The Darkening (Guardians of Ascension 6.50)

Her heart swelled as she wiped away tears that kept falling.

Duncan began to heal, faster than anything she’d seen before, but after a minute, Fiona sat back and separated from Horace.

She looked exhausted.

“I’ve got it now,” Horace said. “Go home and get some rest. ” He smiled tenderly at her.

Fiona nodded. The couple hadn’t made a formal announcement, but rumor had it she was pregnant. She turned to Madame Endelle. “Permission to leave?”

“Granted. Jeannie, send Fiona home straight from here. ”

“Of course, Madame Endelle. ” Fiona simply vanished.

Alison crossed to Vela. “You did an amazing thing tonight and showed so much courage. Well done. ”

“Thank you. ”

“I wish I could stay, but I have a flying toddler at home who will be up at the crack of dawn. ” Endelle once more barked at Jeannie and Alison disappeared.

Both Leto and Thorne stood on either side of Duncan, who was still unconscious. Horace, his hands moving from wound to wound and performing his healing magic, glanced up at Thorne.

“This will take some time and he should have rest. I’d like to move him to the hospital but not by fold. Some of these cuts are deep and grazed his organs. He would have died if you hadn’t gotten to him. ” Vela’s throat tightened and Samuel rubbed his hand up and down her side and waist. We got him.

We did.

He saved me, Samuel added.

And now you returned the favor.

We saved him, all of us and my part was the damned least I could do.

By the time Horace had a still unconscious Duncan packed up in an ambulance for the drive to the hospital, Leto had returned to the Gateway to Third Earth.

Thorne took all three sawed off shotguns, intending to have his firearms expert work with them to see what shells were used and how the wreckers added their power to enhance the shot. Scowling, he muttered something about practicing with them at the Illinois Seers Palace, as he headed back in the direction of the Command Center.

Vela addressed Merl. “What would have happened if you hadn’t been here to finish seal up the Gateway?”

“Nothing good. ”

“Sweet fucking Christ,” Endelle muttered.

“Is there anything I can do to strengthen my own power to seal up the breach?”

“I think so. You’re pretty amazing. ” Vela glanced at him, stunned that not a single flirtatious lilt attached to his words, Even Samuel remained settled beside her.

She smiled. “Thank you for that. ”

“Well, that settles something for me,” Endelle said. “For the time being, the two of you stay with Merl. And stay in contact. ” She turned to Merl. “I’ll need you to work with Vela to get this skill up to par because I’m guessing we haven’t seen the last of the grid wreckers. ”

“Probably not. ”

“So, you okay with this, Third ascender?”

“Hell, yeah. Least I can do for the Supreme High Administrator of Second Earth. ” His nostrils flared. “You know, I don’t have to go home right away. ” Endelle chortled. “You’ve got balls, I’ll give you that. And I’m tempted because everything about you says you’ve got the right equipment and k

now how to use it. ”

“Damn straight about that. ” Vela stepped a little closer to Samuel. She could almost see the sparks flying from one ascender to the other.