Page 65 of Love Summoned
“You were blocking Nix and Jett earlier,” I say. “That’s why he couldn’t pull them back to Hell. You were giving them time.” Chimere nods. “Because one of Theodora’s descendants and one of Catori’s demons had to work together?”
Chimere continues, ignoring my question. “I was tortured for many years until my gift was fractured and bent to his will. I could maintain some control, but it took a lot of strength to hide everything I knew. Cassandra was Nix’s mother, and his father was Catori.”
The blood in my veins feels thick, my body feeling as though it’s being pulled down.
“His father?” Sloane asks.
“He fell in love with Cassandra, but he wanted her to use black magic, to be his queen in Hell and rule alongside him. When Nikolai died in his human life, his soul went to Catori since he was a half-demon, but it never truly belonged to him. When you’re born a demon, you are not bound with an allegiance to an overlord. Add to the fact that Nikolai’s soul was already promised to another.”
Soulmates. Just like Edith said.
“So where does that leave me? I spend the rest of my life missing half my soul?”
“Soulmates aren’t two halves of one soul, but two souls meant to live together. They are the calm and the storm. The catalyst that pushes you to your higher self. They are an ineffable sense of comfort, an immediate feeling of home.”
“How very comforting, considering the yin to my yang just sacrificed himself.”
Chimere chuckles. “Do you remember where your souls reunited? The moment you recognized and accepted each other?”
My cheeks fill with heat, and I nod.
Chimere turns to face Celeste. “My duty is done. It is time for me to rest now.”
Celeste nods. “Thank you, sister.”
“Blessed be.” Chimere is bathed in white light before she fades away, leaving the rest of us standing in the dark, empty park.
“Sera, I’m so sorry.” Sloane wraps an arm around my back. “I’m so sorry I didn’t trust you.”
“I’m sorry, too.” I hug her back. “You’ve always been there for me. I shouldn’t have pushed you away.”
“I’ve always got you.” Sloane sniffles. “I promise, I’ll never complain about your random middle-of-the-night visions if we never have to go through something like that again.” Sloane chuckles. “I really thought that was the end for us.”
“I got nervous for a second there too,” I say, the words drained of emotion.
I’m relieved my sister is all right, that my visions led us to the good we were meant to do, but we’re rarely met with the grief of failure. I know they were demons, but I still feel bad for Jett and Lennox after they helped us not only defeat their warden but protected us, fought alongside us. Then there’s Nix. Tears pool in my eyes, and my lip quivers. I squeeze my sister tighter.
“I’m sorry about Nix,” Sloane says, running her hand down my back. “I was wrong about him.”
“What did Chimere mean? Where did you accept your bond?” Celeste asks, softening her tone as she looks at me with sympathy.
“The other side of the park.” I wipe away the tears and pull out of Sloane’s embrace. “It was the moment the magic stopped rising every time we touched.”
“It stopped? How?” Sloane asks. My silence is all she needs to put the pieces together. “Oh, never mind.”
“Hey, if it’s alright with you guys, I’m gonna take off.” Delaney grunts as Freddie helps her to her feet.
“I’m so sorry you got messed up in all this.” I limp over to her, my limbs still feeling sluggish from the physical and emotional drain of the last few hours. “Let me give you my number so I can look into that curse of yours. I wanna help.”
“I don’t have my phone with me. Lost it when those demons nabbed me.”
“Why don’t I take her back to my place and get her cleaned up and I’ll give her your details?” Freddie offers.
“Thank you, Freddie.” Celeste calls, still soothing Nikita who looks exhausted as much as miserable. “I’ll be over shortly to help.”
“It’s okay, I’m not that hurt. I’ve just gotta get home to my daughter.”
“Your daughter?” Sloane asks.
