For the Reign

by Debbie Cassidy

  Not much longer. Once you’re with us, once you leave behind your tethers, you will be free of the mortal emotions and entanglements. You will feel only the Hunt.

  The Hunt… It was already burning like cold fire in my blood.

  See, you’re with us. You’re not really with them any longer.

  A hand settled on the nape of my neck and warmth pushed away the strange chill. The world sharpened, and sound flooded my senses, but it was Logan’s vanilla scent that pulled me all the way back, and then his lips were on mine and my mouth was filled with the taste of him.

  Caister’s growl of displeasure melted into silence as Logan kissed me, hard and desperate, as if this was our first and last kiss and he needed to make it count. When we came up for air, his eyes were bright.

  “Don’t…” He shook his head. “Don’t slip away like that.”

  I blinked up at him. “You saw that?”

  “It was in your eyes, Eva, a shift, a coldness that isn’t usually there. It’s the Hunt, isn’t it?”

  I nodded, the truth on the tip of my tongue, but to tell him now would be to taint our final hours together, and I needed these hours because they would add to the memories I would take with me, memories I would dust off and turn over whenever I felt like I was losing myself. Caister had called my guys tethers, and I may not be able to take them with me, but I could take the memory of them in my heart.

  I looked down at my bloody clothes. “Let’s get everyone settled, and then I need to find a shower and some fresh clothes.”

  We headed into the crowd to find the others and to restore a semblance of order. Order in a new world.

  Epilogue

  Hot water sluiced over my skin as I stood in the luxury-size shower. The upper floor, which had been used by Malcolm and his minions, had the largest rooms and the best facilities, and Noah and the guys had rooms for us up here. Kira and some of the Claws were down the corridor; the rest of the humans and supernaturals were on the floor below.

  Organized, finally, after three days of hard work, negotiations, meetings, and a steady filter of people headed toward us like a beacon. People who had been infected but were now cured. People looking for answers. We couldn’t house them all, but we’d help them rebuild…we…no, not we. Them.

  I’d be gone.

  There was a low-grade burning icy sensation in my veins, a warning that my time here was running out, but I’d be damned if I let go sooner than I had to.

  Sooner, Caister said.

  Get out.

  Make me.

  Rage surged through me. How dare he? How fucking dare he? Cernunnos had said the Hunt would fear me, but Caister pushed the boundaries consistently. It was my turn to push back. I shoved him hard with my mind and he withdrew, but he was still there in the periphery of my consciousness, they all were, the Hunt.

  My chest was suddenly tight, and I tilted my face to the pelting spray. Go away, just get—

  The shower door opened, and a gloriously naked Logan stepped in. “We thought we’d join you,” he said, his brown eyes darkening with desire. “Conserve water, and all that.”

  “We?”

  Logan stepped around me so he was behind me, and another figure stepped into the shower room.

  Ash’s silver eyes met mine and my mouth was suddenly dry. For him to be here, like this, willing to share me, like this…I reached up to caress his face and his eyes fluttered closed. He turned his head slightly and pressed a kiss to my palm. This was him giving me his all, this was him accepting us as we needed to be.

  A tumult of emotions swirled in my chest, pushing out the numbness that seemed to be edging in of late.

  Logan pulled me back against his chest and pressed his lips to my ear to be heard over the spray of water. “No slipping away, Eva. I saw your eyes earlier. They don’t get to have you. You belong here.”

  Ash picked up the bar of soap and began to lather it up.

  “Pass me the shampoo,” Logan said.

  Ash handed him the bottle, but his eyes were on me, his pupils large with need. I glanced down to see his arousal, and Logan’s was pressed to my spine. I’d never done anything like this…whatever this was going to be.

  I opened my mouth to say as much, but Ash bridged the gap between us and claimed my lips with his. He kissed me softly, deep, licking the inside of my mouth with his tongue, before drawing away.

