Page 40 of Rescuing Air

Why would Parker’s power be showing up in this? It’s never shown up before. Even when we created the barrier to protect the property, it didn’t flow with ours. I assumed it was because he wasn’t bonded with Lailah like we were, but now I wasn’t sure of anything. Just when I didn’t think the power could grow even more, it pressed against my skin as if it was just to the point of bursting out of my very skin, and it popped. If it had been a bomb, it would have leveled the whole town, if not the next one over. As the power shook the ground under us, I clung to her, trying to keep from breaking the connection we still held, feeling like the process wasn’t over yet. There was still more to be done and I couldn’t break the circuit.

Just when I didn’t think I could hold on for a moment longer, my fingers convulsing around her wrist, I was pulled into a blinding white light. I remember Lailah telling us what it was like when the angel came to talk to her and it made me curious if that was what was happening now. Why else would there need to be so much power gathered? Was it to combat the darkness that was around us, being so close to the Dark Lord’s army? As my vision normalized and adjusted to the brightness, I found Lailah standing with someone, holding their arm and leaning into their body as if they were a part of her. I noticed this person’s hair was ginger, glistening in the bright light like a beacon.

“Parker?” I asked, taking a step forward. “How...?”

Lailah’s face shone with pure joy and excitement. “We saved him, all of us together. We brought him back.”

“Are we dead?” Micah asked from beside me.

I snapped my head in his direction, not having noticed he was even there. To my left were Hudson and Brayden, meaning all six of us were back together in this strange place.

“No, you’re not dead,” Parker answered. “Trust me, I know what that looks like and it’s not this.”

“We’re in Heaven’s limbo, just like the darkness is Hell’s,” Lailah explained. “This is where the angel brought me in my dream to tell me what was going on.”

As if talking about them caused one to appear, a flash of white light faded for us to see a being with large white wings and a white shapeless dress. I couldn’t tell their features or anything else about them as they stood there, but I could feel their eyes on us.

“Knights, I have brought you here because it is finally time for Synergy’s true powers to be unlocked. Each of you have shown great sacrifice and stayed true to your Oath and nourished your Bond with Synergy to the point that you can now defeat the Dark Lord. Trust in each other, for Synergy’s purpose is to take that which is singular and combine it to make it all that much stronger. You have done well, our brave knights. You’ve survived more than any before you have had to withstand. God smiles on you, extends his favor. Be blessed and remember my words when the outcome looks bleak.”

Finished with what they had to say, we were sent back to our bodies with a flick of a wing, causing me to gasp as I landed on my back, looking up at the ceiling of the hotel room. “Holy shit,” I wheezed.

Slowly, I sat up and found the others in the same state of shock as myself but when I glanced at the bed, I froze. There, holding Lailah to his chest was Parker, in the flesh, looking just as he had when we last saw him. I knew without question that the two of them were bonded.

“Jalen?”

Spinning on my heel, thinking I must be crazy to hear what I just heard, I decided not to question it as I rushed forward and pulled my mother into a tight hug. “Oh thank God, she did it. She saved you, too.”

twenty-four

Lailah

When I opened my eyes, I found myself back in the real world—at least I hoped it was. Parker was wrapped around me as if he was scared to let me go, my face smothered in his chest. The sound of his beating heart made me tear up, and I came to terms with the fact he was alive. I’d managed to do the impossible and with the others’ help, we brought him back! Another thing I noticed was the hum of a Bond between us, telling me that all five of the men I loved with all my heart were connected and whole. I’d been crying so much the past several hours, but I couldn’t hold back the happy tears that were soaking his shirt.

“Jalen?” a woman’s voice called out, pulling me from my own revelations to turn my head.

Standing in the doorway between the hotel rooms was Jay’s mother. She was awake and looked perfectly healthy, which made my already happy heart overflow with joy. Whatever I’d done to help Parker must have been enough to purge her of the curse that had been put on her as well. There had been so many losses in this journey, it was healing to have won a few battles today. Jay rushed to his mother and wrapped her up in a hug, surprising her since he wasn’t normally a man to show such strong outward emotions.

I started to sit up but found that even the effort of trying was too much. My whole body hurt like I’d run farther than my body could handle and passed out for the effort. Groaning, I just rolled onto my back, my breath coming in shallow pants as nothing about my body wanted to listen to me.

“Trouble, you okay?” Parker asked, leaning over me, his face scrunched with concern.

“I think bringing you back from the dead took a little more out of me than I expected,” I joked and attempted to laugh but it hurt too much to do that. “Do you think it would be okay if I take a nap?”

Parker reached out and brushed my hair out of my face. “Yeah, I don’t think anyone will be upset if you close your eyes and rest. We’ll all be here when you wake up.”

Only having the effort to hum my response, I let my eyes closed and fell into a deep sleep.

“Guys, it’s been two days,” Micah’s voice rang out, harsh with anger. “Are you telling me we shouldn’t take her to a hospital or get her help?”

“Look, I know you’re upset but think of the power she used to heal Jay’s mother and bring Parker back. It makes sense that she would need time to rest and restore her powers,” Hudson reasoned.

I could hear them moving about the space. I was thinking we were still in the same hotel room but anything could have happened while I was out. Taking a deep breath, I was pleased to notice that my body wasn’t in pain and as I stretched my muscles, rejoiced at being able to move, giving that euphoric feeling. With a large yawn, I opened my eyes and found the guys all hovering around my bed, looking at me with varying degrees of excitement and concern.

“Good morning?” I asked, unsure of what to say.

Parker flashed me his signature grin followed by a wink. “Afternoon, if you want to get technical.”

Slowly, I sat up and rested against the headboard, taking in the room around me. “Jay, was I hallucinating or was your mother awake?”