Light Shadows (50 page)

The old woman smiles, revealing more gums than teeth. “The life you have lost lives within you. It stays with you now.” Then as if she were in a trance, she shudders, blinks a few times and turns back around to her meal.

I can’t think. I can’t feel. I just keep trembling, as a thousand emotions flood my body at max speed. This can’t be right. It just…it can’t be.

Dorian slowly comes to my side and pulls me against him. Then with his own shaky hand, he gently touches my belly, so softly and lovingly, as if he were holding a heart in his palm. I look up at him with tear-filled eyes to find that he’s smiling. Beaming with love and pride. And
hope.

Then the unthinkable happens.

He laughs.

Dorian laughs so heartily that the entire room pauses to watch him. Tears spring at the crease of his jovial, blue eyes as he releases days, weeks, months, years of repressed emotion. I stare at him in awe, absorbing the feel of his hand against my womb and the pure joy pouring out of him. Feeling like everything will finally be ok.

A photographer asks to capture the rare moment, and we happily oblige. I wave our friends over, and Morgan, Lars and Alex squeeze in with us. Cocooning us with love.

I think back to that photo on my nightstand, channeling the chaotic bliss that my mother must’ve felt that day—the fear of the unknown coupled with the sheer joy at sharing her life with the people she loved. She knew what she was embarking on was crazy and dangerous, but she did it anyway. Because love was worth it. To her,
I
was worth it.

“Ok, now smile,” the photographer says.

And the five of us do just that. Because right now, we can be impossibly happy. We can find triumph in the destruction. We may make mistakes and stumble and fall. But we know that someone is always right there, lending a hand to pull us right back up. We may not know what lies on the other side of forever, but for now, that’s ok. We’re content with being here. Right here in this moment.

That’s the magic of life. Those times that make all the heartbreak seem bearable. They may be few and far between, but we know that morning always comes after night. Because where there is darkness, there will always be light.

My life was a beautiful tragedy.

But this isn’t the end. It’s only the beginning.

I’M GOING TO tear the damn doors off.

I can’t stand this. Can’t stand to hear her pain. And while I may no longer feel it, it penetrates me to the core, infiltrating tissue and bone. The sound of her screams… I have to do something. I have to stop her suffering.

“Fuck this, I’m going in,” I growl, heading for the double doors. Alexander stops me before I can get within five feet of them, banding his thickly roped arms around me.

“Oh no, you’re not. You need to let them do their job, D.”

“Their job? They’re torturing her! Don’t you hear her distress?”

He nearly picks me up off my feet and carries me away, practically shoving me from where my beloved shrieks in agony. “Yeah? And bursting in there could severely endanger her life. You know you won’t be able to stand seeing her like that. So stop being an overly sensitive prick and have a seat until they call you.”

My fists tighten at my sides, and every muscle in my body tenses with blind fury. “I. Am. Not. A. Prick.”

Alexander shrugs before folding his frame into a chair, not even the slightest bit phased by my temper, which would render most men completely speechless with terror. Actually, Alex is one of the few people who isn’t terrified of me. Well…terrified is a strong word. Let’s go with intimidated. Not that that’s what I’m aiming for. But as the Dark king, I must maintain a level of respect and, yes, fear, so that others do not see me as docile. But being that Alexander is my father-in-law, as well as my best friend, throwing around the king card just doesn’t fly with him.

With a resigning sigh, I sit down next to him, shoving my head in my hands in frustration…and dread. It’s been hours.
Hours
of hearing Gabriella’s pain. Something must be wrong. Oh God…I can’t lose her. I can’t live without her.

“She’ll be alright,” Alex says, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Morgan is in there holding her hand. And if anything were wrong, Lars would ensure those Light doctors did everything they could. Have faith, brother. Your queen will be ok.”

“But why does it seem so…
painful?
” I don’t miss the crack in my voice, and I don’t care.
“
I mean, the act of ripping a child from the womb is vicious as it is. But can’t they ease her suffering?”

“She’s too powerful, and her body is trying to regenerate itself just as they get it open—”

What?
I cringe, a shudder rolling through my body.

“—and she’s burning right through the meds. But that young woman in there…is her mother’s child. She’s a fighter. She’ll make it through.”

I exhale and lean back into my seat, taking a bit of comfort in Alex’s words. Gabriella is a fighter. She fought for me. She fought for Niko. And now she’s in there fighting for our child.

There’s silence on the other side of those double doors. Silence that tells me that something has happened. I spring to my feet, prepared to rush through the doors when Morgan comes out, dressed in oversized, light blue scrubs. Her face is weary from sitting beside her best friend for hours, trying to lend her soothing words of encouragement. But right now, she seems beaten down.

I manifest right in front of her, causing her to yelp in surprise.

“Dammit, Dorian!” she shrieks, smacking my arm.

“Is there any word? How is she? What’s wrong?” When Morgan doesn’t answer right away, I grasp her slim shoulders, careful not to squeeze too hard. I’m anxious, but I know Lars would have my head if I accidently harmed her—king or not.