  Logan’s hands slipped into my hair and he began to massage my scalp. Ash rubbed soap into his hands and then slid them up my abdomen and over my breasts. They were washing away the chaos of the last few days. My mind was bone-weary, but my body was buzzing with energy. I could have showered away the grit myself, but only the guys could wash away the death. Ironic, considering I was the messenger of death—a reaper, a soul collector, a god, and yet here I was, clinging to these souls because to let go would be to lose myself. Having them around me like this, having them close, muted the whispers in my head; it made my heart beat faster, it made me feel alive and connected.

  Logan’s bare chest pressed to my back as he pulled me against him and kissed the hollow of my neck, and then Ash’s mouth found my breasts. His tongue and the graze of his teeth elicited a low moan from me. Yes. I needed this, I needed to feel this.

  What are you doing? Caister’s voice was far away and then gone.

  “More.” My voice was a rasp as I turned my head to offer Logan my mouth, and my hips pushed up to give Ash better access as he stroked me into a fever. They worked me with hands and tongue and teeth until I was wound tight enough to snap; only then did Logan lift me up, urging me to wrap my legs around Ash’s waist. As Ash gripped my hips and slid into me, Logan reached around to slide his fingers over my sweet spot. They stroked me together, pinning me between them, and the slap, slap of flesh on flesh, my breathless moans, Logan’s groans, and Ash’s deep thrusts finally pushed me over the edge, sending me tumbling into an oblivion where their arms were waiting to catch me.

  Someone had found me a dresser, an actual dresser with a mirror and a seat and everything. I’d seen these in movies but never owned one, and for a moment excitement bubbled up in my chest, but then reality hit me. I wouldn’t be staying long enough to enjoy it.

  No, you won’t. In fact, you need to leave. Now. There was barely restrained anger in Caister’s voice.

  Rage flared inside me, rage at my predicament and at his audacity at challenging me. Don’t forget yourself, Caister. I am your master and I will come when I’m fucking ready.

  He was silent for a long beat. Stay then. Stay as long as your body will allow. See how long you can hold out. Our pain is your pain.

  He retreated, leaving me alone for the first time since Cernunnos had handed me the mantle of his godhood. I slumped on the bed just as there was a rap on the door.

  Pull it together, Eva. I sat up. “Come in.”

  Jace entered carrying a tray and closed the door. The smell of food hit me but my stomach didn’t respond with need as it should have. I wasn’t hungry—in fact, I didn’t think I needed to eat—but I took the tray regardless.

  “Eat. You need to keep your strength up,” Jace said.

  Sandwiches and some kind of pastry and a cup of tea were laid out neatly on the tray. He’d even found a napkin. A lump formed in my throat. “Thank you.”

  He hovered for a moment and then sat on the chair by my bed. “How are you feeling?”

  I sipped the tea; it was sweet and pleasant, but I didn’t feel the desire to gulp it like I should have. “I’m okay. Just processing the fact that we did it, you know? We actually did it.”

  His gaze was assessing. “A-huh, and what now?”

  He was shrewd, this one. I set the cup down. “You tell me, Jace?”

  His smile was small and sad. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

  I met his gaze levelly. “Yes.” It was a relief to just admit it.

  He exhaled heavily. “You belong to them now, don’t you? To Faerie?”

  My eyes pricke
d. “Yes.”

  His throat worked, and he ducked his head. “When?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll stay as long as I can. I…I want to stay.” My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat.

  Jace slipped off the chair and onto the bed beside me. “Maybe there’s a way for you to stay?”

  Laughter filled my head, brief and cruel, and when it ebbed a burning cold sensation filled my veins.

  Oh, there it is—do you feel that, Eva? It will only get worse the longer you stay.

  I kissed Jace, taking him by surprise so he fell back onto the bed. I climbed onto him, straddling him and taking his mouth again and again while tears gathered at the corners of my eyes and spilled down my cheeks onto his face. I kissed him while I cried over everything I would never have. I cried for what could have been with us, and what would never be.

