***
She stirred restlessly. How long had she been asleep? She had to get to the Magnet before Dean raised the alarm bells. She would never hear the end of it from her mother.
She opened her eyes slowly. A figure was standing over her, black against the sun. For a split second, her heart froze, thinking it was him. The demon.
“You look so beautiful sleeping,” said a voice she recognised. A voice her heart instantly knew.
She sat up, rubbing her eyes. It couldn’t be true. And yet it was.
Thad was standing over her. Her love. Her only love.
He sank to the ground beside her, lifting a hand to caress her face. “I thought I would never see you again.”
Her mouth dropped open, staring at him. He was thinner than when she had last seen him. But those golden eyes were still shining as brightly.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I told the others not to tell you. I was so injured, and I knew you were battling your own injuries. It seemed better not to worry you.”
“Worry me?” Her mouth dropped open. “I thought you were dead!” Her voice closed on a sob. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he whispered gently, stroking her face. “I have been waiting until I was well enough to come and claim you. And I will never leave you again, Keeley Walters. I promise you that.”
And suddenly, they were in each other’s arms. Frantically. Straining against each other in their desperate need to connect.
The kisses were long and slow and deep. Claiming each other, after all the pain. He didn’t mention the demon who had tried to imprison her. She didn’t mention the sacrifice she knew he had been willing to make to stop that happening. And perhaps they would never speak of the one who still haunted her nightmares.
“Is it really all over?” she whispered.
“The demons are gone,” he whispered back. “Forever. The ones that weren’t killed slithered back to their netherworld. They knew that their chance was gone. The Wild Keepers reunited for one last battle. But they are gone, too. All things must end.” He took a deep breath, staring at her. “But then, other things begin. Like us.”
“Like us,” she repeated.
They fell into each other’s arms again. He reared above her, pulling her clothes off and flinging them behind him.
“We need to do this,” he said urgently. “It’s all I’ve been dreaming of.” He took a deep breath. “My love. You are the woman who led me back to myself. Without you, I would still be wandering the desert.”
She put a finger on his lips. “Hush. This is no time for words, now.”
They moved against each other slowly, relishing the first time. Keeley could feel desire consuming her. They both gave into it. Knowing that it was the first of many. Knowing that it would be like this forever.
The Wild Keepers had gone. The world was safe from the demons. And on this sunny morning on the banks of the lake, it was a whole new dawn.
THE END
Wild Keepers Page 120
