Chapter 63
Chapter Sixty-Three
Perez hovered over the bloodied lovers and cursed as the last flicker of Haven’s life extinguished.
It’s over. I have failed. How could I have failed?
Haven, a bright, fiery soul, deserved better than a painful death at the hands of a mad man. It shouldn’t have been that way.
Logan. Strong, noble, brave Logan. Meant for a life filled with love—Haven’s love.
He’d fulfilled his commission, he’d done as Ahmi commanded, so why was Haven dead? Why didn’t the chain securing him to the preeminent sister goddess break?
How could I let this happen? Where did my plan go awry? What will the goddesses do to me?
Logan felt the life leave Haven’s body, her last breath whispering the words he’d longed to hear.
He fought back the crushing wave of tears seeking to drown him.
“Haven,” he bellowed into the ceiling.
Dropping his face, he brushed his mouth along her unmoving eyelids, her pale forehead, and her purple lips.
“No, no, no,” he babbled. “She can’t be dead—Perez! There must be something you can do—please help her!” A sob wrenched from his chest. “Bring her back to me.”
Suddenly, anger rushed through him. “Goddamn you, Perez! You brought her here. You did this, you must fix it.”
“I am sorry...I cannot....” The disembodied voice floated through his mind, its words like a battering ram to his chest.
“Haven.” Logan pulled her limp body closer to his chest, nuzzling her lovely face. “If you can hear me, know that I love you.” He sobbed again. “I love you.”
The air in the room thickened, growing heavy and oppressive. Unable to lift his head from her cheek, Logan peered up into the room, shocked as Perez’s golden vessel flew into view.
It had been there all along.
The watch began to spin. And spin. Faster and faster until all he saw was a brilliant golden orb floating above his head. It was breathtaking. The light it emitted grew brighter until he had to look away, unable to shade his face from the intensity of the illumination.
Hugging Haven’s body closer, he gasped when a gut-wrenching pulse vibrated through the room. It made his teeth chatter, and the air in his lungs rattle. He gasped, choking, desperate for air, while the oppressive power pinned him down.
As unconsciousness neared, the weight in the room suddenly dissipated, leaving behind a weightless aura of indescribable peace.
Daring to lift his head to see what the light and deathly power left in their wake, he gazed up at the still-glowing orb, its warm brilliance thrumming and emitting an utter stillness.
He whispered in an awed tone, “What is this?”
The orb brightened, but the thrumming vibrations eased.
A deep, clear, accented voice broke through the eerie calm.
“The task is complete.” Perez sounded almost stunned, as though he couldn’t believe in his own success.
Task? Logan puzzled. When realization hit him, fury quickly followed suit.
“The task is done?” he ground out. “You finally got your blessing from your goddess, but Haven lies dead?” With every word he spoke, wrath boiled up, souring his tone. “What good is it to inflame passion in two opposing spirits when one of those you were meant to champion has been murdered?”
In an instant, a figure of pure light emerged from the orb and came to stand before him.
“Choose,” said the strangely compelling, yet unfamiliar voice.
Stunned by the figure of pure light and the power cascading from it, he asked, “Choose what?”
The light brightened further, and a soft hum filled the room. Before he could shield his eyes from the pulsating glow, three small, thrumming orbs shot from the figure and stopped inches from his face.
He blinked, and a forceful, ethereal voice spoke.
“Logan.”
Startled, and nearly blind from the brilliance, he demanded, “Who are you?”
The light grew brighter.
“I am Ahmi, Preeminent Sister Goddess, Mother of Light, Flame of Passion, and Bringer of Life. The task is complete. Your souls have been bound together for all time.”
Her beautiful voice mesmerized him.
“But she’s dead.” Just speaking the word made him choke.
The small glowing orbs drew closer, and a strange comforting warmth brushed over his face.
“Choose.”
His nostrils flared, and heat rose to his face. “Choose what? She’s dead.”
The light grew brighter, but the hue darkened, the thrum grating, chilling his blood.
“She is not past the power of a goddess,” Ahmi said in a voice that brooked no argument.
“She can be saved, but will she go home, or will she stay?” His heart lifted in hope and then sank in sorrow.
How could he choose for her? “I’ve gifted Perez with only enough power to fulfill one last task.
” Her indifferent tone showed boredom. “He can send her home to the year two thousand and twenty-five where medical technologies beyond your understanding may save her, or he can bring her back to life—but she’d be trapped here in 1817. Forever.”
A heavy weight settled over him. To live without her, or to live with the pain of knowing she’d never get home to her own life. The answer was simple. She’d hate him forever, but she’d be alive, and she’d be with him, because he’d never let her go again.
“I choose for her to stay.” No regrets. “Bring her back to me. Bring Haven back to life.”
After a long pause, the small yet terrible orbs retreated into the glowing figure.
Perez spoke. “As you choose, so be it.”
What looked like a hand reached forward, and a golden energy formed. As the ball of energy grew, Perez spoke again. “Logan, I am sorry, I never intended for any of this to happen.”
Logan closed his eyes against the sadness clawing at his heart.
“When you chose Haven as my opposite spirit,” he rasped, “fate chose her as my soul mate. You chose well.” It vexed him that he had to feel gratitude toward the spirit at all, but he couldn’t be anything but grateful, especially if Perez could bring her back.
Perez built brighter energy in his palm. “When Haven revives, can you please convey my apologies to her as well?”
Desperate to feel her alive within his arms again, he urged Perez to hurry.
Brighter.
A deep laugh rang from the figure of light, startling Logan.