  He gently gripped my shoulder and pushed me back, his stormy gaze clouded. “Eva? Oh, Eva.” And this time he kissed me. It was filled with every sweet ounce of longing that he’d been holding back. It swept over me, filling me with heavenly warmth and safety. I wrapped my arms around him and sank into that kiss that lasted for long, aching minutes, and then a sharp rap on the door had us breaking apart. His face was flushed, his eyes bright, and my heart was galloping in my chest.

  The knock came again and we both burst into teary laughter.

  I climbed off him and wiped at my face, quickly composing myself. “Come in.”

  Sage popped his head around the door. His ember eyes took in my disheveled state and he bit back a smile.

  “You need to come down,” he said. “Noah just got back from the bunker with Gina. The woman is cured and adamant that we should have a party to celebrate saving the world.” He shook his head. “The worst thing is, I’m afraid Noah may actually be considering it.”

  A party?

  My lips curved in a grin. A party sounded perfect.

  The humans steered clear of me and the Fangs and Claws who didn’t know me offered polite smiles. I was different, alien, and they sensed it. I’d wanted this party, this slice of normality, to ground me. I’d needed it to hold me here, but it felt flat and insignificant.

  The burn in my blood was getting worse and the tugging in my chest was almost painful. Caister had been right. My time here was coming to an end whether I liked it or not.

  This was no longer where I belonged. Jace caught my eye from across the room. I’d made him swear not to say anything to the others, promised that I’d tell them soon, that I’d say goodbye.

  “Eva?” Kira nudged me and handed me a paper cup. “Have a drink, and stop thinking so hard.”

  Her hair was down, and her face was radiant. Why wouldn’t it be. Her people were here, restored and among us. The Genesis Foundation was filled with life. With Claws and Fangs and humans. Gina was among her own kind now. She had little memory of her time as a Feral. She grinned up at a young man and her gaze flicked my way briefly, her smile faltered, and she looked away. Yes, I was changed. Frightening to most of the humans. I had no place at this impromptu party built on whatever food we’d been able to gather and some cheap wine that Jace had uncovered in the bowels of some storage cupboard.

  I found him again now, leaning up against the wall and chatting to a Claw female. He laughed at something she said, and a pang of envy shot through me. No. He wasn’t mine any longer. None of them were. Because it was almost time to leave. The Hunt was whispering, urging me to step into the storm and back into Faerie. My bones ached with the need to feel fey earth beneath my boots, and my lungs longed to breathe the air.

  Ash caught my eye and his lips curled in a smile filled with promise. I could go to him now, wrap him in my arms, take him one last time …

  Instead, I returned his smile and tore my gaze away. One last look at Logan, one lingering glance for Sage and Elias—the leader-to-be.

  There was so much I’d never be a part of.

  I’d meant to say goodbye, but even gods had their weaknesses, and mine was them.

  “Hey, Kira?”

  “Yes?”

  I handed her a folded note. “Can you do me a favor. Hold on to this and give it to Ash later.”

  She stared at the note, then back up at me. “Eva?”

  “Please.”

  She scanned my face. “You’re leaving.”

  I smiled. “Give it to them later. Please. Trust me.”

  I placed my cup on a hastily erected trestle table and strode from the room.

  Don’t look back.

  Don’t fucking look back.

  The door was open, and a breeze brushed back my hair. I slipped the horn from my pocket and stepped out into the night.

  “Hey! You.”

  I froze with the horn partway to my lips.

  Logan and Ash sauntered out of the building. “Going somewhere?” Logan said.

  I sighed. “I’m going to kill Kira.”

  Ash frowned.

  “What has you leaving got to do with Kira?” Logan asked.

  Wait, if Kira hadn’t said anything, then … “Jace!”

  Logan arched a brow. “Jace knew?”

  I was so confused.

  Elias emerged from the building, his expression solemn. “It was me. I remember, Eva. I remember what you told me.”

  Oh, fuck. They were here, around me, and I wanted to stay; even though every physical fiber screamed at me to leave, my soul…my soul cried out to remain. The dissonance had anger rising in my throat to choke me.

