Redeemed (43 page)

“Fire reminds me of cold winter nights and the warmth and safety of the fireplace that heats my grandma's cabin. I ask that you hear me, fire, and I summon you to this circle.” Shaunee's red candle flamed before I could light it. She grinned at me. “Go on, Z. We're here for you.”

I kept walking around the circle to Shaylin.

“Water is relief on a hot Oklahoma summer day. It's the amazing ocean that I
have finally seen,
and it's the rain that makes the lavender grow. I ask that you hear me, water, and I summon you to this circle.”

Shaylin's blue candle lit easily, and the scent of spring showers filled the space around us.

“I'm glad Nyx gifted me with this affinity,” Shaylin said. “I'm glad I am a part of your circle.”

“Me, too, Shaylin,” I told her.

Then I moved to stand in front of my BFF.

“One more time, Z. Let's do this, and do it right,” Stevie Rae said.

I swallowed down the lump that kept trying to rise in my throat and said, “Earth supports and surrounds us. We wouldn't be anything without her. I ask that you hear me, earth, and I summon you to this circle.” The sounds and scents of a grassy meadow filled the air. My BFF and I smiled at each other.

Then I moved to the center of the circle and completed the casting, lifting my purple candle to light. “The last element is one that fills everything and everyone. It makes us unique and it breathes life into all things. I ask that you hear me, spirit, and I summon you to this circle.”

Spirit swirled around and through me as my circle was enclosed in a brilliant silver light. I closed my eyes and prayed. “Nyx, it won't surprise you to know that I'm not real sure what I'm doing here—I'm only sure I need to be here. Please guide me and strengthen me.”

Opening my eyes, I walked to stand before the blackened stones that had been seared together to close Neferet's living tomb. Thinking of Thanatos, and remembering what I had watched her do for Kalona, I held out my hand and said, “Aurox! You must take my hand!”

It happened way faster than I'd anticipated. A blindingly bright globe the color of moonstones burst from the center of the blackened stones. It elongated and expanded until it became Aurox!

“Ohmygood
ness,
Z was right!” Stevie Rae gasped.

“Hi,” I said. “Can you see me?”

I can,
he said. A brilliant smile lit his face.
You heard me. You came back for me!

“Yeah, I did. I don't leave part of the Nerd Herd behind,” I said.

Part of the Nerd Herd. I like that. I'll remember that.

“Remember something else. Remember that I came back for
you.
”

Aurox looked utterly shocked, and then his smile was back.
You really do care about me.

“I really do,” I said.

From just outside the circle, Stark added, “We all really do, Aurox.”

Aurox turned his glowing eyes on Stark.
Can we still have that beer together someday?

“Absolutely!” Stark said. “Next time around.”

Next time around,
Aurox repeated. Then he looked at me.
Now what?

“Now you stop keeping your Goddess waiting,” I said. “Here, take my hand again.”

I'm not sure I'm ready,
he said.

I smiled at him. “I'm sure.”

He took my hand, and I lifted again, imagining that I was tossing him into the sky. The silver light that had been encircling us funneled through me, and with a great push of energy, Aurox shot upward.

The night sky above us shivered and then parted like an opening curtain to reveal Nyx standing before a beautiful blue lake. Kalona was beside her, smiling down on us. I watched as the Goddess opened her arms to embrace Aurox as if she were a mother welcoming home her beloved son.

“I finally did the totally right thing!” I said, wiping tears from my cheeks.

Before the curtain to the Otherworld closed, Nyx's gaze went to me. The Goddess grinned. She looked younger and happier than I'd ever seen her look. And then, very distinctly, Nyx, Goddess of Night, winked at me.

 

 

ALSO BY
P. C. CAST
and
KRISTIN CAST

Marked

Betrayed

Chosen

Untamed

Hunted

Tempted

Burned

Awakened

Destined

Hidden

Revealed

The Fledgling Handbook 101

Dragon's Oath

Lenobia's Vow

Neferet's Curse

Kalona's Fall

 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

#1
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author
P. C. CAST
is an award-winning fantasy and paranormal writer, as well as an experienced speaker and teacher. Her novels have been awarded YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers and have received the prestigious Oklahoma Book Award, as well as the PRISM, Daphne du Maurier, Booksellers Best, HOLT Medallion, Beacon, Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice, and Affaire de Coeur Awards. She lives in Oklahoma with lots of dogs, cats, horses, and a burro.
KRISTIN CAST
is a
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author who teams with her mother to write the House of Night series. She has stories in several anthologies, as well as editorial credits. Currently, Kristin is working on her first stand-alone novel.

 

 

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously.

REDEEMED.
Copyright © 2014 by P. C. and Kristin Cast. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

Cover photographs: Zoey by Herman Estevez; woman © Conrado and Aaleska/Shutterstock.com

eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].

The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

ISBN 978-0-312-59444-2 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-4668-5849-7 (e-book)

e-ISBN 9781466858497

First Edition: October 2014