by K. M. Shea
I couldn’t help the roguish smirk that took over my lips. “I love you, too.”
“You were awake?” she shrieked, her voice possibly piercing enough to be heard through the solid door.
“Of course.”
“You, you, you sea cucumber!” She blushed bright red as she puffed up like an angry cat.
“Did you miss the part where I said I also love you?” I asked.
Hazel made one of those amusing noises she emitted when she was so embarrassed she couldn’t speak.
Yep. She’s going to have a very long, very full life, I thought with satisfaction.
“Since you love me as well, I assume that is the long-awaited permission to touch your rear without getting stabbed?” I asked.
Hazel recovered enough to snap, “Open the door!”
“Fine, fine,” I agreed. “Just one more thing.”
“What?”
I swept Hazel up in a tight embrace as I kissed her.
She didn’t step on my foot like I thought she might. Rather, she stood on her tiptoes and grabbed the front of my shirt for balance.
I’d always known together we could trounce Queen Nyte and Consort Ira. But it was then that I knew we’d be fine. No matter what I had to do to appease her House, and what we had to tell everyone.
Or at least, we’d be fine until I had to tell her about her lengthened life. That was going to be a brand-new breed of fun.
Epilogue
Hazel
“As you can see, our founder has successfully built intermingled apartment buildings throughout America. By encouraging various supernaturals to take up residence and rent there, it fosters a comradery between races normally not seen, and gives the supernatural community a rally point to gather around.”
I listened with great interest as the presenter switched to a new slide in his powerpoint presentation, appearing only a little intimidated as the four members of the Midwest Regional Committee of Magic stared him down.
I was pretty sure he was a wizard and not a regular human, but he wasn’t wearing anything that put him with a particular House, and he hadn’t used magic so I couldn’t be sure. “We believe Magiford would be the best choice for our next building project, and the perfect location so we can expand into the Midwest as it succeeds.” He gestured to the map on his slide for emphasis, then flipped to a new cue card on the podium he very strategically hid behind.
Killian had his arms folded across his chest and was leaning back in his chair with the air of a king. “I don’t like it,” he announced.
The presenter winced.
“You don’t like anything that could help any supernaturals besides the vampires,” Pre-Dominant Harka grumbled.
“I am inclined to agree with the Eminence.” The Winter Queen of the Midwest was the fae representative on the Regional Committee of Magic at the moment. Her full lips were pressed in a straight line, and the light blue of her eyes seemed almost gray as she studied the gulping presenter. “Though perhaps not with such…dedication. I am merely concerned that such a building will lack the safeguards that intermingling will require. For fae alone it will be a problem as all the Courts do not get along. If citizens of opposing Courts were to cross paths…”
The presenter actually brightened. “Oh! The safeguards I mentioned in my presentation are only the beginning. The founder invests heavily in extensively warding all properties using both fae and dragon shifter magic.”
That got a whistle from the Elite. “That must cost a pretty penny. Dragon shifters aren’t known to lower themselves to grunt work like that unless they’re paid a king’s ransom.” He murmured to me, given I was seated in a chair directly behind him, but Harka and Killian probably heard him as well given their stronger senses.
“There are additional safety measures in place.” The presenter ruffled through a leather briefcase, then passed out packets of the additional precautions to the members of the committee. “Including a non-aggression spell that will dissuade any renters from being involved in physical or magical fights.”
I peered over Elite Bellus’s shoulder, getting a glimpse at some of the additional measures—including a magical and human-grade security system, some elven artifacts, and enough costly spells to bankrupt a millionaire.
Seriously, who can afford all of this for an apartment building?
“This seems like a lot of money to invest.” Elite Bellus put his paper down. “I was under the impression that the apartments were meant for the middle class. Are they luxury apartments?”
“Not at all,” the presenter said. “Our founder is more interested in promoting goodwill between supernaturals and humans—and offering safe spaces for those who might normally be excluded—than in making money. These buildings are considered something of a hobby for the founder.”
“Did you get reports on this founder?” I whispered to Elite Bellus.
“When they first approached us with the request. Everything checks out,” Elite Bellus whispered back. “I even reached out to a few wizard Houses in the communities where some of these apartment buildings have been built. It seems like the presenter is telling the truth. All of this is done for the good of the supernatural community.”
“Huh.” I leaned back in my chair, impressed.
“I’m still against it,” Killian said flatly.
“Why?” Pre-Dominant Harka asked. “The builders are taking on all the risk, and they’ve already gotten a building permit from the humans.”
Killian narrowed his eyes. “It’s too dangerous.”
I loudly snorted.
The Winter Queen was still paging through the various safety precautions. “I disagree. It seems to me it might be the safest place for our stragglers—provided everything is kept up to code and all of these proposals are followed.” Her voice had more than a little frost to it at the end.
The presenter did his best to smile. “We strictly follow every proposal we make,” he assured her.
Killian shook his head. “I don’t want any young Unclaimed flocking there. They’ll be easy targets.”
“Wouldn’t it be safer?” Elite Bellus asked. “If—”
“No,” Killian said.
