The Four Horsemen_Reckoning
Page 20
“But I’m not doing Christmas.” Xander’s firm. “No angels in my house—or celebrating their world.”
And there we have it. The crux of the issue. “Actually, Christmas is originally a Pagan tradition,” puts in Joss. “Christianity stole it.”
“Stole it,” snorts Heath. “I think the retail sector stole it.”
I don’t know why the conversation upsets me this much, but tears spring to my eyes. Heath promised we’d spend time doing ‘normal’ human things, me reconnecting and him taking the steps he wants into the world.
Why isn’t he supporting me more? The situation brings me back to the first time Xander pushed his point of view onto everybody, the day he came back and began this whole situation with his words I wasn’t even human.
I stand. “I don’t care. I’ve always had a Christmas. I’m not negotiating with you about this.”
Aware I’m behaving like a petulant child, I stomp out of the room and into the kitchen, glass in hand. I sit on the new chairs in the room that smells of fresh paint. The unmarked table is already cluttered with plates and bottles. I grit my teeth. Life with four guys could be a challenge, however much they love and protect me.
Especially stubborn ones.
This is important. The more I do ordinary, normal things the further I retreat from the horror of the day I fought both Order and Chaos. Sometimes the trauma breaks through over stupid things like this.
Muffled voices come from the lounge—Heath’s raised. I mean it. I’ll drape Xander in bloody tinsel. The thought brings a small smile to my face, and I stand to pour another glass of wine.
The door opens and closes quietly, and Xander stands in the doorway with two empty bottles in his hands. Chewing his lip, he walks to the fridge and opens the door, without a word. I bristle.
“This means a lot to you, doesn’t it?” Xander closes the fridge again. “This Christmas thing.”
“Yes. It does.”
He sets the bottles on the table and smooths hair from my face, tucking a strand behind my ear. His soft lips meet mine, briefly, before he pulls back and rests his forehead on mine. “Maybe we can get a few decorations.”
“A tree?”
He frowns. “A tree? We have plenty in the garden.”
I shake my head. “You’re clueless.”
“So you're saying I need to have more clue about this world now?”
“Have you really hidden and focused on being a Horseman so much that you never paid attention to anything you didn’t need to?”
His eyes search my face before he rests his fingers on my lips. “Yep. But I never knew if I would stay here or not.”
“I’m going to change your view of the world.” I catch his fingers and kiss them. “One day at a time.”
“You already did, the moment you stepped in.”
He wraps one arm around my waist and draws me close. Despite the argument, he’s a calmer Xander. A man who’s learned negotiation is better than conflict—as long as we allow him to think he’s in charge.
Xander kisses me softly, his mouth moving against mine in a slow kiss. His grip around my waist tightens. I push his chest and pull away. “You don’t have to fight with me to end things in a kiss anymore, Xander.”
He rubs his nose against mine. “I know. And I also know there’s no point fighting you.”
“Correct.” We share a smile, both aware our shared War will always underpin our relationship.
I run my fingers along his lower back. “Do you think we’ll hang around here now or will you want to travel around hunting monsters?”
Xander frowns at me. “Stay here as much as possible.”
My heart beats faster. If I’ve won about Christmas, I may as well push my luck. “Then I want to bring my cat to the house.”
Xander’s shocked silence amuses me.
And I’m only half-joking.
He gives a wry smile. “Let’s start with Christmas, huh?”
I follow him back into the lounge and stand in the doorway. My heart is full as I watch my four guys arguing over which movie to watch and passing beers around. They spent years without me, but I’m going to spend the rest of my time with them.
The Four Horsemen told me I was their Fifth. The guys fought to find me and we fought to be together. We were created and joined for a ruthless purpose, but our five hearts and souls had other ideas. The men who were prepared to die for me tell me I'm the centre of their world, but they’re my whole world. They’re the place we created that nobody can break apart.
Many thought Chaos and Order were the greatest forces in the universe. They wanted the power destroyed at any cost. We proved them wrong. The greatest power, the one that blew apart everything, is love. And that will never die.
THE END
Read on for details of the first book in a spinoff series starring Syv and Spot: Held by Magic
What’s next for The Four Horsemen?
Thank you for reading the Four Horsemen series. I hope you enjoyed this last book in the current series. I’m happy they can have some time together to relax now!
I never expected readers to love the Pony Boys as much as you do, so The Four Horsemen will return.
I have a Christmas novella planned which will be called The Four Horsemen: Bright. This will be published in winter.
I also believe that Vee and her guys have more adventures ahead and that their relationship now has a space to develop after all the life or death situations in the last few books! I intend to write some more ‘episodic’ books in order to explore their new life together. If you’ve read the Halloween novella, this is what I mean—but longer books. The first of these will be called The Four Horsemen: Unbound and will be available later this year. If you sign up to my newsletter or join my Facebook group you’ll be the first to hear about preorder or release dates for the books.
If you haven’t read the Halloween novella, you can get your free copy for signing up to my newsletter here HERE.
If you want to keep up to date with all things The Four Horsemen, including early sneak peeks and cover reveals, giveaways and more please join my Facebook group here.
Thank you again for reading. Please contact me any time with your thoughts about the books - I love to hear from readers.
Lisa
Now read on for details of Syv’s book…
Available for Preorder
Held by Magic
I helped the Four Horsemen save the world. Now I'm marked for death.
I'm Syv. I like to collect sharp weapons, and my favourite activity is liberating magical items. My best friend is an immortal fae, and I love dogs.
I'm not enthusiastic about end of the world scenarios.
Okay, I'm a half-demon thief with an attitude that brings me more enemies than friends. But the fae part is true.
My life had returned to normal, but everything changed when my latest assignment ended in disaster. Somebody took the item I was 'liberating' and also decided to curse me with a death mark. If I don't find the cure soon, I'm facing life as a lich under the control of a necromancer.
And I swear the demonic dog I rescued from the apocalypse is following me.
Don't miss this new series from the world of The Four Horsemen, LJ Swallow's addictive bestselling reverse harem series. Held by Magic is a slow burn reverse harem urban fantasy.
Available for Preorder
Held by Magic
OTHER BOOKS BY LJ SWALLOW
The Four Horsemen Series
Reverse Harem Urban Fantasy
Legacy
Bound
Hunted
Guardians
Chaos
Descent
Reckoning
The Soul Ties series
New Adult Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Fated Souls: A Prequel Novella
Soul Ties
Torn Souls
Shattered Souls
About the Author
LJ Swallow is a USA Toda
y bestselling paranormal romance and urban fantasy author who is the alter-ego of bestselling contemporary romance author Lisa Swallow.
Giving in to her dark side, LJ spends time creating worlds filled with supernatural creatures who don’t fit the norm, and heroines who are more likely to kick ass than sit on theirs.
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For more information:
ljswallow.com
lisa@lisaswallow.net