrane, who jumps up from the ground and pulls the dagger from his side. Quickly, he shoots it back at Gavin and I gasp as I watch the small blade pierce the air in slow motion, headed toward Gavin's chest.

Without hesitation, I throw a small amount of energy at the knife and the air around it shifts slightly so that the dagger makes a clean slice along Gavin's shoulder.

Gavin grips his bleeding shoulder and turns to me with wide eyes, momentarily distracted. This gives Thrane the opportunity to body slam Gavin and land on top of him, gaining the upper hand. Thrane wraps his hands around Gavin's throat while he holds him down with one of his knees. Gavin is struggling to break free but Thrane's grip is too strong. I sit in my spot, unable to move and try urging Gavin to try harder. "Come on, Gavin. Don't let him win!" I shout with a dry throat.

Gavin pulls hard on Thrane's wrists but is still unable to free himself.

I dig my hands into the soil beneath me and feel my body heat up out of fear and nervous energy. I try with all that I have to push myself up off the ground, my eyes never leaving the two powerful men fighting to the death in front of me. I am shaking from the fear of losing Gavin and I say a silent prayer for his life before releasing all of the heat through my hands and into the earth. The forest floor in front of me vibrates against my hands. Slowly, mounds of dirt climb up Thrane's legs and start to pull him below the ground, inch by inch burying him alive.

Thrane releases Gavin and pushes against the dirt, trying to get it off of him with no luck. The ground continues to pull at him until I feel like I might pass out from using so much of my energy. I fall back to the ground, completely spent and struggle just to breathe in and out.

My eyes feel heavy, but I try my hardest to keep them open, not wanting to leave Gavin.

The dirt stops piling and Thrane is chest deep in the ground, punching the area around him furiously. "What did you do to me, you stupid witch?!" he screams at me, his black eyes seeming to grow impossibly darker.

Gavin walks over to me and snatches Thrane's knife off the ground. My vision starts to get foggy and everything sounds muffled as Gavin responds. "You won't ever speak to her again, demon." He bends down in front of Thrane, his demeanor calm and calculating. "Go back to hell, where you belong," he says in a quiet voice before jamming Thrane's own knife into his neck. He wiggles the knife from side to side, the noise sickening, until he completely severs Thrane's head from his half-buried body.

I feel sick again and start to see spots in front of my eyes. I close them, wanting to escape the gruesome scene in front of me, but more because I can't hold them open any longer.

Warm arms scoop me up and I am held against a hard chest, feeling safer than I have in a long time. Gavin's steps are smooth as he carries me away from everything. "I've got you. Just rest now, okay?" he whispers in my ear, his warm breath tickling me.

His lips brush across my forehead and I sigh from the wonderful electricity charging my