I sat on my hands and had to resort to bulging my eyes so I didn’t visibly roll them.
Elite Bellus turned around to eye me. “Do you have something to say, protégée?”
“Nope,” I said through clenched teeth.
“The apartment is built for the loners of our society.” Pre-Dominant Harka ran a hand through her hair in barely veiled frustration. “They’d be safer there than anywhere else in Magiford. Frankly, I’d rather any Lone Wolves stay in a place like this than roam alone.”
Killian’s black eyes looked dark and cold. “Then it’s a good thing you’re the leader of the werewolves and not the vampires so you can sacrifice your own people.”
Harka growled, a spark igniting in her eyes. “What did you say?”
Killian smirked. “I said—”
“That’s enough!” I declared. I leaped to my feet so I could stand next to the Elite’s chair and slap my hands on the table. “It will be far safer for the Unclaimed to live in an apartment like this—not only because they’ll be surrounded by supernaturals, but because they’ll have a place to flee. These wards won’t just protect your precious Unclaimed from anyone in the building, they’ll keep invaders out as well. You aren’t going to be able to provide a better housing situation for them, and if you refuse to give them any choice in the matter, things are only going to escalate with them.”
I was a little out of breath by the time I finished my lecture, but no one looked at all bothered by my outburst.
Killian sagged back in his chair. “Fine. I’ll vote for it as well.” He gave in way too easily, which meant this had been a bit of manipulation on his end.
Of course.
“In that case, let’s hold the vote.” Pre-Dominant Harka snapped up so she was sitting straighter. “Thank you, Adept Mede
is,” she added.
I plopped back down in my chair, aware I should be embarrassed, but this had happened more than a few times during committee meetings.
Elite Bellus gave me a thumbs up and returned his attention to the meeting when Harka called out her vote.
He didn’t turn around to face me again until the meeting wrapped up about ten minutes later.
“Well done, protégée.” He beamed at me. “I was wondering when you were going to muzzle your vampire.”
“I don’t muzzle him,” I protested.
“You do,” Elite Bellus said. “I swear he’s gotten more stubborn since I brought you in as my trainee, but you can at least verbally shake some sense into him so I suppose it doesn’t matter much.”
“I don’t know about—”
Elite Bellus ignored my protests and plowed over me. “Turn in your notes to my secretary, and then you’re free to go.”
“Okay,” I reluctantly agreed.
Elite Bellus grinned at me. “Cheer up. You’ve got the makings of a great Elite since you won’t take guff from anyone.”
“I’m still not sure how legal any of this is given who I’m dating,” I grumbled.
“It’s fine,” the Elite assured me. “No one in the Midwest cares anyway. Have a great evening!”
“Thank you.” I started to gather up the copious notes I’d taken, when I remembered something I needed to discuss with the older wizard. “Oh, Elite—” I started after him, but an arm snaked around my middle and dragged me into the shadows.
“Fraternizing with the enemy?” Killian asked.
“I’m a wizard,” I pointed out.
“True.” Killian edged just so his back blocked us from the supernaturals mingling around the center of the room. “Indeed. Well done speaking up in the meeting.”
“Yeah, about that—you could have just been honest and approved the building like you wanted to,” I said.
“Why do that when I can convince the committee I’m so head-over-heels for you, I’ll let you push me around? It makes them so much easier to manipulate and test.”
“That’s the other thing. You really need to stop picking on the other leaders just because you’re trying to push them to stand by their decisions,” I warned him. “One day it’s going to backfire on you.”
“I doubt that.” Killian kissed my neck. “You can head back to the House first—I still have a few more Elders I have to speak with.”
“Gotcha. Don’t let them ramble on for too long.”
He chuckled. “You didn’t fall in love with me because of my patience.”
“True.” I tugged his suitcoat straight. “See you then.”
“Yes.” He scooped me in for another kiss—I heard some of the fae who saw us let out a twittering giggle.
My face was a little red when we parted, but I made my back straight as I left the assembly hall, even though a few werewolves grinned at me, and more than one wizard cheered.
As the Paragon had predicted, Killian and I—or rather our relationship—had become a mixture of gossip and fairytale. Mostly people were content to just whisper about us, but I was still shocked by the occasional supernatural who approached me to wish me luck in taming Killian Drake.
Usually around then Killian popped out of the shadows just in time to frighten whoever was unfortunate enough to suggest such a thing, and inform them he was the one they should feel sorry for because I had a magic, sentient House at my back, which made arguments spicier, according to him. (Not that he was wrong. The first time we had a fight in House Medeis, the House locked him in the gym.)
I shook my head as I made my way through the Curia Cloisters.
When Mason chased me out of House Medeis, never in a million years had I thought this was the sort of future that awaited me.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that once in a while I woke up and my parents’ death hit me all over again. Sometimes I ached to sit down and drink tea with my mom again, or hear my dad laugh just one more time.
But in interacting with the long-lived Drakes, I’d come to understand that grief never disappeared. It just faded slowly, bit by bit. One day I’d be able to think of my parents without wanting to cry, and for now, that was good enough.
I had my family, I had Killian, I had the Drakes, and I even had my House. I was unimaginably happy.
