Page 87 of Beyond the Storm

Uriel led me forward, and I spotted the men I’d once called family. They looked just as I remembered, not having aged a single day.

“No fucking way,” Castor said as we approached. “Is that…?”

“Yep.” Raiden grinned. “I dunno how, but that’s totally him.”

“Who?” a younger male with dark skin and hair asked before looking at me. “Oh damn. He’s hot.”

My gaze then landed on the sword in the snow. That was where I sensed Kallias. His body lay not far from it, but it was only an empty vessel. The male I loved, the one who I still belonged to even after all these years, was trapped. Reaching Night Fall, I took a knee in the snow and placed my hand over the sword. Shadows traveled along the obsidian blade.

And then I saw the black stone. The ones around it were clear.

“Kallias.” My voice trembled just like the rest of me. I touched the black stone in the hilt. “The battle has ended, my warrior. Come home to me.”

Black mist lifted from the stone and flowed into Kallias’ body. Hope and fear churned inside of me as I knelt beside him. He didn’t open his eyes, but his chin shook a bit, so I knew he had returned. Why wouldn’t he look at me?

“Open your eyes, my warrior,” I said.

Kallias obeyed, and as our gazes met, a choking sob left his lips. He lunged upward and threw his arms around me. “Are you really here?”

“I am.” I lowered my face to his shoulder, feeling like I was about to break apart. Tears burned behind my eyes. “I never stopped waiting for you.”

Kallias took my face in his palms and kissed me. A whimper rumbled in his throat. Another sound reached my ears too, the soft hums I recognized as Melancholy.

“I could live a million years and never know a moment happier than this one,” Kallias said before kissing me again. He then whispered against my lips, “My heart. My soul. My everything. It all belongs to you, Elasus.”

“And I will cherish all of it,” I responded. “Until the end of our days.”

Chapter Seven

Kallias

Present Day

“Order up,” I called out as I placed a steaming mug on the counter. “A vanilla latte with almond milk for Liv.”

A young woman with dark hair piled on top of her head in a big messy bun jumped up from the booth in the corner and rushed over. She grabbed the mug and took a sip before lightly bouncing in place. “Damn, that’s good. No one makes them like you, Kal.”

I smiled at the compliment. “Enjoy.”

She was a regular customer at the coffeehouse. The island was home to Nephilim and their families, and some of their spouses were human. Olivia—or Liv as she preferred—was the daughter of a female warrior. She took after her father though, a human who worked as a physician. She was studying to become a healer, too, and came to the coffeehouse to read through her books and do schoolwork on her laptop.

Nearly two years had passed since I’d returned from the realm of the lost and had been greeted by this modern world filled with magical devices like laptops and handheld ones called smartphones. I even had a phone now, though it had taken a while to become familiar with how to use it. Castor laughed at me because of it.

The wretched thing vibrated in my pocket, but when I pulled it out to see a text from Elasus, my heart fluttered. He had been a fast learner, unlike me.

Elasus:This is your reminder that I love you with all of my heart.

I typed back a response and hit Send.

Me:It’s still not nearly as much as I love you.

Elasus:Why do you tell these lies?

I laughed quietly to myself. Another message appeared.

Elasus:I know you are hard at work, so I will refrain from distracting you further. Just know I will love you until the stars die.

Me:And I will love you far beyond it.