AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Maddy trembles. “So, we only have a few hours to get ready?”
“We have time enough to eat and rest,” Caleb says. He turns to Cora. “Are the guest quarters still available?”
Cora grins. “Should be.”
“Then we’re going to eat and sleep. We’ll be up before dawn.” Maddy starts to argue, but Caleb shakes his head at her. “I need to sleep, and I’m not sharing a room with you until you’ve eaten.”
She closes her mouth so quickly her teeth snap together.
Galina hums to herself as she unrolls her sleeves. “While you two are doing that, I’m going to find the Archivists and give them an update. Maybe they have information.” She turns to Caroline. “Come with me, dear. You probably have more information in that brain of yours, and we could use it.”
“I’ll get some food together and bring it by shortly.” Cora follows them out the door without waiting for permission or agreement.
“Thanks,” Caleb calls after her. “We’ll be in the room.”
“Thank you,” Maddy adds hastily.
Caleb laces his fingers through hers, and they make their way to the guest quarters without speaking. Maddy goes in first, and he closes the door behind them. Cora shows up a few minutes later with food for Caleb and blood for Maddy. Cora doesn’t stick around, and they eat without comment, the weight of what’s to come pressing in around them.
Pushing away her empty bag, Maddy points to the ticking clock on the counter. “It’s almost dawn already,” she says. “I’m not sure I can sleep.”
“If we don’t rest, we won’t be any good when they need us.” Caleb pulls her into his arms and presses a kiss to her forehead, breathing in her scent. “If we survive this, we can finally be together in all the ways we’ve been dreaming. It’ll be like we’re normal again.
The promise of anafterhangs in the air, settling in Caleb’s very soul. After is what they’re fighting for.
After is what will be lost if Orion wins.
Maddy straightens in his arms in the way she does when she’s trying to be brave. “We’ll survive this.”
He thinks he hears her whisper, “We have to,” under her breath. She looks up at him, her eyes shifting with the same determination and anxiety he’s feeling. “I’m going to hold you to your promise, Caleb.”
“You better,” he murmurs, pulling her even closer and pressing a kiss to her neck, below her earlobe.
Maddy melts into him with a sigh. “Kiss me for real,” she whispers. “I need you.”
Caleb grasps her chin and tips her mouth toward his, just as hungry for the feel of her mouth as she is. Their lips press, their mouths open, their breaths become one.
Let tomorrow come. They’ll face the doom hand-in-hand.
The world with its promise of doom or everything they’ve ever wanted fades away as they comfort each other in the way only two lovers can as they face the end of the world.
Chapter23
Madeleine
It’s still dark out, and they’re all awake, the sense of growing doom almost reaching suffocating level.
Maddy paces inside the entrance to the large library as she waits for Caleb to make an appearance. They fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms, but she woke up as the digital clock rolled to 4:00 A.M., then crept out, wanting to let him get as much sleep as possible.
They’re about to face the fight of their lives.
And humanity’s.
Sleep isn’t something Maddy needs—not exactly. However, shutting out the world and being with Caleb had lulled her long enough to rest. The peace from the night before slowly drains from her the closer the clock ticks to dawn. Veritas has been in lock-down since the night before. All the defenses have been activated—the few there are.
Although they’re not all loitering in the foyer, Veritas overflows with Order members, Fae warriors, and many vampires. All unlikely, uncomfortable allies. The Archivists still work in their private rooms somewhere, searching for useful battle spells. Maddy hopes they find one they can toss at Orion to swallow him up. It’d be great if this is all wrapped up by lunch time.
She grimaces. No, it’ll take all of them working together to beat Orion. More than that, though…