“Would you also tell her she has the softest breasts I’ve ever felt? I truly enjoyed my time snuggled in her bodice.”
Outrage and confusion battled for supremacy in his mind, but before Logan could utter a word of derision, a pulse of heavy, powerful energy pushed down on him, pinning him to the floor.
A beam of intense light shot from the figure of Perez and hit Haven.
Staggered by the force, Logan fell back.
A pulsating wave of brighter light hit her body, and soon he couldn’t make her out through the brilliance of the bright white light.
The deep, bone-rattling thrum returned, emanating from the ball of energy and light.
Finally, after what felt like eternity, the light dimmed and the heavy thrum faded.
He scrambled forward to bring her into his arms, and gasped.
Warmth had returned to her flesh.
Her limp, lifeless body filled with breath, and the wounds marring her flesh began to close. The delicious olive color he’d grown to love returned to her skin.
She moaned.
Relief slammed into him.
Pulling her close, he raised her face to his.
His voice almost an inhuman croak, he choked out, “Haven? My love, he brought you back to me.”
Haven moaned again, her throat dry and burning. She blinked up at Logan. The memories were unfocused, dark, but she could remember—he told her he loved her. Had she heard him right?
Lifting a trembling hand to touch his face, he groaned when her fingers cupped his cheek.
“Logan....” What the hell happened? Why did she feel like she’d been sent through a woodchipper, and then tossed into a bonfire?
“Don’t speak, you have been through so much, but you’ll be fine.”
His voice deepened in conviction, and she knew he’d keep his promise. She trusted him with her very soul.
Finally finding the strength to glance past him, she saw a tall figure cloaked in bright white light standing over them.
She couldn’t see a face, or even a single human feature for that matter, but she knew she was gazing at the otherworldly visage of Perez.
He’d brought her soul, and her life, back into her body.
Mouthing her thanks and unfathomable appreciation for what he’d done, she watched the figure shrink.
The light collected into a small, bright orb.
The orb pulsed with light, and then…vanished.
He was gone.
She didn’t know how she knew, but she did. With his first task complete, Perez could no longer remain in 1817. He’d revived her, and with the little power he had left, he’d returned to 2025, to the future.
Without her.
She didn’t know what to think or feel about being left behind.
The strings of her heart sang when she looked up at Logan, saw the strength of his chin, and the unveiled emotion smoldering in his dark eyes.
She was home.
A wave of sadness flowed over her when she thought of her friends, Elleane and Rhiannon. But she couldn’t wallow in depression. She was here, alive, and with the man she loved. The man who loved her back.
She smiled up at him, and he smiled back. When she made to sit up, concern shined in his eyes.
“Haven, no. Don’t move until you are completely healed.”
Glancing down at her naked body, she witnessed the last of the jagged slashes in her skin close, the largest wound, the killing wound beneath her breast, knit itself shut.
The last of the brilliant light and warmth dissipated, and the wound vanished, leaving behind pink skin that quickly darkened to her natural tone.
She laughed, a joyful, delighted sound, and Logan grinned down at her, his eyes twinkling with love.
She could get used to that look.
Eager to get the hell off the cold, dirty cellar floor and get some clothes on, she made to rise.
“Take it easy,” he pleaded.
She laughed again. “Logan, I’m just standing up.”
A deep sigh and shuddering breath rushed from his chest.
“Haven.” He paused to run his fingers over her cheek. “I just don’t want to lose you again. I can’t.”
She placed her hands on each side of his face and pulled his mouth to hers.
The kiss was one of longing, joy, passion, and love.
She poured every fiber of her being into it, unleashing the very essence of her soul, and saying without words how much he meant to her.
How much she needed him. He deepened the kiss, leaning in to pull her body to his.
She felt his hardness get even harder, and she didn’t mind—she relished it, this sign of life.
The warmth of desire stole over her chilled frame, and she moaned.
“What is it? Are you okay?” he asked, concerned.
She beamed at him. “I’m fine—more than fine—I’m great. Help me up, please.”
Before he could help her to her feet, the cellar door that the storm blew shut, burst open; its ancient hinges screaming in protest as they wrenched from the splintered doorframe.
Harry rushed through the opening brandishing a pistol, his countenance dark and alert for danger.
He stopped short before the crumpled body of Angelous Kroger.
He gasped. Another gasp followed, but this one came from behind him. They all glanced at the door to see Millie walk gingerly up to where Harry stood. She looked down at the body, up at Logan, and then gasped anew when she caught sight of Haven.
“Dear Lord in Heaven, what happened?” She made short work of throwing her cloak over Haven’s naked, shivering frame.
Harry’s face blanched, and his wide eyes glinted with disbelief.
“Logan, you killed him?” Glancing over at Haven, he inquired, “Are you all right, Miss Edwards?”
“Yes, I killed him. He kidnapped Haven, tied her to the table, and planned to do terrible things to her.” She couldn’t help but notice he’d left out everything that actually happened.
How could anyone explain that she’d been tortured, cut to ribbons, and then stabbed before dying and being resurrected by an enchanted pocket watch imbued with power by three sister goddesses?
“I’d only just arrived when he brandished a knife and made to kill her. Thank God I stopped him in time.”
He shuddered.
Millie tsked and moved forward. “What are we doing standing around? Let’s get this precious girl home so she can get warm and fed,” she snapped.
More than willing to leave Angelous, the cellar, and the terror behind, Haven let Logan pick her up and carry her from the room where she’d died.
Her body shook even within the heat of Logan’s arms.
Overwhelming gratitude suffused her soul.
Burying her face in his chest, she sighed at the strong, steady heartbeat against her cheek.