Violet Eden Chapters 04 - Endless

broadened.
    Phoenix gave a huff that would’ve put Dapper’s efforts to shame and stomped towards us. ‘At least try to control your goddamn emotions!’
    I was already nodding apologetically, embarrassed.
    Lincoln, on the other hand, simply chuckled again as he replied, ‘I am.’
    Jesus. Phoenix will kill us before we even get to Lilith!

    We opted to drive the truck, rather than let Phoenix use his powers to get us to Lilith’s estate. Right now, we were all keen to conserve as much of our strength as possible. It also meant that Phoenix could arrange us some privacy, separating us from his exile enforcers. Heading in the opposite direction from the town, they drove in front and behind in their own vehicles.
    It was a long twenty minutes and yet every one of those minutes had become precious.
    ‘Will Lincoln and I be held together?’ I asked Phoenix.
    ‘No,’ he replied. ‘Lilith will lock up Lincoln on the far side of the estate, where Evelyn is imprisoned. She’ll most likely put you down in the dungeons until the ceremony tonight.’
    I nodded, trying to ignore the spark of fear.
    ‘This is it,’ Phoenix said, pointing towards a massive estate coming into view.
    When we neared I realised why no one had been able to pinpoint Lilith’s location. She and her cohorts held a glamour over the entire building, which made it look like an ancient castle, with crumbling walls and large sections of the roof missing. To passers-by it would be considered a ruin.
    It was genius. Hidden in plain sight.
    The reality was quite different. The building stood in perfect isolation, with massive stone walls and wroughtiron gates. It was indeed a castle-like estate, but unlike its glamoured appearance, it was pristine.
    It wasn’t difficultto spot, and sense, the numerous guards patrolling outside. I pushed my senses out a little further and gasped.
    Lincoln glanced at me. He had felt it too.
    There must have been at least sixty exiles in there, both light and dark, and almost all of them were powerful.
    We pulled over behind the first car. Lincoln grabbed my hand before I could open the door. ‘Remember, you’ll need to open yourself up to me completely so I can send you all of my power.’
    I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off.
    ‘This isn’t about you or me, Vi. If things get that far, it’s about saving as many of those kids as possible.’
    Resigned, my mouth closed.
    ‘I’ll take the fear from you where I can,’ Phoenix offered quietly from the back.
    I nodded.
    ‘Both of you,’ he added.
    Lincoln pressed his lips together as he too gave a small nod.
    He dug out the phone from his pocket and passed it over to Phoenix. ‘Griffin’s number is in there when you need it. Tell him we did everything we could and that I’m … sorry.’
    Phoenix took the phone.
    ‘Get Evelyn out, okay?’ I added. ‘She’s your best hope at killing Lilith. Tell her I’ve left some letters in my bag at the cabin. And tell her to look after Dad.’ Evelyn was the only one who had ever defeated Lilith. I knew she would do everything she could to bring her down again.
    Phoenixswallowed, looking away. ‘I swear it.’
    We stepped out of the truck and Lincoln came to my side, pulling me into him. It was strange to think we had only had this closeness for the last twenty-four hours. It was so complete I couldn’t imagine life any other way now.
    Lincoln tilted my head up to his. Shining green eyes looked down on me with so much adoration and respect that I felt my own eyes begin to well.
    ‘You have more power than any Grigori that has come before and perhaps, of any that will come again.’ He leaned down as I pushed onto my tippy toes. Our lips met and we were in perfect harmony. When his kiss deepened I felt the stirrings of the magic that bound our souls and shivered.
    ‘It’s my privilege to love you,’ he said, his lips grazing my ear with each word. ‘Don’t ever forget, no regrets.’ He kissed the spot behind my ear and breathed in deeply. ‘Not one.’
    Something slipped in my stomach. I leaned back from him and searched his eyes.
    But he simply stared back at me with nothing but the truth and love of his words. My hands moved up to cup his face. ‘Me neither. I love you, too. With everything that I am.’
    Phoenix, who had walked ahead a few paces to give us a moment, cleared his throat. ‘It’s time,’ he said.
    We followed him to the massive black gates, flanked by the exiles that had