Goody Magic Academy, Year Three

Chapter 33

Chapter

Thirty-Three

M y father and I reluctantly untangled ourselves from each other as someone cleared their throat.

Raphael approached the church and nodded with his chin. “There’s someone else who needs helping, but I can’t be the one to do it.” His gaze fell on my father. “Only you have the power to heal her.”

Mom? Oh god, she was still in there. Was she even alive?

My father and I held hands as we rushed into the church. Mom was no longer suspended in midair but still had the same look of agonized pain on her face, as if she couldn’t wake from a nightmare.

The cathedral was quiet—almost too quiet. I scanned the dark shadows for signs of the Bloodborne Brotherhood or Balthazar, but I couldn’t see any.

Jaxon’s warm presence enveloped me as he stepped up beside me, taking my other hand. The familiar touch sent a wave of comfort through me, yet it also sparked a fierce sense of protectiveness: almost instinctively I shifted, positioning myself slightly in front of him.

His breath tickled my ear as he leaned in closer. “I’m not going to break, Peyton,” he whispered, his voice both amused and gently reassuring.

“I just can’t lose you again,” I insisted, my voice thick with emotion.

“You won’t,” he said, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “I promise.”

My father’s gaze fell upon us, a flicker of understanding passing across his features as he let go of my hand. “Stay here,” he said softly, his tone gentle but firm. We watched as he slowly approached my mother’s still form.

The sight of her lying there motionless on the ground sent a chill through me. Her stillness was unnatural and unsettling.

My father knelt beside her, his movements careful and reverent. With infinite tenderness, he brushed a strand of blonde hair back from her face. “Celeste,” he murmured, her name a caress on his lips. “It’s been so long. I’ve missed you so much.”

The raw emotion in his voice made my chest tighten. As he bent down, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips, the air began to hum with anticipation.

“I love you with all my heart, Celeste,” he whispered against her skin. His next words were both a plea and a declaration of faith. “Please wake. I need you. We all do.”

The moment hung suspended, fragile as spun glass. I found myself holding my breath, my hand tightening around Jaxon’s as we waited to see if love truly would conquer all.

My mother’s eyes fluttered open, confusion and disbelief warring in her gaze. “Aiden? Is that really you?” Her voice was soft, as if she was afraid speaking too loudly might shatter the moment.

My father gently lifted her into his arms, cradling her with a tenderness that spoke to their long separation. “Yes, it’s me,” he assured her, his voice almost cracking. “It’s finally over. Our daughter here defeated Abigail.” The pride in his words was immeasurable.

Mom’s gaze shifted, focusing on me for the first time. The recognition in her eyes sent a jolt through my entire being and I surged toward her, my hand still firmly clasped in Jaxon’s, pulling him along with me.

When I reached my parents I released Jaxon’s hand and threw my arms around my mother, careful not to disturb my father’s hold on her. Sobs wracked my body, all the years of longing and the recent trauma pouring out in a torrent of emotion. “Mom, Mom,” I cried, the words muffled against her shoulder. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I know, darling,” she soothed, her hand coming up to stroke my hair. The gentle, maternal gesture had me releasing a fresh wave of tears. “I know,” she repeated, her voice a balm to my battered soul. “But it’s all over now. We’re a family again.”

I slowly extricated myself from my mother’s embrace, a mix of emotions swirling within me. “Mom, Dad,” I began, still getting used to the word “dad” on my tongue. “This is Jaxon. My mate.”

Jaxon stepped forward, his presence a steady comfort at my side. My father’s eyes flared slightly as he spoke. “Celeste, this vampire sacrificed himself to save our daughter. He was killed by a hellish blade, but the Archangel Michael brought him back to life.”

Mom’s gaze softened as she looked at Jaxon, her hand reaching out to cup his cheek. “You will never know how grateful I am for that,” she said, her voice warm. “Welcome to our family.”