“She’s fine,” Morgan smiles. “Go on in and see her. Now understand that I didn’t have time to fix her hair or makeup, so don’t be mad at me—”

I’m already gone.

I enter the hospital delivery room just in time to hear my newborn baby cry for the very first time. Gabriella smiles, her sweat-slickened face more radiant than ever, as she takes the squirming bundle in her arms. I take a step forward on shaky knees, and finally, I gaze upon true, immaculate beauty—so rare and wondrous that my chest contracts and expands with the overflow of emotion. I breathe as it moves through me, spurning an endless stream of joy in my veins.

In that moment, something inside me shifts, filling that last piece of hollowness that ached in disrepair. And I feel my dark heart fracture into two, yet it beats more wildly—more vitally—than ever before.

I may have lived lifetime upon lifetime, but I never knew what it meant to be alive until right this very second. For now, my newly rendered heart beats for them.

End.

We've finally made it.

The End.

And while I'm relieved/overjoyed/proud of bringing this series to a close, it's so hard to say goodbye to the story that took me from Syreeta Jennings: stay at home mom & wife, to S.L. Jennings: Author.

That is just CRAZY to me. Absolutely insane.

I'm doing what I love. And I realize that I would not even be in this position had it not been for the amazing people around me who have kept me grounded, focused and motivated every step of the way.

To my readers . . . you guys. YOU GUYS. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to have such awesome readers to support me & these characters. You all have breathed life into Dorian and Gabs. Whether you 1-clicked the ebooks or paperbacks, I am just so honored that you have chosen their story. I can't tell you how great it feels to see your enthusiasm through comments, messages, tweets, etc. I LOVE YOU GUYS. Seriously. Could not have made it this far without you!

To my street team & fan groups: Jonesin' for Jennings, SL's Smart Asses & Dorian's Little Ruined Ones . . . big hugs and sloppy kisses to all of you!!! You guys are the shiznit! Pimpin' ain't easy, but you sure know how to make it look good!

There are some amazing bloggers out there who have pimped THE HELL out of the Dark Light Series. I know I won't be able to name them all (and I truly do apologize) but HUGE THANKS to every blog that has supported me since day one.

(in no particular order)

The Rock Stars of Romance

The Scarlet Siren

Smut Book Club

Sassy Savvy Fabulous Book Blog

Schmexy Girl Book Blog

Shhh . . . Mom's Reading

Her Juicy Reads

Kindle Crack Reviews

True Story Book Blog

The Book Blog

We Like It Big Book Blog

Hook Me Up Book Blog

Sassy Divas Book Blog

Three Chicks and Their Books

Ana's Attic Book Blog

Black Heart Reviews

Panty Dropping Book Blog

THESUBCLUBBooks

Chicks Controlled by Books

Becca the Bibliophile

The Book List Reviews

After Dark Book Lovers

Red Cheeks Reads

The To Be Read List

End of Story, Next Book Blog

Booked Every Night Blog

Natasha is a Book Junkie

Up All Night Book Blog

TotallyBooked

Maryse's Book Blog

Romance Schmomance

Erotica Book Club

Paranormal Book Club

Angie's Dreamy Reads

Kristi's Book Cellar

Holly's Hot Reads

NWA Gossip Girl

Blushing Babes Book Blog

Literati Literature Lovers

Kris & Vik Book Therapy Café

Book Loving Pixies

Christian Grey Fan Page

My Secret Romance

Wolfel's World of Books

Like I said, I truly do not mean to leave anyone out! And if I did, please chalk it up to my head and not my heart.

I definitely have to thank the ladies that ensured that Light Shadows was right and tight . . . my beta team. Lisa Chamberlain, Maureen Sytsma, Yaya Cintron, Alicia Wilson and Sharon Goodman. You ladies are truly rock stars & I am so grateful to have worked with each one of you. We did it!

Extra special thanks to my ace, my right hand, my partner in crime . . . Mo. I swear, I owe you, woman! I can't even put into words how much you've done for me, but know that I am thankful from the bottom of my heart. I could not have done it without you!

Huge thanks to Sassy Savvy PR & Marketing for all their hard work & dedication. Sharon & Melissa . . . it's been a dream working with you! Seriously, you've gone above and beyond for me, and I could not ask for more. Thank you for your help & your friendship.

To my sisters in the trenches: Rebecca Shea, Claire Contreras, Emmy Montes, Gail McHugh, Mia Asher, Madeline Sheehan, Karina Halle, AL Jackson, RK Lilley, Raine Miller, Nicole Jacquelyn, Cindy Brown, Barbie Bohrman, Kendall Grey, Michelle Valentine, Lynetta Halat, LB Simmons, Abbi Glines, Christine Zolendz, Tillie Cole, Trudy Stiles, Roxy Sloane, Katie Ashley, Kyla Linde, Jennifer Berg, Carey Heywood . . . You all inspire me daily. Thank you for your continued love and support. There is truly something amazing to be said about women that uplift and encourage other women. I am glad to have met each and every one of you!

Much love to my editor, Tracey Buckalew, who knows my brain and my words like no one else. I love you, woman! Thank you x1000!