Unbound, a Paranormal Romance (Book 2 of the Spellbound Series) by Lola James Page A

even harm her. I turned away from Annie before I dropped my head and walked into the darkness of the hallway. I needed to find Antonia I would finally tell her what I never said to her in her life: that I loved her and I wanted to kiss her lips one last time.

    Chapter 10
     
    I stood in the doorway of the sky-blue room where the angels played on the walls. It was warm with those who loved Antonia, myself among them. I stepped over the threshold and walked across the room. No heads turned; all eyes remained on her.
    She looked like an angel, dressed in a long, white dress that covered her feet. Atop her head were tiny white rose buds that lay as a crown in her silken hair. Her skin was smooth but now dull, the rosy glow faded from her cheeks. I walked closer, my legs weakening as I neared her still form. I caught one of the posts connected to the round bed to stop myself from falling. My disturbance made all of the mourners turn their heads.
    “Benjamin, you’ve come to say goodbye, I suppose,” Hades said.
    “Yes,” I choked out as Dawn moved so that I could be at Antonia’s left side. I took her cold hand in mine. I was so used to her warmth and liveliness, now her hand was as cold as mine was. I couldn’t believe that less than an hour ago, my lips had crushed hers. I noticed the gash at her neck was healed as I bent and softly kissed her cheek, then moved to her ear and whispered at long last, “I love you, Antonia.” I lingered in that moment.
    Dawn’s warm hand grabbed mine. “We all did.” Her smile was warm and comforted me.
    I straightened and inquired, “What is going to happen now, I mean, to her body?” I wanted to visit her and express my love as often as I could.
    “My family has a mausoleum in Larissa. Her mother and siblings are all buried there,” Bion said somberly.
    I nodded at his mention of the location. “She looks beautiful,” I said, speaking my thoughts aloud. Everyone agreed with a yes or a head nod.
    “I used a little magic to clean her up and change her from those dreaded modern clothes and shoes she wore. This gown was more fitting,” Circe offered with a genuine smile.
    My perception of the gods was all wrong. I thought Hades had been the malicious keeper of all dead souls, when I looked over at him now, he seemed gentle and sincere. It was his wife Persephone who carried the titles of evil, malicious, and vile. I could still remember the wicked smile on her face as she slit Antonia’s throat. I shook my head to erase that memory.
    “You all cry for her, still?” Annie asked from the doorway.
    “You!” Dawn said as she released my hand. She marched over to Annie, stopping just a nose-length away. “You’re the reason that we mourn! You pretended to be Toni’s friend but you were no friend to her. You helped put her here!”
    “You don’t want to mess with me. I’m still angry,” Annie spat as balls of fire appeared in her palms.
    Dawn shook her head. “Have you learned nothing, little witch? I have more power than you could ever imagine, and I am going to make sure that you won’t be able to hurt anyone anymore!” Dawn placed her hands on Annie’s shoulders as Annie tried to shrug her off.
    “Take your hands off me!” Annie screamed.
    “Not until I take all of your power!” Dawn smiled.
    “You can’t. You don’t know the spell,” Annie said with a smirk.
    “That’s where you’re wrong, darling. I don’t need spells. I just need to think it and it happens.” As the words left Dawn’s lips, she began to glow with a brilliant white light.
    Annie dropped to her knees.
    “Don’t kill her, Dawn!” We all turned in shock to find Antonia with her eyes wide open, fixed on Dawn and Annie.
    “Toni!” Dawn choked on the name. As she released Annie, her body dropped to the floor. Dawn sprinted back to the bed where Antonia lay and fell into a hug with her friend. 
    “How?” Hades asked as his hazel eyes danced with joy.
    I grabbed Antonia’s hand