Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
I turn to look at him. “What? When?” She stopped by the compound exactly a year and a day after I took over the leadership, claiming it was to say congratulations for building a strong, stable community. In the three years since, she hasn’t shown her face...or claimed the favor I owe her.
“Earlier.”
I search his face for any evidence of distress and send a tentative probe along the bond. Wolf cracks his shields for me, allowing me in far enough to see that his calm isn’t an act. I ease my magic away from him. “What did she want?”
“To call her favor due.” He holds up a hand. “I’m fine. Things are different now than they were four years ago. We have people.”
It’s certainly true. While there was a small exodus of people in the weeks after I took over, the majority of the compound citizens stayed. In the time since, we’ve built up something special. The fear that originally held them in sway has given way to mutual respect and admiration. Wolf’s right. We’re stronger than we’ve ever been. Still, Lizzie presents a complication. “What favor?”
He gives a mirthless smile. “She wants us to entertain the Radu clan for a week.”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Yes.” He covers my hand with his. “You already have her word that they won’t cause harm to any of ours. We’ll get it from my mother as well. It will be fine.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re taking this rather calmly.” Far more calmly than he did when Rylan’s mother came to visit. I shudder a little at the memory. She didn’t do anything out of line, but I’ve never met a scarier person in my life. I’m not eager to repeat the experience with Wolf’s mother. “I thought you’d want to avoid it.”
“I thought she’d be here within the second year. The fact we’ve had this long is a boon.” He shrugs. “Like I said, we have people.”
I twist to catch Malachi’s eye. “How do you feel about this?”
“He’s right. We’re too strong to fuck with.”
“Fuck with,” Asher says.
I shoot Malachi a murderous look. “No, baby, those are grownup words and only grownups are allowed to use them.”
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Asher wiggles out of my arms and practically bounces from one piece of furniture to another. “Fuck!” He sends a tiny fireball shooting at a painting I bought during one of our trips last year.
Malachi snuffs it out quickly. “That’s enough of that.” He gives me one last kiss and scoops up Asher. “It’s bath time. No more fireballs, no more bad language.”
Asher gives him a look like he might test this new boundary, but ultimately decides bath time is more important. He smiles like a perfect little child that wasn’t just shouting expletives and shooting fireballs. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Thought so.” He stops in the doorway. “We have time to figure out the Radu stuff, but don’t worry, little dhampir. There’s nothing to fear.”
I take a slow breath and let it out as he disappears down the hall. He’s right. I take Wolf’s hand and squeeze it. “You’re really okay with this?”
“More or less.” He shrugs. “It was bound to happen at some point. No matter how crazy my family is, they value children. They just want to poke their nose into our business and test our defenses a little. Nothing will come of it.” He makes a face. “The same can’t be true when the children are adults, but that’s a bridge we’ll cross when we get there.”
“Hey, I love you.” I wait for him to look back at me. “If they come here and cross the line, then we’ll kill them and you never have to deal with them again.”
Wolf lets out that glorious laugh that I love so much. “There’s my murderous woman.” He pulls me into his lap. “I love you, too. We’ll get through the visit without murder.” He grins, bright and sharp. “But I appreciate the sentiment all the same.”
I never thought to end up happy in this compound. I certainly never thought I’d have built a life with three men. But…I’ve never been happier. The thought of living a life that stretches for hundreds of years used to scare me, but each day now brings something new and wonderful. Even the bad stuff isn’t world-ending because I’m not facing it alone.
I’ll never have to face it alone ever again.
And neither will my men.
Epilogue
The demon realm
Everything was in its place.
Azazel surveyed the room one last time. The low stage stood at the front of it, just wide enough to fit five humans standing side by side. The room was arranged carefully, seating grouped just far enough away from each other that it made a confrontation less likely, all arranged in a half circle equal distances from the stage. Politics bored him, but they were necessary to navigate from time to time.