Page 13 of Twilight Echoes (A New Dawn #7)

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“ D addy, do something.” Avery held Darrell’s head in her lap. His breaths were still shallow, and his heart rate reached a dangerously slow pace.

“I need to unlock the book first,” he said from across the room.

Merlin and his two men lay on the floor, near death, not far from where she cradled her mate in her arms.

“He’s fading fast,” she whispered, pressing her lips on his cold, clammy forehead. “What went wrong?”

“Nothing,” her father said as he poured some liquid into a beaker.

“He didn’t break our bond?”

“No, but his resolve to protect what is his is so strong that he let you have all but the thinnest layer of your life aura.”

“How could he do that without being a witch?” She glanced in her father’s direction, who looked up from his potion for only a brief second. “Oh, Daddy, you didn’t?”

“I did what I thought was best for everyone,” her father said with a dark tone. “And he begged me to make sure you had what was needed to complete the task. That you and his children would be safe. Bigger picture, little girl.”

“I could have done it without you casting a?—”

“He was starting to tap into your inner aura, and it ended up taking you twelve minutes,” her father said as he poured some liquid into a tiny cup. “If I hadn’t made it so he could let go of some, you’d both be dead.”

“But now he’s dying in my arms,” she said, holding back the tears. Darrell didn’t need her crying. He needed her to be strong.

Her father handed her the cup. “Give this to him. It will help while I unlock the book, which will take a little while.”

“He doesn’t have much time.” She parted Darrell’s lips, letting the potion trickle into his mouth and throat. He didn’t move. Didn’t cough.

Nothing.

“They are dying too,” she said, pointing to Merlin and his fellow wizards.

“I gave them the same potion before you snapped back. Now hush, child, and let me work.”

She ran her fingers through Darrell’s thick, dark hair, feeling every strand glide across her skin. She’d never been in love and in less than a week, she’d fallen head over heels.

Soulmates.

Fated mates.

The Legend of the Fated Moons.

Parents. She was going to be a mother. A fate she could no longer deny if she tried. She could feel her children growing inside her womb. It was as if they were giving her strength and energy to fight for their father.

Deep down she knew Darrell would be the only man she’d ever love, but now she might not get the chance to really give him everything he deserved.

And she’d never get the chance to dance with him, much less choreograph a piece only their love could conjure.

“Stay with me,” she whispered.

Nothing.

The sound of lightning crackled as her father poured a potion over the book. “Out of the cauldron, I unlock the black magic by the Witches of the Willows, which is protected in this book. Take the spells and let them look. The pages filling left and right, open this case and find the spite. Out of the cauldron and into light, guide this wizard to the sight.”

The room filled with a pitch-black smoke, making it impossible to see.

“I’m in,” her father said. “And there is a reversing spell.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks as a guttural sob escaped the pit of her stomach. “Please, Daddy, hurry.”

In seconds, her father was at her side. “Out of the cauldron and into the hollows of a cave, take this death spell, cast it out to sea and heal the brave. Heal the soul that burned with black, taking the spell back. Put out the fire and fill with ice, giving this wolf, his kind, his mate, and all the other tormented by hell, might.” Her father splashed something over Darrell, and his body shook and his skin turned white.

“I don’t think it’s working,” she whispered as Darrell’s body temperature dropped drastically. She could see his breath like he was out in the freezing elements of the Great North.

“It’s working.” Her father sat down beside her, putting a tender hand over her shoulder. “He’s pushing out the spell with every exhale.”

“He’s so cold. Werewolves aren’t supposed to be cold.”

“I’ll get him a blanket, but trust me, my little precious one, your soulmate will be fine.”

She held him tight, kissing his cold skin. “I love you,” she whispered.

Darrell gritted his teeth, doing all he could to hang on to the tiny piece of Avery that the spell cast by her father allowed. He should sacrifice himself to protect her and his children. They deserved to live more than he did. His pack would have another leader and if she was successful, then she’d be able to save both the Witches of the Willows and his pack.

But he promised her father he’d fight for their union and that was the only way Albert would agree to cast the spell.

His vision blurred, and the room faded to black.

His body dropped to the floor, even though he tried to keep himself upright.

Scorching pain ripped through his veins. He could only hope that he was helping Avery.

Not hurting her.

He shivered as a cold wave flowed through his bloodstream. His heart slowed, and he could no longer hear anything. He tried opening his mouth, but he couldn’t move.

Panic gripped his heart.

Then the world went dark.

Damp.

Nothing.

