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

me. "Why can't I open my eyes, and how do you know my parents?" I sound desperate even to myself.

I hear footsteps coming closer and panic, feeling blind and unable to defend myself. A large hand rests briefly on my shoulder and my eyes slowly begin to open.

"There, that should help you see."

I look around and notice that I am in the Cole's guest room where I fell asleep hours ago. The sun is starting to peek through the curtains and Gavin is asleep next to me in the bed on top of the covers, per his mother’s request. He looks so peaceful. I try to touch him but my hand swipes right through him like he is some sort of mirage.

I look at the area where the deep voice was coming from but only see a fuzzy shape of a man with no distinct features. "I still can't see you. Are you really here or am I dreaming?"

The blurry shape sits in a chair in the corner of the room. "A small bit of both, I suppose. I am here in your dream. It is one of my talents as a high-level demon; a perk of the job if you will. You see, I come to you as a vision while you sleep but because you have not finished your transformation, it seems as though you cannot fully absorb the situation before you."

The way he talks, I am assuming he must be incredibly old which chills me to the bone. Nobody has been able to stop him yet.

I turn back to watch Gavin as I ponder what he is saying. "So, he can't hear us right now?" I ask.

"He hasn’t the slightest idea that I came to visit you."

I look back at the blob. "Why did you come here, anyways? Who are you to me?"

He shifts in his seat as if leaning in to tell me some secret. "I suppose I must start by introducing myself. My name is Barron, and I am here to meet the one that got away. You see, not one being has escaped me before and you accomplished it at such a young age."

"When did I escape you? I don't even know you."

Barron stands and takes a step closer to me, making my palms sweat. "I guess it was a long time ago for you, so it is understandable that you have forgotten. I knew Selene had a daughter, but I was told that you did not survive your birth, or I would have introduced myself long ago."

I feel cold as he mentions my mother's name. "How did you know my mother?" I ask him, desperation filling my voice again.

"We go quite a way back. I actually knew your great, great-grandfather, Emory Ganis. He took away someone of great importance to me, so I made a promise to him." He sounds angry and I fear what he will say next.

"What did you promise him?"

"As I stood over his dying body, I vowed to let each of his children grow to have children of their own until they were fulfilled and comfortable as I once was before he entered my life. Then, I would find them and strike them down and send them to their graves, leaving their children to suffer the exact same fate, one after the other."

I step away from him, fearing for my life now. "You… killed my parents?"

He makes a move that I can only assume is a shrug. "I did. And I plan to allow you to join them as well," he states with too much calm.

I shiver at his cold tone. "I thought you said you were going to let me have children first. Why would you kill me now?" I ask, wanting him to rethink my impending murder.

He steps closer again, landing only a foot from me. His presence is radiating cold. "I thought Emory's bloodline was finished when I killed your parents. It was quite a relief not having to chase you people down every twenty or so years. Now, here you are, making me have to work again and it is exhausting. I am ready to retire this life, but I must finish what I started first."

"So, you are going to kill me because you’re tired? That's not a very good reason," I say, hoping to sway him.

"I am going to kill you because I am finishing my business. Prepare for the end, child. I will not be merciful."

I try to protest again but the blurry Barron vanishes.

My eyes fly open for real this time and I jump up in bed. Gavin stirs next to me and stretches his hand out to grab my wrist. I look down into his beautiful eyes, feeling heartbroken that I won't get to spend my life with him.

Gavin pulls me to him so that he can inspect my face closer. "Why do you look so sad? Are you hurting again?" he asks me, sounding concerned.

I shake my head. "I'm alright. I just had a bad dream," I say truthfully.

He pulls me against his side, and I snuggle in. He rubs his warm fingers along my back. "You are safe, Aella. Thrane is gone, so you have nothing to worry about anymore."

I nod against his chest, but his soft voice does little to soothe my fears because I know he is wrong. Something is after me, and this time, I may not be able to escape it.

INTENDED

Part 3 of the Intended Series

By: Abigail Grant

Chapter 1

Barron

I am aware of the dream playing out in my subconscious. It happens quite often when my job is at this sort of standstill. My human life unravels before me. I can see my loving mother, and the monster who took her life at the time that I was but a child. Mother leans over my cradle as I coo to her and stretch