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With my parting words, I stepped over the portal line, cementing myself in Agrum Di Vinum. And with a flash of power, shut the portal once again. Turning around, I was met with the six people I had missed more than anything in the past four months. And as I met each of their eyes, I knew one truth.
I was home.
Chapter Eight
Halley
The portal closed behind me and after my heart settled from the astonishment, I took in my surroundings. We stood in a large room, molded of trees and large windows casting shadows of the Darkness throughout. Vines of ivy climbed up the walls, swirling in intricate details and flowing down into a carpet of moss on the floor of the room. I knew we must be standing in the castle of Agrum Di Vinum, the only area of the realm shielded from the tendrils of Darkness.
Shifting my gaze back to those in front of me, I only had a moment before a small body was leaping at me and squeezing the breath out of my lungs. Laughing loudly, I held onto Kalani, my chuckles turning to cries the longer she held onto me. Although only a few months, it had felt like years since I had seen her. And it felt so good to have physical contact once more, I almost never wanted to let go.
However, I wanted to embrace the others in the room just as badly and so eventually I shifted slightly away, taking in Kalani’s face. Her cheeks were also wet with tears and we both laughed as we looked into each other’s eyes.
“Don’t you ever do that again. I’ve told you before that you’re not allowed to leave me and I mean it. No more Halley Jameson.” Kalani’s words were serious and I knew she meant them with her whole heart.
“You’ll have to rip me away. I promise, no more staying behind.” And I hoped those words were true. I never wanted to be alone again. I needed all of them probably more than they needed me.
Nodding in acceptance of my words, Kalani stepped back, allowing Maeve to join our hug, telling me how happy she was to have me back. I hugged both of them for several more minutes and then suddenly a pair of larger arms were wrapping around me. Instantly, I melted into the embrace, breathing in Eli’s scent. My sweet, caring man’s chest shook and I knew he was overwhelmed with emotion, his own and all of ours bleeding out into him.
“I missed you so much, Halls. My world isn’t as bright when you aren’t here.” Eli’s sweet voice whispered into my ear and I pulled him closer, needing him to know I felt the exact same. Eli was my light, the good in my life and the entire world.
“I love you so much.” I whispered back before pulling away and softly sealing my mouth to his. I didn’t care that we had an audience. We all knew where we stood and after months apart, I couldn’t take another second without this connection.
As if no time had kept us apart, Eli met my movements with his own, our mouths in sync as if this was a dance we had practiced for decades. The kiss was slow and languid, as we both took our time to memorize each other’s taste. Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep kissing for hours, as a growl from beside us reminded me.
Breaking apart, Eli pressed one more kiss to my forehead, before handing me off into a set of warm and rough hands. Without words, Madden pressed his mouth into mine, his need and want and worry evident in the pressure of his mouth. His rough hands wrapped around my waist, squeezing me tight and pulling me close until I was sure he was trying to glue our bodies together.
“You’re never leaving my fucking sight again.” Madden growled against my mouth before nipping at my bottom lip.
Before I could respond, I was being passed again, this time into dark arms that held me with authority. Knox tilted my chin up with his index finger, his eyes blazing with a look I had only seen once before in Sanctum Library. The promises swirled in his eyes, but I knew he wouldn’t be putting a show on for everyone else. He wanted time with me alone first.
“I’ve missed you. Desperately.” I spoke and I saw the adoration in Knox’s eyes glaze over the heat. I knew he needed those words, possibly more than the others. He needed to know that I was as in this with him as he was.
Quickly, Knox pressed a swift but heated kiss to my lips and then I found myself in a pair of hesitant arms. Wilder held himself back, not quite embracing me as the others had, and I knew he wasn’t sure where we stood. To be honest, I didn’t know either. Our time was cut short before we could figure out what this feeling between us was. But I did know that he was a part of our family and I had missed him just as much as the others.
Taking the lead, I stepped forward in his arms, resting my head against his chest and whispering low enough that I knew only he could hear.
“I haven’t been able to smile the past few months.”
Wilder pulled back, his eyes gazing down at me, understanding in the look. And then he gave me that blinding smile I had only a glimpse of before responding.
“Princess, I promise you’ll never go another day without one.”
Chapter Nine
Knox
After each of us had a moment to welcome Halley back into our arms, the last person in the room finally spoke up. After Willow had found me in the hallway, she had explained who she was and how she had been waiting for the Heirs to come and save her home. When she first spoke of opening the portal to the human realm, I knew I needed to share the information with the others. We tried to not keep any secrets from each other and their opinion on the situation mattered just as much as mine. Each of us were deeply intwined in Halley’s web.
“Oh, my sweet child, how I have been waiting for you.” Willow chimed, moving close to Halley and softly caressing her cheeks.
Halley took a step back, hesitancy in her stance. I knew from experience that Halley wasn’t comfortable around strangers and I could see her wall come up as Willow continued to longingly stare at Halley.
“Halley, this is Willow. She’s the Enchantress that originally opened the portal to the human realm and your ancestor.” I explained, hoping to clear some confusion that had to be running through her beautiful mind.
Before Halley could process my words, Willow was invading her space once again, gripping both her hands in her own.
“Halley, what a beautiful name. Ever since I sent my daughter to the human realm, I have been waiting for my blood to return. For my family. And now you’re here.” Willow’s words were sweet and yet there was a crazed undertone, one none of us could ignore.
