Intended Series Collection: Books 1-6 by Abigail Grant (most important books to read TXT) 📕

I struggle to breathe steadily and each individual nerve in my body feels like fire, but not in the excited way it does around Gavin. My bare feet on the cold porch are hot and within only seconds, real and dangerous flames erupt all around me.

He took Gavin from me… and I’ll burn the whole world down until I find him.

***

“Oh my gosh, El! What are you doing?” Kassy runs to me where I stand in the foyer of the Cole house, barefoot and covered in ash.

I ran here from Gavin’s house… from our house. After putting out the small fire I started in front of the house, I ran to the only other place I know. Camilla’s. I feel numb. The snow that is beginning to melt on my feet feels like nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

I let Kassy wrap an arm around my shoulder as she shouts for the others in the house. She leads me toward the kitchen where the whole family is having breakfast together. Everyone from the Bonding last night is here, staring at me.

Liam and uncle Jack run to my sides and guide me to sit at a nearby stool, as if I’m incapable of doing it myself. With the way I’m sure I look right now, I’m not surprised they think that. Concerned chatter surrounds me, but I can’t focus on any of it. My ears pound from the headache that creeps in.

Camilla leans in front of me, getting my eyes to connect with hers. “El, are you hurt? Where is Gavin?” Her voice shakes with concern for her only son.

I shake my head and close my eyes as they begin to swell with hot tears. “He took him.” I say in a whisper, trying to control the fire in me.

Camilla gasps and her golden eyes are wet. “No.” she says louder than me.

“What did she say? What’s going on, Cami?” Kassy is freaking out now, understandably. She clings onto Liam where he stands still by my side.

I growl and light smoke leaves my mouth as I yell. “The demons took Gavin! They came while we were sleeping and took him to hell!”

Jack hisses and jerks his hand away from my shoulder. “El, you’re burning hot.” His face is angry, but I know it’s not because of me. He is mad at the demons that caused this. “You need to calm down before you catch the house on fire, okay?”

I scoff. “I tried holding the fire back at Gavin’s house, no luck.” Everyone around me gasps at my words so I raise my hand. “I put it out, no worries.”

Camilla sobs before me and catches me watching her. She apologizes and leaves the room. She is afraid to lose her son, after already losing her husband to the demons.

The next person to slide into my line of sight is Danielle. She grabs my shoulders and her long perfectly straight brown hair falls to the sides of her face. She doesn’t flinch from the heat of my skin like everyone else. Even her husband Hagan jumped when I burned him last night.

“El, we haven’t talked much. I know that my husband made you nervous for a while, and I’m sorry that I haven’t tried getting to know you better before now.” She searches my eyes with her catlike ones that shine a bright gold. “Do you trust us?” she asks.

I don’t even have to think about it. I do trust this family, every one of them. I nod at her without a word and my skin stops steaming. I feel cooler and calm, but the pain inside of me doesn’t subside.

“Good,” she says with a nod, never breaking eye contact. “Anytime you feel this fire coming on out of anger or fear, just remember that you are loved by many and you are in total control. Just like you trust us, trust your ability.”

I breathe slowly and nod again. “Thank you, Danielle. How did you know that would work?” She is right that I don’t know her well, but I really wish I had her expertise sooner.

Danielle smiles and her bright white teeth all line up perfectly behind her red lips. “I know a thing or two about fire. It’s my special ability.”

She releases me and stands up straight, flipping her hair back behind her shoulder. With a flick of her fingers, a small flame floats above her fingertips and she just blows it out like a birthday candle.

“Woah,” Liam shouts, still standing next to me. “What do we do now? How can we get Gavin back?” he asks, sounding almost excited.

I shrug. “I have no idea, but you and Kass still need to catch that plane at noon. You’re not staying here.”

Kassy throws her arms up. “Absolutely not! We are going to help in any way, El. We’re your family, even if we are puny humans. Nothing will make me leave your side today.” Her squared shoulders and dainty hands resting on her pajama-clad hips show her determination.

I groan. “Fine, Kass. Tell me how to get into hell then!” I yell the words at my best friend in the world, and immediately apologize. “I’m sorry.”

She shakes her head and another voice chimes in. “I know how to get into hell.” Aunt Mags comes to stand in front of me next to Danielle, and her sad eyes scan my disheveled self. “Baby girl, I love you more than life and I don’t want you to ever be in danger… but I’ll help you get Gavin back. Even if you have to face Barron to do it.”

My eyes pour with more tears as I reach out to my mom. “Thank you so much.” I pull her into my arms. “I’m ready to fight, mom. Especially for Gavin.”

“I’ll go.” Uncle Jack says to my right. His hand is raised and he nods at me.

“Me too,” Alexa says from across the room with her own sad tears for her brother.

Next to her, Neo