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

the large lake in front of me. I’ve only seen one other demon’s death in my life, and due to my prompt passing out, I missed the part where the body sinks into oblivion. I’ve heard the details from Lex, though.

“Thank you,” I say, and turn to see the boy release my shoulders and watch the lake with me.

I clear my throat. “I’m El.”

“Hey, El. I’m Neo.”

Chapter 2

The orange sun is setting over the lake, and the two of us have just been sitting in silence for a while. Neo seems like a capable fighter, and he is obviously a Seer. The golden eyes give it away. He is also really handsome. Even though I’m aware of his good looks, though, he doesn’t compare to my Intended. I can’t help but think of Gavin as I sit alone on a romantic beach with another man. I don’t want to be here, in this setting with Neo. I want Gavin.

It’s my fault that I don’t have Gavin with me, though. I chose to leave him, with only my written words to tell him goodbye. I still believe it was for the best to leave like I did, but each day without him is harder than the last.

The coleus helps. The invisible string that connects us has been dormant since I first took the herbs, and I continue to take them each day. I worry everyday that my stubborn Intended didn’t take the coleus after I left. If he is in pain, I might never forgive myself.

As I sit next to Neo, my thoughts of Gavin feel like they might overflow onto the soft sand, so I break the silence.

“So, Neo. What are you doing in Granbury, Texas?” I glance at him, forcing a friendly smile but I know my eyes squint just a tad too much.

He absently runs his fingers through the sand and raises a single shoulder. “I’ve kinda been everywhere. Granbury's only the latest. I do like it here though.” He smiles at me. “What about you, El?”

I toss a pebble into the lake and enjoy the sound of the soft thunk. “I’m on sort of a mission, I guess. It’s pretty stupid.”

He nudges my shoulder. “Missions ain’t stupid. Well, most ain’t.” He chuckles softly, but the sound is cynical. “I guess I wouldn’t know. I’ve never had no sort of path or purpose.”

I stare at the ripples spanning out from where I threw the pebble. “What about your family? Are they here with you?”

He shakes his head and waves his hand in the air, looking very New-Yorker with the “forget-about-it’ motion. “Nah. I don’t have any family. I know, I’m probably the first Seer on the planet to not be surrounded by family and perfectness.” He scoffs at the idea of family.

I raise my hand. “Hey, you’re not alone. Orphan over here. I lost my parents at a young age and have no family, other than my adoptive mother. Definitely not perfectness, but I’ve seen the Seer life. It can be pretty great if you do it right.”

Neo watches me closely. “It’s crazy that we ran into each other, ain’t it? Two Seer orphans meeting on a quiet path in the little ol’ town of Granbury.”

He has a point. “It’s actually really crazy. Without you showing up when you did, I’d have been killed by that demon.” I hold my hand out to him. “Thank you, Neo.”

He shakes my hand, and there is no tingle, no spark. Whatever sort of fate brought us together, who knows what it’s intentions are?

“No problem, El. I’m glad I was there.” He raises his eyebrows at me. “And how ‘bout those skills you had back there! Where did you learn to dry a person out like that?”

“Honestly, I have no clue what I did to him. I have learned a little bit about self defense and have been slowly coming into some elemental powers. When I say slowly, I mean in very sudden spurts out of absolutely nowhere.” I choke out a ridiculous laugh.

He laughs with me. “So, if ya grew up without Seers to train you, where did you learn about our kind? I had parents my whole life, up until about five years ago when I was fifteen.”

I almost don’t want to talk about the Cole family, and all they have taught me. At the same time though, all I want is to talk about them and brag about the amazing people that I love.

“Well,” I say and smack my lips, “I am originally from California, but I moved up to Oregon for college with my best friend. Before August, I didn’t know a single thing about Seers. I had some visions, but had no clue why.” That time feels so long ago now. “Shortly after moving, I ran into another Seer who was sharing the same visions as me. He introduced me to his family, and they kind of just took me in.”

He smiles gently. “That’s pretty amazing. I kinda don’t wanna ask why you left ‘em, but I’m also super curious.”

I raise a shoulder. “I found out a whole bunch of crap about my parent’s deaths, and some hundred-year-old vendetta of a really old demon.” I search for the right words, without relaying the whole story. “This demon has been after me, and he ended up threatening my loved ones, so I left. I planned to confront him and fight to the death. His or mine.”

He shouts and points back to the trail we abandoned. “Was that him? The one who just attacked you?”

I shake my head. I wish it were that easy. “Sadly, no. That was basically just a minion sent by the real bad baddy.”

“Man. That sucks, El.” He reaches to me and grabs my hand.

I want to pull away, but I also don’t want to hurt his feelings. The touch is comforting, nonetheless. I gently pull my hand out of his and reach for another rock to toss into the water, hoping he can’t