Redemption: Alchemy Series Book #4 (29 page)

When I felt the bed underneath me, I didn't recall most of the walk there. Cormac's body curved protectively around me. I tried to fight the draw of sleep but couldn't seem to keep my eyes open.

"Who's…"

"Sleep. I'll take care of everything." His hand ran through my hair as I rested a cheek against him. "I'll be here when you wake."

I nodded, succumbing to the pull as I heard his last words.

"I'll always be here for you."

Chapter
Twenty-Seven

Paid in Full

"You sure you're ready?" Cormac asked me as we made our way to the ground floor.

He'd been hovering over me since the senator's deat
h last week. I understood his concern initially; I'd barely been coherent the first few days, only waking to eat. But I was way past the point of cabin fever.

"Cormac, I'm fine. I want air."

He smiled and there was that same twinkle in his eye I'd seen the last few days. It was that made me wonder what was going on.

"Are you going to tell me wha
t it is that you are so happy about?"

He tugged my arm and drew me close. "You'll see."

"No word from Dodd yet?"

"No, but I'm sure he'll eventually turn up. Especially now that the senator killed so many of the rippers, it's a lot safer out there."

I remembered the senator’s snipers spraying into the group of them until they were all but extinct. As long as I didn't do a mass release of magic into the world again, their numbers shouldn't cause a significant problem.

He pushed open the door that led us outside and I braced myself for the cold that didn't come. The snow was gone
, leaving the sodden earth beneath.

"It feels like spring." I ripped off the heavy down jacket I was wearing and lifted my arms out to soak up as much of the sun as I could. The courtyard was filled with people sitting outside and children running and playing.
It didn't just feel like spring, but looked and sounded like it. Laughter and children giggling rang through the air, sounding more beautiful than any music I'd ever heard. The smell of wet fertile soil and grass met my senses.

"How long has it been like this?"

"It's been getting warmer every day." He held out his hand to me. "There's more."

"More?" He smiled and nodded. I took his hand as we walked out of the courtyard as kids dashed in front of us playing tag.

We crossed over the drawbridge and I wanted to cry when I stepped into the middle of the Vegas strip. Every place that had a crack of dirt, which there were many, had flowers growing up through it. Flowers that weren't even native to Vegas sprouted as if they had every right to be there, tulips in every color, crocus and daffodils.

"How can this be?" I asked.

"I don't know," Cormac said.

Then, out of
nowhere, a shimmering image of the Earth King appeared in the middle of the road. It wasn't the grizzled old man but a powerful male in his prime.
Because of your actions, I can now heal the earth. Your debt has been paid.

He smiled and bowed to me
, then he was gone.

"What are you looking at?"

"You didn't see him?" I turned and stared at Cormac who looked bewildered.

"Are you okay?"

I felt the tears on my cheeks he saw falling. "I'm perfect."

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