Page 45 of Enchanted Hero (The Secret Enchanters #1)
Everleigh opened her eyes as the door splintered into pieces.
Agent Andrews stormed into the office, accompanied by cops and rescuers and agents armed with all sorts of weaponry.
He halted, gaped like a man who’d seen the impossible.
“You’re okay! We heard the balcony reach the ground, and I thought.
..” He dragged his hand through his hair, exhaled with unfeigned relief.
How about that? The agent actually cared.
Still, he represented grave danger to Alexander, as he pointed an accusing finger at the businessman. “You must have used your powers.” He rubbed his hands in anticipated victory. “Dr. Garrison, what did you see?”
This was it. With a single sentence, Dr. Garrison could change Alexander’s life forever, and with it her own. Because whatever happened, their lives were inescapably tied together. He wouldn’t allow otherwise.
Neither would she.
The world held its collective breath, waiting for Dr. Garrison as the agents edged closer, their hands poised on sleek black tranquilizers. Alexander moved nearer to her – to teleport? He could do so in an instant, but not if he was unconscious. And once they had him, they would never let him go.
Dr. Garrison’s gaze tracked from Alexander to Andrews to the brawny agents. He took a shuddering breath. “It was unbelievable. He saved us.”
“I knew it!” Agent Andrews clapped his hands together. The agents behind him straightened, their hands now clutching the tranquilizers. “He’s the hero.”
“Actually…” Dr. Garrison hesitated. “He’s not.”
“What?” Agent Andrews roared.
“What?” the well-trained soldiers said in unison.
“What?” Everleigh stopped herself from saying just in time.
“When we were on the balcony, Mr. Stone said he wished I’d been right, that he could blink his eyes or click his heels and we’d all be safe. He was as frightened as the rest of us, I’m afraid.”
Disbelief floated across Agent Andrews’ features. “But you said he saved you!”
“He did,” Dr. Garrison confirmed. “Not with magic, but with brute strength and sheer will. It would have been far easier for him to escape on his own, but he risked his life to save us. We made it just before the balcony collapsed.”
“That’s impossible.” Agent Andrews screeched. “The balcony was hanging by a literal thread. How could you walk on it?” His expression hardened. “I need the truth, Dr. Garrison. If you’re protecting him, stop now. We promise not to harm him.”
No, they’d just imprison him in a cage for the rest of his life.
“What really happened?” Agent Andrews demanded. “How did you really get off the balcony? Is he the hero? Who else could it possibly be?”
Dr. Garrison’s brow sheened with sweat. A muscle ticked in his jaw, as his eyes rapidly darted between the uniformed men. How long could he withstand the continued assault? Yet then his gaze drifted toward where the balcony once stood, and his expression transformed. “Maybe it’s him.”
Everleigh followed his stare and gasped. There, behind a thick cloud, a man loomed in the sky, large and muscular, his exact features hidden behind streams of white. Yet although he hovered in the air, he gave no evidence to the existence of magic, not with the slim jet pack strapped to his back.
She glanced at Alexander and mouthed, “Incantare?” At his nod, she smiled. Just as he protected his people, they protected him.
Up above, the hero gave a wave, before flying away. In a sudden burst of speed, he disappeared into the clouds.
The cheers were deafening . They came from the raucous crowd who embraced their hero. They came from the building, where people watched from windows, balconies and roofs. They even came from the police, rescuers and agents who had planned to capture the hero.
Confident and poised, Dr. Garrison stood in pure triumph. “As you can see, Mr. Stone might be a hero, but an ordinary human one.”
For the first time since she’d met him, uncertainty wavered in Agent Andrews’ eyes, amidst a sliver of suspicion. Alexander would have to be careful. Andrews – and undoubtedly others – had not fully accepted the deception.
Yet for today, the threat had ended. “It seems as if my theory was incorrect.” Andrews slowly held out his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Stone, for saving Dr. Garrison and Miss Lacey.”
Alexander shook it. “Of course.”
“And thank you from me as well. I’ll never forget your selflessness.” Dr. Garrison took Alexander’s hand next, shaking it profusely. “If there’s anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask.” Pure hero worship laced his voice, and a promise to protect the truth.
“Our presence is no longer necessary.” Agent Andrews gestured his men toward the door. “Let’s go.”
“Actually, there’s one more thing.” Alexander stepped back from Everleigh, leading her to the empty space where the balcony once stood.
“Hey!” Agent Andrews called. “Be careful!”
“Don’t worry.” Alexander smiled. “I have no attention of letting Ms. Lacey get away.”
New cheers roared, from old and new fans of the business mogul. By now, the crowd had seen replays of Alexander saving Dr. Garrison and her. Even if they didn’t know the truth, they knew him for the hero he was.
Alexander held up a hand, and the applause quieted. He grasped a microphone from the table. “Thank you, but as you saw, I’m not the hero. I am grateful for all he’s done.”
He gestured to the sky as applause sounded anew. They thought he was referring to the rescues, but no doubt he meant something far more personal. The impersonator had saved Alexander’s secret, and thus his life.
“Some of you know Stone Holdings acquired a company called New Age Treasures, headed by Ms. Everleigh Lacey. What most of you don’t know is I’m hopelessly in love with her.”
The crowd reeled, clapping and shouting and sighing. As Alexander reached toward her, she grasped his hand. It was warm and strong and powerful, just like him.
“Everleigh is everything I could ever want in a woman – smart and spirited, kind and considerate, caring and thoughtful. She works tirelessly to help others, always giving, always sacrificing. She is strong and powerful and not afraid to stand up for what is right.”
Her heart shivered.
“She believes in the wonders of the world, but to me she is the wonder. Every moment with her is special, whether we are on an adventure or working on a budget sheet. She brings joy to my life, excitement to my world and dreams to my future. No words could truly describe how I feel about her, so I am going to show her.”
With that, he let go of her, and then…
He bent on one knee.
The world gave a collective gasp as he retrieved something small, black and velvety from his pocket.
He opened the box to reveal a five-carat diamond, a flawless heart-shaped stone that sparkled in the sun like a miniature star.
It was surrounded by a halo of tiny diamonds, twinkling like the mist that signified Alexander’s magnificent powers.
His words a whisper, now he spoke only to her.
“I’ve always walked alone, responsible for so much and so many.
For the first time in my life, I have a partner in my journey.
Everleigh, you mean more to me than you can ever imagine.
You bring me happiness and hope, joy in the most tumultuous times.
Our love is more powerful than anything I’ve ever known.
I promise to do everything in my power to make you happy, to make every single dream come true. Will you be my wife?”
As Everleigh gazed down at the man she loved, wetness swept down her cheeks, tears of pure joy. She’d always believed in soulmates, one perfect union between two people. Alexander was hers.
“Yes.” She gave a smile so bright, it felt as if she were glowing with magic. “I will marry you.”
He gave a matching smile, as she beckoned him up.
Then he was towering above her, and she bathed in his strength, his warmth, his possessiveness.
She held out a slightly unsteady hand, and he slipped on the ring.
For the briefest of seconds, the diamond sparkled with a supernatural light, sealing a destiny borne in enchantment.
She now belonged to him, and he to her, just as it was always meant to be.
As he took her lips to a backdrop of cheers, their love was fated to last forever.
And that was the greatest magic of all.