Page 107 of Anchored to the Storm

Gently, I assured him, “I’m here.”

The silence of the early morning was haunting when carrying the deep voice to my ears. “So is someone else he stole from us.”

Caleb. My lips trembled. “I know.”

Johnny jolted. His back straightened slightly. Now, the dark voice was full of regret. “I was forced to disturb his rest.”

My jaw shivered. “You were… Thank you for bringing him to me.”

Johnny’s shoulders uncurled, and he released a deep rumble. “How can you thank me for this?”

Even though my voice wobbled, I was speaking the truth. “I’m grateful no strangers will touch him after Dale and Harmony are found.”

Unnervingly, his head moved to see me from over his shoulder. Glowing blue eyes found me.

Chills broke out over my whole body as I fully realized the young man named Johnny was gone. However, the admirable qualities that made his soul so rich, his heart so kind and giving, were beaming brightly. My friend was never going to be the same. He was now… ethereal.

“You are magnificent.”

His widening eyes and shocked expression had me wondering how he had been envisioning himself.

“I swear it, Maddox.”

This time, he sucked in air. His dark voice eased from its harshness and cracked. “You know my name.”

I tried to smile, but my lips quivered through my vast emotions. “I do.”

No longer having to hide his name—his true identity—and his marvelous gifts, the creature in Maddox began to fade, and the boy started to resurface.

Slowly and pitifully, Maddox turned in the chair, exposing a ghastly mutilated corpse behind him. The pastor had been stabbed so many times that his midsection no longer existed. He was now a shell. And I hoped he was in Hell.

With my hand still on Maddox’s shoulder, I exposed my palm and waited.

Maddox’s hand was covered in blood—and goopy matter I tried to ignore—as he relinquished the blade.

Tenderly, I told him, “You did right by us. You always do.”

He struggled to move. It was like his shattered heart was surrendering to a sea of exhaustion.

“You need rest, my friend.”

Maddox needed to free himself of this drive for revenge. It was draining him, his light.

At this moment, I was so grateful for Sebastian’s decision to choose Bluebell over the pastor. Only a supernatural beast would survive this carnage.

To lead Maddox away from the foul carcass behind him, I stepped back from my friend and offered my clean hand and inspiring words. “Blue says thank you, too.”

As if the fatigue of killing someone so brutally had finally caught up to Maddox’s human side, he barely rose from the chair before taking two faltering steps, then fell to his knees right in front of me. Magical blue eyes now brown again, he gazed up. “I failed Dale and Harmony.”

“No.” With the weapon in one hand, blood and tissue dripping, I proudly wrapped my arms around Maddox. “You don’t know how to fail.”

His worn-out arms did their best to wrap around my waist, yet failed. All he could do was lean into me, asking me to bear his weight. “They’re gone.”

Kissing his sweaty hair, I folded over him, holding him so tight. “Yes, but they prefer it this way since it means we’re safe. You know this. Search your broken heart. I got to see how often Dale gazed at you as if you were a true living angel.”

After a pause, Maddox began to cry. “What would he think of my stained wings?” My body shook with every sob he released.

I refused to let go. “That you’re still made of brass. A wonderful element, full of nature, strength, and the ability to survive anything.”