Marcus frowned at her. “Celine, you are acting like a child. Consider what you are saying. Your reputation shall be ruined!”
“Yours will fare no better, Marcus. Particularly if the circumstances of my father’s death come to light. And unable to control even your own wife. Imagine the rumors. The difference is you will care, I shall not.”
“We’ll see how much you care when every door in London in closed to you!”
“I shall survive.”
“Will you? I have spent years providing a life others can only imagine, I have provided everything for you, anything you wished, anything you desired. I have remained loyal to you always. I will not allow you to betray me in this way.”
“You have no choice. I have turned a blind eye to your evil deeds for far too long. I shall do so no longer. Our relationship is ended tonight.”
Marcus exhaled forcibly, setting his jaw. “Fine. But realize you are responsible for any harm that befalls them.” He raised his hand, but Celine fired first, stinging him with a fireball.
“Leave, Marcus. I shall allow no harm to come to any of them.” Marcus tried again, but Celine fired another fireball at him, followed by two more. Alexander and Gray readied to defend her.
Marcus paused for a moment. He sniffed, smirking at them. “All right, Celine. I shall go. You have me at a momentary disadvantage. But know this. This conversation is not finished. I shall never allow you to leave me, not truly. You shall not always retain the upper hand. It shall not last. You have won the battle. You will not win the war. I will never let you rest. I shall follow you always and everywhere.” He stepped back toward the doorway. “Prepare, Celine. Gather your strength. You shall need it when I bring the forces of Hell upon you and your new compatriots.” He turned on his heel, thundering down the hall. The floors shook as he stormed away, porcelain vases, mirrors and glass pieces shattered as he passed them.
Celine closed her eyes for a moment as the sounds faded down the hall. “I’m sorry,” she said.
“There is nothing to be sorry for,” Gray informed her. “And now we are rid of him.”
“He shall return as promised,” Celine responded. “He will not let this rest.”
“Which is why we shall travel to London tomorrow morning and board a ship to America. The further we are from him, the better. Allow his temper to cool whilst he is impeded from contacting you.”
Celine gazed at him. “Yes. That is best, I agree.”
“Early tomorrow morning?” Damien asked.
“Yes,” Gray answered. “I sent a man this morning after Celine accepted my proposal to make travel arrangements for us to leave immediately.”
Michael and Damien glanced at each other. “What about us?” Michael asked.
“Yes,” Damien added. “Not to be a pain, but we need to return to our time before you go.”
Celine nodded. “Of course. I shall send you tonight.”
“Oh,” Damien answered. “Gee, I kind of hoped to see you get married this time.”
“Sorry to disappoint, but it’s best for you to go now. With Duke Northcott’s ire raised, it isn’t safe for you here,” Gray responded.
“Gray is correct,” Celine added. Celine approached them, taking one of each of their hands into hers. “Before you go, I must thank you both. Without your bravery and forthrightness, I should never have learned the truth.”
Damien squeezed her hand, smiling at her. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re away from the Duke. He is a horrible man. You deserve much better.”
Michael squeezed her hand as well. “You’re welcome, Celine. See you in a couple of centuries.”
Gray extended his hand to shake each of theirs. “Thank you, gentlemen.”
Alexander did the same. “What a strange journey it has been, Damien and Michael. But I am better for having met you. Safe travels.”
Everyone said their final goodbyes before Celine readied them to travel. “Now, if you’ll concentrate on your time period, I shall open the portal.”
Celine shut her eyes, stretching her arms in front of her. The familiar twinkling appeared in front of Michael and Damien and a black opening grew from a pinpoint to a gaping hole, covering the wall in front of them. Wind whipped through the room as the portal to their time opened. Once it was fully open, Michael and Damien glanced at each other before stepping through it.
After a few steps, Damien stumbled, struggling but remaining upright. He glanced down, blinking his eyes a few times to adjust to the new scenery. He’d tripped over a stone projecting from the ground. He glanced around, seeing trees and hearing the sound of the ocean nearby.
Michael clapped him on the back, pointing toward an object to their left. “We made it,” he said. Damien followed his finger, finding the Buckley house in its path. Light shone from the windows, keeping the darkness at bay.
Chapter 25
Present day, Bucksville, Alterra
Damien breathed a sigh of relief. “Whew. I am so glad to be home.”
“Me too. I can’t wait to get out of these clothes.”
“Yeah, and into my bed. My real bed.”
“Race you?” Michael asked.
“Aw, come on,” Damien complained. “I’m never going to win.”
“With an attitude like that, you won’t. Come on!” Michael sprinted in front of him. Damien grumbled but raced behind him, trying to catch up. Michael’s head start proved too much for him, and Michael made it to the house first. The two men burst through the front door, laughing over their so-called race.
Celine crossed the foyer, a book in her hand. “Michael? Damien?” she asked in a crisp British accent.
“Celine?” Damien asked, sobering quickly and approaching her. Michael followed.
“It is you!” she exclaimed, placing her book on the entryway table and throwing her arms around them. “I didn’t imagine I would ever see you again! Why, you appear just as I remember you!”
Michael and Damien were speechless. They glanced to each other, unsure what to say. “Well,” Damien eventually croaked out, “we just left you. The night you told
