Page 3 of Fated Angel

“Of course it was,” she says, her own smile sparking in her chest.

Her father clears his throat. “The Cult has a vast amount of resources at their disposal. They’ll be able to divide and seek all seven shards simultaneously far more efficiently than we can.”

Sierra shifts her weight. “Blaise found a spell. One that can locate the stones far more precisely.”

Except her tone clearly indicates it comes with a caveat. “And?” Gabby asks, trying not to tense up.

“Well, the spell will actually cast a protective charm over the other six.” Sierra’s face twists. “Except the located stone will shine, becoming visible to all.”

Colt lets out a slow exhale. “It will be a beacon to the Cult.”

Gabby’s father grunts. “They’ll no doubt be hoping you use such a spell.”

Gabby turns to face Colt, holding the Spear beside them. Without the obsidian, it’s useless, they may as well face the Grigori with a toothpick. “We need the obsidian,” she says, wishing it was otherwise, but it’s the only way they can win this.

He nods, his brown eyes somber. “And we need it now.”

Gabby gazes into his handsome face, searching the chiseled features, her hand coming to rest on his chest as she finds everything she’s seeking and more.

There’s the immutable truth this will be their greatest battle.

One where losing isn’t an option.

There’s the knowledge they’ve overcome so much. That they’ve done it together.

And there’s the soft, solid presence of their love, underscoring it all.

Colt nods once. Gabby mirrors the action.

It’s all they need.

“Tell Blaise to do the spell,” Gabby says, not breaking her gaze from Colt. “We’ll go after the first stone.”

Colt’s hand rises to rest over hers, pressing it more firmly against his chest. Beneath, she can feel his heartbeat. It’s steady. Sure.

Her anchor.

It’s time to find the seven pieces of the obsidian.

It’s time to unite the shards of Darkness.

It’s time to end the Grigori, once and for all.

2

Colt

Colt side steps through the narrow walkway of the airplane with Gabby’s carryon thrown over his shoulder. With the help of Sierra and Blaise, they were able to get window seats near the center of the plane, right next to the emergency exit. Call it Colt’s premeditated catastrophizing, call it being superstitious, but if the cult attacks this plane, then he and Gabby will have nothing between their escape but one door.

“This journal is so detailed,” Gabby mutters from in front of him. She’s so slender she can just walk down the space between seats without having to twist and turn to avoid bumping into other passengers. She turns to look at Colt, her blue eyes flashing with excitement, and for a moment he’s lost in her ethereal beauty. He reaches out, unable to stop himself, and twines a finger through a golden curl as she points to a picture in the journal and continues.

“Blaise writes here that before the wars there were temples in Syria that were so grand, people would come from all over to see them. These temples were built over tombs, so after someone passed they could be laid to rest inside the holy place.”

Colt smirks at her excited smile. She bounces on her toes as she turns to continue walking. He unabashedly stares at the way her plaid skirt sways from side to side as her long, strong legs carry her forward.

“That’s what we’re looking for, Colt. The ruins of an old temple.” She glances back. “Like Greece, if things were different…”

If she wasn’t the daughter of the archangel Gabriel and he wasn’t the demon who impossibly fell in love with her. If they weren’t casually strolling between tourists on the way to save the world. Again.

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