The next day I threw my gym bag in the trunk of the black SUV. It was late afternoon and the sky was painted brilliant hues of gold, baby blue, and pink.
“Are you ready?” Killian asked, crowding me from behind.
I pressed my lips together as I mentally reviewed everything I’d packed—today was our scheduled day for Killian and me to make the switch from House Medeis to Drake Hall. (We usually shifted back and forth between the two buildings every two weeks or so.)
I snapped my fingers. “Nope,” I said. “I forgot my gym shoes.”
Killian made a noise in the back of his throat. “I don’t know why you won’t let me purchase a full wardrobe to leave at your room in Drake Hall.”
I walked backwards, away from the car. “Because that’s not practical, and nobody needs that many clothes.”
“Whatever, peasant,” Killian said. “Don’t take too long.”
“I just have to run and grab them from my bedroom. I won’t be long.” I waved to the five-car motorcade that was waiting to escort Killian and me as I jogged back to House Medeis.
Rupert was driving the car Killian and I would ride in. When he saw me he stuck his hands on his hips. I gave him an obnoxious wink, and he dove behind the car.
“Brat!” he called after me.
I cackled as I jumped a bed of budding tulips.
Spring had arrived. A few more weeks, and we’d be at the anniversary of when I officially entered servitude to the Drake Family—not that it had lasted long.
I jumped up the porch stairs and affectionately patted the doorframe as I slipped through the front door.
I almost slammed into Great Aunt Marraine, who was making a beeline for the outdoors. “Oh, my! Did you forget something, Adept?” She wobbled a bit when I darted around her.
“Yeah, my shoes.” I pounded up the stairs, waving when I passed a clutch of vampires meandering down the hall.
Shortly after Killian and I decided to go official, it became pretty obvious why the House had added an extra wing on when I Ascended.
It wasn’t because it expected a huge uptick in wizards applying to join—though we had gained about a dozen new members since then.
No, the extra wing and all the bedrooms and sitting rooms with no windows weren’t for us wizards…they were for the Drakes.
About twenty-five Drake vampires had moved in, making House Medeis their residence. Some of them rotated back to Drake Hall with Killian and me, or on a monthly basis for training and to receive their assignments. Others—specifically Killian’s minions who worked at the Curia Cloisters—made House Medeis their permanent home.
The reverse had happened, too.
Roughly eight House Medeis wizards flip-flopped back and forth between Drake Hall and House Medeis. Again, some of them rotated with Killian and me, but sometimes they did whatever they wanted, like Momoko and Felix.
When I popped out of the stairs and zipped down the hallway, making a break for my room, I almost collided with the two of them as they sprinted for the stairs.
Seriously, why was everyone in such a hurry?
“Woah, hey.” I paused long enough to smile at my childhood friends. “I thought you two weren’t coming with us today.”
“We’re not,” Felix said. “We just wanted to say goodbye.”
I tilted my head and frowned. “You said goodbye when I came up here to grab my gym bag.”
“He meant we wanted to say goodbye to Rupert.” Momoko smirked.
Rupert was one of the vampires who had surprisingly requested a room in House Medeis and ferried back and forth with Killian and me.
I was honestly shock
ed, particularly because it had become something of a wizard hobby to pick on him by constantly trying to hug him—something he wasn’t fond of.
I laughed as I took another step toward my room. “Can’t let him escape unscathed, huh?”
“Nope!” Momoko said with pure satisfaction.
“Oh, we did want to tell you, though, we’re thinking about offering to be blood donors,” Felix said.
I paused midstep. “Say what?”
“Yeah, I think I trust Celestina plenty for my blood to taste fine, possibly Josh, too.” Momoko scratched her side as she thought.
“I haven’t picked a candidate yet,” Felix informed me. “But I know I want someone who is the vampire version of a gym rat. If I feed them I bet I could bargain for some extra weightlifting lessons.”
“Why do you guys want to be blood donors?” I asked.
Momoko pressed her lips together. “Because, frankly, it’s not fair how much better of a team you and the Eminence are since he’s immune to your magic. I figure if a couple of us wizards donate blood, we’ll get elite vampire buddies to fight and train with too.”
“Even though we haven’t had to fight since the Night Court surrendered?” I asked.
“Hey.” Felix jabbed a finger in my direction. “You told us that we trained to be prepared!”
“Yeah, I guess,” I said, bewildered.
Momoko grinned. “It’s not as big a deal as you think, Hazel,” she said.
“And we’re not the only ones thinking about it,” Felix added.
“Okay.” I nodded. “If you guys are really serious about it, let me know.”
“Right-o!”
“Now if you’ll excuse us, we have a red-haired vampire to embarrass.” Momoko’s grin turned positively wicked. “Oh, Rupert, our darling!” she sang at the top of her lungs as she and Felix scrambled down the stairs.
I couldn’t help but shake my head as I zipped into my room and fished my gym shoes out of my closet.
Being with Killian had a lot of ripple effects I hadn’t anticipated—vampires were living with us, other supernaturals were very eager to support us…and it seemed like my own family was going to fundamentally change as a result.