Before I knew it, we were all in another embrace, the four of us interconnected in a tangle of arms and shared emotion.

Raphael’s voice brought us back to the present. “There’s four other friends that have been staying with me in Scotland.”

Confusion furrowed my brow as I tried to decipher his meaning. Suddenly, two smaller balls of white light descended from the sky, touching down on the ground. In a flash, Twyla’s white rabbit Ivory materialized, followed closely by my beloved black cocker spaniel, Midnight.

Joy surged through me as Midnight bounded toward me. I dropped to my knees, scooping her up and pressing a kiss against her furry forehead. Beside me, Twyla squealed in delight as she gathered Ivory up into her arms.

Two more orbs of light struck the earth, revealing Finn’s unique pet Cinnamon—a charming half-kitten, half-bunny hybrid—and Kamaron’s proud rooster who instantly started strutting around and crowing as if he owned the place. Seeing all our animal companions safe and sound filled me with a warmth that was indescribable.

I looked up at Raphael, gratitude welling within me. “Thank you,” I said, my voice breaking.

Raphael bowed slightly and gave me a small smile. “Don’t thank me. Thank Rose. She’s the one that sent them to me. They were a handful, but I enjoyed looking after them. I’m glad they’re reunited with you.”

Michael’s deep chuckle resonated through the air. “You’re a pet sitter now?” he teased, his eyebrows raised.

Raphael shrugged, unfazed. “You’re just jealous because animals like me more.”

Michael’s face darkened into a glower, but he remained silent. I suppressed a smile, finding the petty squabbling between archangels oddly human.

Raphael’s expression grew serious once more. “I have some more good news. When the high priestess perished, her spells were all broken. Which means your friends, Augustus and Louise Eastey, have woken from their coma, completely unharmed.”

My heart surged. It appeared that with each passing moment, more of the damage wrought by the high priestess was being undone. As I stood there, surrounded by family, friends, and our beloved pets, a sense of true victory began to take hold. The road ahead might still be uncertain, but for now at least, we had each other.

That was more than enough.

I lay nestled in Jaxon’s muscular arms, my head resting on his chest. His heart pounded against me, a steady reminder of his presence. I was exhausted from our lovemaking, and happy to just revel in the blissful afterglow.

His hips pressed against mine, and I could feel his arousal throbbing warmly against my thigh. I looked up at him and spoke the words that I had wanted to say to him again for so long. “I love you.”

“I know,” he replied, running his calloused hands down my body, sending shivers through me. “I love you too. And…I’ve been thinking…”

I raised a playful eyebrow. “That’s a dangerous pastime for you.”

He chuckled, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief. “No, I’m being serious. With the high priestess dead, Goody Magic needs a new leader.”

My heart skipped a beat as I processed his words. “You want me to be the new high priestess?”

He nodded confidently. “Think about it—you’re a powerful dragon and witch, who used all four magical elements to defeat the previous one. No one else is as qualified as you.”

I frowned. “What about Rose Dragan?”

“She doesn’t possess all four elements.”

I moved my hands along his back, feeling his muscles ripple beneath my palms. “But… You hate it there.”

He sucked in his breath. “I hated it because I was a dishwasher and a slave. If you’re high priestess, that’ll improve my status significantly.”

“Hmm. I never thought about it.”

“Well, let’s give you something else to think about, then.”

Before I could dwell on it any longer, Jaxon’s lips trailed down my neck and collarbone as he slid inside me again, making me forget everything except for the intense pleasure he was giving me.

He was more than just my vampire—he was my mate, and now possibly my partner in ruling the magical world. And in this moment, nothing else mattered but him and our love.

Did you like reading about Peyton and Jaxon? Well, Jaxon shows up in Kiss of Blood and Sin! This is Dimitri’s story and Jaxon meets him at Goody! This is the kickoff to my vampire mafia world!

Dimitri will wrap you around his little finger! Take a chance on Kiss of Blood and Sin !