“Darrell?” Avery’s voice echoed in his mind. It sounded like the purest music he’d ever heard. “Can you hear me?”

He blinked his eyes, but nothing snapped into focus. Everything around him was one big gray blur.

“He needs more rest,” a man’s voice boomed. “Let him sleep.”

“It’s been two days,” Avery said.

Darrell cleared his throat, licking his dry, cracked lips. “Two days?” he asked in the faintest of whispers.

“You’ve been out in a deep sleep for that long.” Warm lips touched his cheek, and he let out a moan, enjoying the tender touch of his mate.

“What happened?” He tried to focus on the body he knew lay next to him on the… a soft bed? Sofa? Where the hell was he? He blinked a few times, squeezing his eyes tight, but still, he couldn’t make out anything. “Where am I?”

“The Ferguson farm. In Vermont,” a familiar female voice said. “Trask and my father thought it was the safest place. Unfortunately, the paranormal and human worlds are all abuzz about the second pairing of the Fated Moons and some creatures are scared of what might be coming.”

“Our children will be good, not evil,” he managed. “Was the spell reversed?”

“Yes,” the male voice said.

Darrell knew that had to be Albert, meaning he wasn’t dead.

That was good news.

“Avery?”

“I’m right here,” she said, her hand rubbing up and down his bare chest.

Bed.

With Avery.

Half-naked? With her father in the room.

That’s embarrassing.

He rubbed his eyes before trying to shift to a sitting position.

“You shouldn’t be moving,” Albert said.

Darrell didn’t listen as he pushed a pillow behind his head, pulling the covers halfway up his body. A wave of nausea hit his stomach. He swallowed as colors and shapes formed.

Albert sat on the foot of the bed and Avery next to him.

“I feel like I got hit by a truck,” Darrell managed, taking the glass of water Avery offered. “I take it Avery succeeded?”

“I did,” she said, smiling. “No one in your pack has any more symptoms. Merlin is doing well, and his coven is slowly returning to normal.”

“And what about Regan and her family?” Darrell asked. He didn’t wish the worst for them, but he certainly wanted justice.

“The family was able to keep Regan alive until a few weeks before your father died, which sent the spell into action. My father said right before Regan passed, they harvested parts of the spell and cast them into her sister.”

“That’s fucked up. What kind of parent would do that to their kid?” Darrell asked.

“They thought if they could keep their family from dying from the adverse effects of using blocked black magic, it would give them time to find an antidote without coming to me,” Albert said.

“The rest of the family has been taken into custody,” Avery said.

“I need to call my mom.”

“She’s downstairs with mine?—”

“My mother is here?” he interrupted Avery, trying to hide his mortification. God only knows what his mother might have told his mate.

Or her family.

Or the Fergusons.

“We had to call her, son.” Alfred stood. “I’ll go let her know you’re awake.”

“Sir?”

“I’m going to break you of that horrible habit,” Alfred said. “What is it?”

“Can you take your time telling my mom I’ve woken from the dead. I’d like a few?—”

Alfred held up his hand. “Say no more. But I won’t be able to keep her at bay too long, and I feel I should warn you that your mom, my wife, and Avery’s sisters have already planned out the wedding and the baby shower. They assumed you’d be awake in a few days. It’s taking place in two weeks.”

“I haven’t even proposed. Or bought a ring,” he said with a slight chuckle, though it hurt to laugh.

“We have heirloom rings for that and you knocked up my daughter. I think official proposals are out the window.”

“Daddy. That was rude,” Avery said, but with a smile.

If a heart could grin, then Darrell’s filled his chest.

“I’ll be back, and I’m bringing the doctor, just to be safe.” Albert slipped from the room.

Darrell let his eyes adjust slightly as he soaked in Avery’s beauty. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Saving my sorry ass.”

“You’re welcome.” She rested her head on his chest. “Because, you know, I wear the tights in this family.”

Even though it strained his muscles, he wrapped his arms around her body. “Yes, dear.”

“Oh, a woman could get used to hearing that.” She laughed. “I resigned as principal while you were sleeping.”

“It was for the best, considering everything.” He kissed her temple. “But I will miss telling you what to do onstage because something tells me that’s the only place I would have held any power in this relationship.”

“You’re right about that,” she said, glancing up at him with a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. “I know our future is a little on hold because of this whole Legend of the Fated Moons, but when it’s all over, I do want very much to choreograph with you.”

“We will.” He sighed. His eyes grew heavy. “I’m sorry. I’m so tired.” He rested his head against hers. “I promise to love you forever.”

“I will love you right back.”