| |
They silently trudged to the open rock bank that the Agency kept for the banishings, Tessa's bag bulging with the supplies needed. They also set up in silence, Tessa laying out the protection circle while Lee sulked and glared at various inanimate objects. Even a wayward critter running into the circle received the glare.
They stood face to face, Lee inside the circle and Tessa on the outer, trying to hold it together. She opened and closed her mouth, wanting to say exactly the right words for the situation but finding none. Something pragmatic, or insightful would have been great in this moment. Anything at all. Lee simply scratched at his horns and shrugged, not wanting to open his mouth and betray his deep emotions. They stood like that for a few seconds before Tessa coughed and finally decided what to say, although it all sounded like pitiful platitudes in the face of her true emotions.
'Well, you saved my life a few times. I know that is why demons are called forth and all but thank you. I can't even put into words how grateful I am... and... I really enjoyed the time we had. I really will miss having you around and the experiences we had.'
With her flood of awkward words, the memories came back too, the moment their souls connected, the feeling of being in his arms, her tentatively touching his horns for the first time. She choked up and could speak no more, finally allowing her silent tears to fall down her face. Lee bit his lip and nodded stoically, keeping back his own tears, as was his duty. He had to go back and that was that, demons did not belong in this world. He bowed silently and stepped into the very centre of the circle.
Tessa took up her place at the top of the circle, opening her spell book to where she had scribbled Lee's personal banishing spell. She began to chant unsteadily as she built her fire, throwing in the generic banishing herbs. Her voice cracked, giving way again to little gulping sobs. She was forced to stop and clear her throat before starting anew, more tears freely running down her face as the circle began to glow. The stench of sulphur began to taint the air. Her chest ached as though her heart was breaking. As always, she buried her personal feelings and kept on with her duty.
The murky ether rose and began to obscure her view of Lee. It was a blackness, like a billowing fog. A little taste of Hel, a frigid wind whipped up to join it. He looked up sorrowfully as the he began to lose sight of her, the cold of Hel beginning to surround him and infuse his bones. Their eyes met and in that second, each knew the depth of what the other felt. Honour and duty were taking it all from them now.
The smoky tendrils swirled higher around Lee and he was completely out of sight. A life without him close by thundered through Tessa's mind. A life that now felt as though it was rendered meaningless. What would she do? Find a human male and settle down? Live without the most interesting person she had ever met, someone who truly inspired and fascinated her? In the last few weeks she had truly felt alive, rather than just existing. Prior to now her only goal was to be an Agency witch just to piss off her parents. No longer was she trying to avoid getting attached to anyone because of what she was running from, or to.
With that revelation she threw her book aside and bolted into the circle. She ran for the centre of the ether and dove into it, praying both that he would still be there and that she wouldn't be taken to Hel by mistake. For long, agonising seconds she fell, finding only air. Fear rose in her gut. Then she found him, beautiful hard flesh. The force of her tackle pushed both of them out of the salt circle, both of them landing in a crying and hugging heap. Neither noticed the pain, bumps or scratches from landing on the rough granite. They were too caught up in the ecstasy and apprehension.
'Do you know what you have done?' asked Lee incredulously, holding her face in his shaking hands.
'Yes. And I would do it again,' Tessa replied kissing him deeply as tears continued to fall, tears of joy, tears of fear, tears of uncertainty.
'I love you.'
~
IF YOU HAVE ENJOYED this book, please consider giving a good review on Amazon or GoodReads. To authors, especially indie ones like me, it makes a huge difference. Word of mouth is also very important!
~
IF YOU WISH TO JOIN my ARC reader team or mailing list, please email me at Ysadora.alexander.author@gmail.com or on any of the usual social media sites at Ysadora Writes. You will know me by the lil’ witch!
~
DEMON HUNTED, BOOK Two of The Bayton Agency is coming in Q2 2025.
~
FAETALITY, BOOK ONE of The Bayton Fae is coming late 2025.