Shattered Souls (Guardians of the Maiden Book 3)

Cassiel woke up with a start. He blinked up at the dawn sky where he lay on the hard ground. Dazed, it took a minute for his mind to slowly comprehend…that hadn’t been a dream. It was a memory. The Hyalus. Dyna. He’d been there that night when the Shadow came. Why had he not remembered until now? The dream had been so vivid, he could still hear her cries.

A devastated scream pierced his ears, and he jerked up, shoving off the large piece of tarp that had been on top of him. He blinked against the bright morning sun glaring down. Pieces of a tent lay shredded around him with torn scrolls, books, wood and clothing.

Cassiel searched for the source of the sound, and his heart lurched when he saw her. The morning sun shone down on Dyna’s fiery red hair like a halo. The light caught the tears glistening on her cheeks. Her wide eyes were crazed as she looked around them. The bodies were everywhere, of their friends, the Valkyrie, and the wolves.

The blast must have knocked them all out.

Cassiel scrambled to his feet. Her frightened stare snapped to him.

He took a shuddering breath at the life he saw in her eyes. At the recognition. His vision blurred, and a sob caught in his throat. She glowed as though she wasn’t real, as though she had gone far beyond any place he could follow.

Cassiel still wasn’t sure if he was fully awake, he only knew that he needed to hold her. But she looked so frightened, he thought she might bolt if he moved.

“Dyna…” he called softly.

Her face crumbled and she let out a cry. Then she ran for him. He sprinted to meet her. She threw herself into his arms and their bodies crashed. Their bond slammed through his being in one stride like the rapid flame of a matchstick, knocking the breath out of him. He clamped his arms around her, holding her to him.

“Are you real?” she asked. “Are you truly here? If this is a dream, I don’t wish to wake.”

Cassiel reveled at the sound of her voice. “I’m here.”

He set her feet down, and his whole body curled over hers, wrapping her in the shelter of his wings. Her trembling hands clung to his back as she melted into him. As if they needed to be submerged into each other. After going so long without her, he couldn’t bear to have any space between them

“I’m here,” he murmured again. “I’m real.”

She buried her face in his chest as he held her tightly against him while the sobs shook her body. “You found me.”

“Always.” He held her face, pressing his forehead to hers. And that well that he thought would always remain dry was so full, spilling endlessly with the tears he couldn’t stop. “Even if my body was broken, I would crawl my way to you. And if I was no longer part of this realm, I would have found a way. I will always come for you.”

The emptiness that had carved out his soul filled overwhelmingly with home. Dyna righted the axis of his world and at last. Cassiel brushed her matted hair away from bruised face, her shoulders, needing to feel her, check that she was physically whole. She was finally in front of him. Safe and warm. He kissed her temple and kissed away the tears from both cheeks, her nose, her jaw.

And the bond hummed with his heart beat. There you are, lev sheli.

Dyna held onto his arms as she wept. My soul missed you.

I’m sorry for making you wait. He pressed his mouth against hers, awakening her Essence with the feel of his flame as it burned through them both.

Her heart called to him, so he yielded and pulled her close. He kissed her slow, gentle, and devoting. He treasured every touch of her soft lips when he very nearly never would have felt them again. And it was as perfect as the first time. Dyna sighed against his mouth as he slid his hands into her hair. Her arms wrapped around his neck and rose on her toes to kiss him back. The bond burned between them, sparking with a magic all their own.

A distant sound tugged at his attention. He tried to ignore it but then heard a groan and scuffs in the dirt. He reluctantly let her go and turned to see everyone slowly waking. Zev got to his feet first, his green eyes immediately locating her.

Then Dyna saw him.

Her mouth fell open, lips shaking with a silent cry. Her eyes welled with fresh tears as she took in his tall frame standing against the sunrise. Familiar and warm. Alive. She hadn’t known he survived.

“Zev…” Dyna took two stumbling steps towards him before her legs gave out, and she fell to her knees.

Sobs wracked her entire body. A ball of emotion welled in Cassiel’s chest at the feel of her overwhelming relief and joy. Zev lowered beside Dyna and wrapped her in those strong firm arms that always made her feel safe. His shoulders shook with his silent cries as he wept with her.

Lucenna helped Rawn limp over to them, their own eyes misting, too.

“You did it,” Cassiel said. “You brought her back.”

“We all did,” she said.

He knew it wasn’t over. Many more things were coming their way, along with a formidable enemy that would inevitably return. But they were finally reunited. So for now, at least at this moment, everything was right.