The Gates by Rachael Wade

an arm around her neck, holding it to her throat. “I don’t take the term ‘bitch’ lightly. But right now, I have one under my blade.” He leaned in closer to her ear. “And so help me, if you ever touch Camille again, I’ll finish you off myself, do you understand?” He glanced behind him to look at the others. “Everyone clear out. We’ve got this.”
    “Gavin, I’m not leaving her.” Audrey shot him her hell-no look as she spoke, but he pleaded with his eyes. She obliged, saying, “I’m out here when you’re ready, Cam.”
    I nodded at her from the corner of my eyes. Scarlet released her hold on me. My feet slid back to the ground as I gasped for breath. The others filed out of the room after Audrey, eager to get out.
    Pulling her neck away from Gavin’s dagger, Scarlet turned to him and straightened her dress. “You want to threaten me? Okay,” she moved in closer to him and licked her lips. “Get your things, Gavin. There’s a place waiting for us down by the river.” Brushing past him, she put her mouth to his ear. “Your people, or your stupid little mortal. You choose.” She hissed at me and was gone in a flash.
    Gavin rushed toward me and I sank to the floor, bursting into tears, my anger no less than before. “Don’t!” I cried out, swatting his hand from my shoulder. I didn’t want his pity.
    “I’m coming back for you, love. Do you hear me? I’m coming back.” He dropped to the floor next to me, held out his arms, begging me to come to him. I curled up into a tighter ball and wrapped my arms around my knees, sobbing into my hands. This wasn’t happening. She couldn’t get away with this. But she was.
    “Damn it, look at me.” He leaned in and forced my face into his hands, shoved his mouth over mine, his breathing ragged. “I won’t let anything happen to us. Have faith in me, don’t give up. Do you hear me, Cam? I love you to the end of the earth, and this is not the end.” He pushed his mouth on mine again, moved my lips with his, forcing me to yield to his hot caress. Helpless, I grasped the sides of his face, giving in, a flood of emotions pulsing through my body. As angry as I was, I had to trust him, had to see this through. Our lives depended on it.
    “I love you baby,” he whispered around my lips. “Just play along until we make it out of this. Wait for me.” He turned me loose. “Be strong, and I’ll find a way out of this, I promise you,” he whispered, then jumped to his feet and out of the room.
    Audrey was back in seconds, her arms rocking and cradling me, working to soothe my heaving sobs. I leaned into her and cried harder. “That bastard. I’ll kill him.” She hugged me tighter, shushing my cries.
    Gabe came from behind her and leaned down to rub my back. “Cam, it’s okay babe. It’s all going to be okay.”
    “Tell your boy to straighten out his shit, then,” Audrey barked at him, and waved him away.
    “Aud, you don’t know what’s going on,” Gabe said. “He has to do this, she’s forcing him—”
    “Get. Out.”
    He pushed his hands through his black hair, and peered down at me, an apology washing his face, before he exited the room.
    * * *
    “This won’t do much now, dear girl.” Cecile continued twisting some roots together, collecting them in the palm of her hand. “But it will give you a little push until you gather your inner strength.” She tucked my hair behind my ear, placed a hand on my shoulder.
    Audrey had brought me to Cecile’s for tea, but I was ever so grateful for the spell Cecile conjured up that had given me strength and patience. Audrey took a seat next to me, kettle in hand, pouring herself tea while I rested my head in my hands, staring at the herbs and roots sprawled out on the table.
    “I just don’t understand,” I shook my head, then sipped my tea. “She just decides out of the blue she wants him. She threw herself into a war for this. Just to be with Gavin again?”
    “Oh, there’s to more to