The Prophecy (The Guardians) - By Wendy Owens Page 0,57

pretty good handle on things.” Gabe answered. He could see that Damon and Rachel had similar personalities.

“Alright, I’ve had enough of this. If you have my sister like you say you do, I want to see her, now!” Damon demanded.

“Of course. She’s sleeping right now, but we can wake her if you prefer.”

“Yeah, I prefer.”

Gabe stood, motioning for Damon to follow. As they walked towards the room Rachel was resting in, Gabe continued explaining the situation to Damon, who listened silently, taking in all of the unbelievable details. He explained about how Rachel had first come to him, about her saving his life and nursing him back to health, and about the wedding in a few days. Gabe assumed the boy didn’t believe most of what he was telling him, he knew he wouldn't have. Only seeing it with his own eyes would make him accept the truth.

“In here, Rachel is being watched over by a friend, Dina.”

“But she’s alright?” Damon confirmed.

“Oh yes, of course. If you only believe one thing I say, please let it be that I would never let anything happen to your sister. I love her, with everything in me.” Gabe added.

“That’s what you say.” Damon replied in disbelief.

“She’s right over here.” Gabe knew he would have to show him how he felt about Rachel, and telling him meant nothing.

Gabe’s heart melted when Rachel came into view, she was still fast asleep. He marveled at how perfect and angelic she appeared to be while she slumbered.

“Oh my God, it is her.” Damon gasped. He took off in a full sprint towards his sister. Pulling her up into his arms, he squeezed with all his might, never wanting to let her go. He moaned, “Rachel, it’s you, it’s really you. I thought you were —. Oh thank God, it’s really you, Rachel.”

Gabe approached, coming to a stop just above his beloved. Rachel stirred from her deep, drug induced sleep. Wiping the corner of her mouth and rubbing her eyes, she attempted to push away the grogginess.

“Damon, is that you? It is you!” Rachel squealed. Pushing him back, at last she looked at him from head to toe, examining him for any injuries. “Wait, I don’t understand. How are you here?”

Gabe was happy to explain the reunion. “Haim has been keeping tabs on your little brother here. When he mentioned he was off at college, I immediately sent him out to retrieve Damon. I figured what better wedding present could I give you than him here, safe.”

“Oh, Gabe, it’s marvelous. Thank you so much.” Rachel exclaimed, reaching up for Gabe’s embrace.

“Seriously? This wedding stuff is true?” Damon inquired.

“Don’t worry, I’ll tell you everything.” Rachel began. And she did, the trio talked all night. Sharing stories of how Gabe and Rachel fell in love, who exactly the Guardians were, what they were capable of, and what they were up against. Gabe saw the beginnings of his new family that night. A family that filled him with a warmth he had not known in far too long.

CHAPTER TWENTY

The day was here, Gabe could hardly believe that it had only been a week since he asked Rachel to be his wife. The planning had been rapid, a whirlwind of chaos. Gabe was grateful Dina and Rachel had taken to one another so quickly. In recent days, his time was consumed with planning their journey. Her help meant he had more time to pour over maps and status reports. They would leave tomorrow. Michael suggested the sooner they left Iron Gate, the more likely they would remain safe. The clerics were barely maintaining the safety spells as it was and with more refugees arriving every day, it was only a matter of time before the compound would be detected.

Gabe had thought of everything. With the help of Uri and Haim they had options of safe havens all across the globe, dozens of places rich in copper. If Uri was right and the trackers had caught his scent before he came to the valley to retrieve him and Rachel, then there was a good chance they had discovered Gabe’s cabin. It would not take them long to figure out Gabe had been using the copper to shield himself from tracking. He knew Baal would use that knowledge and their search patterns would shift, they would know the type of places Gabe was looking to hide. He needed to have options. If there was even a chance Baal knew where to search, Gabe knew