The Windhaven Witches Omnibus Edition : Complete Paranormal Suspense Series, Books 1-4 by Carissa Andrews (graded readers txt) 📕

Clearing my throat, I stand tall. My words come out a bit scratchy at first, but grow in strength. “Hail all gods, goddesses, and protectors of the Temple of the Soul—each who weigh heaven and earth in delicate balance, and in honor of the Fates’ grand plan. Oh mighty Death, taker of life, I deliver unto you the bodies before me. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, bless them all, so they may slumber in eternal rest.”

As I speak the words, I realize it was likely these very words that called Wade’s father to us. The power in them is not innate from me or even my family—but rather, from death itself.

Seconds after the final word is spoken, each of the bodies standing before me fades away, just as Wade’s grandfather had. Their solid bodies disintegrate into small, glittery granules as they’re extracted from this chamber and entombed in their final resting place. Each body escapes through one of the ten remaining tunnels as if the catacombs themselves know exactly where they should be settled.

When all of them are gone, and Wade and I are alone, I close the grimoire. Exhaling in relief, I stare at the empty space in front of me.

It’s done…

Beside me, Wade also breathes out, but as he turns to face me, his expression is clouded with worry. I pull the book in tight, using it almost as a protective shield.

There’s so much we need to discuss now. So much that needs to be laid out straight. But I don’t know if I’m ready for any of it yet.

He takes three giant strides over to me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pulling me in tight. “Autumn, I—”

Before I can stop them, tears stream down my cheeks as the torrent of emotions I’ve been bottling up release. I lean into him but shift to gently place the grimoire at my feet.

“Wade, I know there’s so much…” I begin.

This time, he places both hands along the sides of my face. His lips bear down on mine, and the room swirls with a heady need for him. Reaching up, I entwine my fingertips into his hair, and pull him closer.

Whatever we are… Whatever this is… I don’t even care. All I know is we have each other right here, right now. Wade’s alive and his soul is back where it ought to be.

When he finally pulls back, breaking our kiss, he places his forehead against mine. “Autumn, I’m sorry about everything. About Colton— I know you weren’t keeping things from me to hurt me. It’s just I…”

“I know,” I say, shaking my head. Lifting my gaze to his, I fixate on his beautiful eyes—those extraordinary silver eyes.

His pupils widen, but the more I stare into their depth, the more I’m overcome by their magic. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and after witnessing his firsthand, I can without a doubt say it’s absolutely true. Everything about him, his whole essence, it’s all right there in those tiny, magnificent orbs.

“I should have told you, and you have no idea how many times I wanted to. Or I thought I should. I just…” I sigh, trying to find the right words. “I just want you to be happy and I couldn’t bear the thought of hurting you. Even if I wanted nothing to do with it.”

“None of it matters,” he says, running his thumb across my eyebrow. “Being thrust into the aether has a way of putting everything into perspective.”

“But what about…” I bite my lip, unable to finish the sentence. It’s not a path I’m overly ready to go down, but one I need to, nonetheless.

“I know you have so many questions and I promise to answer them all. I wish I could have answered them for you earlier, I truly do,” Wade says, his eyebrows crumpling in the middle.

“Why couldn’t you?” I ask, dropping my arms and sliding my hands inside his.

He inhales sharply through his nose and tilts his head. “Our kind is sworn to secrecy. If the wrong people were to find the lineage for the Angel of Death...well, let’s just say there could be consequences if that information got into the wrong hands.”

“So, it’s true then,” I whisper, dropping my gaze. “You’re an Angel of Death?”

I look up to meet his burdened eyes. “Not yet. Not until I die.”

His words hit me like a punch in the gut. That’s why he had said what he did about anointing him early. Had his father wanted to, he could have claimed his soul right then and there.

My words come out in a hushed sob. “But your dad—he let you stay…”

Wade lifts his left hand, brushing aside a strand of my hair and tucks it behind my ear. “He did.”

I swallow hard. “But he doesn’t want you to be with me. He doesn’t think—”

“I don’t give a damn what he thinks,” Wade says, pressing his lips into a thin line.

“But you should,” I cry. “My god, Wade. Death. He’s…Death.”

Wade chuckles as he nods. “He is. So is my grandpa now. And my great-great grandpa…and so on and so forth. There will be plenty of time for death and he knows that.”

I shake my head. “I don’t understand.”

“We get one lifetime. One experience here on this mortal realm. With the exception of my father’s misguided rule about necromancers, he doesn’t have a say in how I live it,” Wade says, smiling. “And as you can see, even there, he doesn’t have much say.”

“But—?” I begin, trying to process all of this.

“Look,” Wade says, squeezing both of my hands. “The way I see it, we’re perfect for each other. I have no powers at all until I ascend. I get flashes, maybe a few insights… strange sensations and vibes. That’s all. But in the meantime, I study. And I can live vicariously through