Free The Guardians Crown (The Guardians Book 5) by Wendy Owens

pointless,” Michael suggested.
    Pushing herself up onto one elbow Mirada peered into Michael’s eyes. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “What? Why not?” Michael questioned.
    “If you take this away from him too soon, it might be more than he can handle. He needs to hold onto it for a while longer. Sometimes the journey can help us find what we’re really looking for. Perhaps looking for the Guardians crown will help him find what he is searching for.”
    “I wish I knew what he was truly searching for, so I could help him.”
    “He’s searching for what everyone else is my love,” Mirada explained plainly. “His destiny.”
    Arching his back, Michael lifted himself, kissing Mirada on the forehead. A wave of relief consuming him as he realized he had just found his destiny.

 
     
    They paused for a moment, Michael looking to Mirada for some indication she might be ready to enter through the gates. It had been some time since she had felt like she was safe to be anywhere near the Guardians. Her sister had been held captive for so long that she had grown comfortable in the idea that the Guardians were no different than the demons. For her, if you were fighting against evil that did not automatically align you with the Guardians.
    Peering at the oversized entryway into Iron Gate, Michael attempted to put her at ease. “Clarite’s here, can you imagine how excited she’ll be to see you?”
    “Somehow I doubt that,” Mirada said, delivering a half smile.
    “Come on now, a lot of time has passed, I’m sure she has changed just as much as you have,” Michael reassured her.
    “She never could forgive me for getting away when she didn’t. Well that, and she always thought I stole your heart from her,” Mirada reminded him.
    “That will never make sense to me. I never had any feelings for that woman, I have no clue how she thinks there could have ever been something between us. Although it does explain why she loathes me so much,” Michael remarked.
    Mirada laughed and looked back at the gate. Michael noticed how her eyes widened as she took in a deep breath. Though she had aged, she still looked like Michael remembered her.
    The joy of that moment overtook him. Without another word, Michael turned to her and said, “This past week, being alone in our little tree house, I’ve been happier than anytime I can remember. I feel like the moment we were torn apart, my life stopped moving forward. I can’t imagine ever being without you again.”
    “Awe, sweetie, I feel the same way,” Mirada replied, confused as to why he would be bringing this up now of all times.
    Falling to one knee, he peered up at her. Her stomach twisted in knots as she felt her heart begin to race. Michael thought his own heart might leap out of his chest if he didn’t say what he was thinking, “I love you Mirada, you complete me. And I don’t want another day to go by without you as my wife. Will you marry me?”
    It didn’t happen like in the storybooks. She didn’t squeal and say yes, there was no ring, there was simply the two of them, the gray clouds over head, and the undeniable bond between them, and an evilness darker than anyone had ever known lurking on the outskirts of their existence. She collapsed onto her knees in front of him, the tears streaming down her face. She simply nodded, and that was enough of an answer for him. Burying her head into his chest, he held her, and they were complete. It took more than a lifetime, but they had found each other once again.
    “Michael?” Uri’s voice rang out. Rising to their feet they looked on as his loving family rushed out to greet them. They were all there: Gabe, Rachel, Dina, Haim, and Sophie.
    Michael smiled; he had everything in that moment, and it made his heart feel fuller than it ever had. He delayed telling them of the council, wanting to prolong the joy of the moment.
    “What happened to you?” Uri inquired, grabbing hold of his mentors arm, and