  “I have to go, all right. I have to leave now.” My eyes were hot with the threat of tears. “So just … Say goodbye and we can be done with it.”

  “Why would we say goodbye?” Jace replied. He pushed between the guys and came to a standstill, arms crossed over his chest.

  My heart was suddenly beating way too fast.

  “No need to say goodbye if we’re coming with you.” Sage materialized beside me, his huge form dwarfing mine.

  My mouth was dry, pulse racing. “You … You guys want to come with me?” Of course they did. I’d known they would. But they couldn’t. I couldn’t let them. “No. I don’t want you to come.”

  Good, that’s right. You belong to us. To the Hunt and only the Hunt. The tethers must stay.

  Caister’s voice was a sibilant whisper in my mind, and it was as if he were here, behind me, his claws digging into my head, and for a moment there was only the power and the hunger, but then Sage’s hand slipped into mine and Caister’s grip loosened.

  Tethers…my tethers…

  “Eva, we belong together. All of us. Where you go, we go,” Sage said.

  I shook my head. “I won’t be me for much longer, Sage.” I looked to the other guys, meeting their eyes one by one. “I’m changing and soon I won’t care for any of you. Soon I won’t care for anything but the Hunt, and I can’t…I don’t want you to see that. I don’t want you to remember me like that… I don’t want to hurt you. Fuck, I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to have to drag this out.”

  The guys exchanged glances and then Ash signed rapidly, his pale eyes fixed on me in determination.

  Noah nodded. “Ash says that you don’t know that for sure. He says that love is stronger than the Hunt and you have five men that love you. He’s right, Eva. Maybe having the guys with you will help you to continue to be…you.”

  Tobias had kept me on the moral path. He’d kept me human, but now he was gone, and I was a god, and the Hunt … the Hunt was powerful and seductive, and eternity was a long time. Caister wanted me to forget myself, to become the Hunt, but he’d called the guys tethers, and it was true. Every time they’d been around, touched me, kissed me, every time I’d inhaled their scent Caister’s grip had loosened. I had to lead the Hunt, but maybe I didn’t have to lose myself to it. With the guys to tether me, maybe I could still be me. Hope flared in my chest.

  Could this really happen? Could I let them do this? “But what about the Foundation? What about all the work?”

 
“I think we can manage here,” Noah said. Jace stepped aside to let the Fang through. Noah’s expression was serious. “They will be your anchors,” Noah said softly. “And you will be theirs.”

  The guys surrounded me, each laying a hand on me to make a connection. When it got to Sage, his hand passed through me. He’d released his host. This was real. He was doing this.

  Sage smiled. “I’m touching you, Eva, even if you can’t feel it.”

  But I could feel it. I could feel his essence brushing against mine. He was with me.

  Cernunnos had warned that I would stop loving them, but in that moment every atom in my body sang only for them and my heart felt swollen with love. Maybe Cernunnos was right, or maybe he’d never had this much love poured into him. If I left without them, then I’d never know for sure. One thing I did know was that when they were around me, the Hunt took a backseat in my head.

  I looked to each of them and there was no doubt in their eyes. They were ready to do this, and fuck, I was so ready to take them with me.

  Logan leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. “It’s time to ride the lightning, Eva.”

  I lifted the horn to my lips as they huddled close, inhaled their mingling scents, and exhaled into the instrument.

  Light blinded me, and the world shattered into a million pieces, but my guys … My guys held me together.

  THE END

  Eva’s journey is just beginning, and although we may not be able to follow her all the way, we can get a peek into her new life in For the Hunt a standalone novella coming Summer 2019.

  Meanwhile, another adventure begins.

  Join Echo Patch on a new adventure in Deadworld.

  (Deadworld is set a century after the events of Chronicles of Midnight and Chronicles of Arcana, and there may or may not be some familiar characters parading around. However, you don’t have to have read the previous series to enjoy it.)

  Grab Your Copy now!

  Humans weren’t meant to live underground, but then artificial intelligences weren’t meant to feed off souls. Shit happens.