Page 70 of Guarded By Death

"I didn't think he would want mine, but it was all I had to offer him."

"Oh, dear boy." She moves her hand to place it on his cheek. "The demon wanted your soul more than hers."

He shakes his head. "Why? It's dark and worthless, hers is full of light." He gestures to me.

"Not anymore, well it wasn't..." she says with a slight frown.

"I don't understand," he says flatly.

"The demon wanted yours because it's a much more powerful soul to take. He can't ask for it but if you offer..." she trails off, standing up and dusting her pearl white dress which hasn't retained a trace of dust. "The Angel of Death willingly offering such a powerful soul, the only human piece of you that you had, is an offer that can't be refused."

His brows furrow. "How am I not in hell? I died."

"You were, but that soul doesn't belong to you anymore.” A smile plays on her face, lighting up the room.

He shakes his head. "Why?"

"Scarlett and you have been connected for quite some time. She is your soulmate, even without that bond. Her lifeforce is attached to you. You now share one, together. She gave you half of hers."

He looks at me with tears brimming his eyes. "What does this mean for her?" he asks the angel, but his eyes are still focused on me.

"No change, she's a human." She looks over at Pierce, "And you are too." She sings, clapping her small hands together. I gasp at the same time Pierce does.

He sits up as he grunts in pain from his bruised body, his expression turning dark. "How will I protect her now!?" he screams at the angel; she backs away slowly.

She holds her hands in front of her. "Now, calm down. There's no need for hostilities. Your soulmate is perfectly safe. Preta is no longer a threat and we will do our part to make sure this doesn't happen to her again." Her voice is calm and reassuring and I feel Pierce's body relax against my side.

"Th… Thank you," he beams, his voice full of gratitude.

She looks back and forth between us, a bright smile showing on her face. She lifts her arms and her wings expand from behind her, the white is so bright I have to squint to be able to see her better. "Oh, and Scarlett, your father can't wait to see you again in heaven. He loves you dearly." Tears soak my vision as she flies away through a small window overhead.

A long moment of hushed silence blankets the room. "What just happened?" I ask stunned, my heart pounding.

"What just happened is..." He stands, reaching his hand out for me. We both look down at his black and tattered wings as they lay on the floor, not attached to his body anymore... not weighing him down. He picks me up, grunting in pain but when I try to stop him, he grips me tighter. "It's over Scarlett. This is it. We can be together."

A happiness that I've never experienced before cascades over me, I bask in it. It's over, now our life can begin.

Pierce places his hand under my chin, tilting my head to meet his striking gaze. "We share a soul now, Scar. We're tethered together for eternity. When you inevitably go to heaven, we will never have to be apart as I will arrive there with you."

"Heaven," I whisper, leaning in closer to him.

"Life on earth, an eternity in heaven," he repeats, crashing his lips to mine. He pulls away, leaving me breathless. "Our story will never end, my love.”

One year later

Idiverted from my original college plans, opting for adventure. Pierce and I decided to take a year to travel, and after everything with Liv, Mom didn’t totally hate the idea.

Life is short, and after the trials we’ve both experienced, it just made sense to take a breather.

During our gap year, Pierce quickly discovered that life as a human was a learning process. Mostly he struggled to travel without his wings. There’s been so many times where he grabs me to take us somewhere. He never complains though. His emerald eyes gleam with joy every time he realizes he doesn’t carry that burden anymore.

We’ve strolled the streets of Paris on a blossoming spring afternoon, joining in on the tourist traps and loving every minute. Zip lined over the Hawaiian jungles. Rode horseback through the Grand Canyon, in awe of the beauty nature has to offer.

It’s been the best, most extraordinary year of my life.

But now, Mom and Brian are sending us off to college.

My car is packed full of our belongings, and I’m dancing on my toes with excitement for the future. Pierce stuffs Ferris into the backseat before returning to my side.

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