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The Balance

Page 27

by C. L. Nelson


  He looked at me like I was crazy. “Uh, thanks, Kian.”

  Everyone congratulated Finlay. Jarrett looked happy that Emilia and Finlay will be separated by realms for the majority of the time. I’m not sure what his issue is with the two of them being together.

  We spent the rest of the night dancing and having a good time. We celebrated our victories. We celebrated our newly expanded family. We celebrated love and we celebrated all the promise our futures hold.

  Charlie’s parents were sent back to their respective realms when Nox tried to kiss Aniela. It happened instantly. They just disappeared as soon as his lips met hers. The Creators weren’t kidding about their rules.

  Charlie and I eventually retired to our bedroom. Just outside our bedroom door, I scooped her up into my arms and carried her across the threshold. I kissed her deeply while I held her in my arms, her arms draped around my neck.

  “I want every night to end exactly like this. You in my arms as I carry you to our bed where I will make love with you until we both fall asleep in each other’s arms,” I said before kissing her again.

  “Whatever the King of the Reapers wants, he gets,” she said, her eyes burning with desire.

  Her desperate need for me nearly dropped me to my knees. I lowered her to her feet, grabbed the front of her dress with both hands, and tore the material right down the middle. Seeing her bare in all her glory makes me feel like the luckiest man alive.

  I toss her onto the bed and climb up the length of her body, pressing soft kisses to her body on my way up. When I reach her mouth, I whisper against her lips as I pull one of her legs up, my erection pressing against her opening.

  “The reaper king only wants to pleasure his wife and keep her happy for eternity. I hope that is what Fate has planned for me.”

  I lick my way into her mouth, her tongue meeting mine, as I plunge myself into her body. I spend the next few hours satisfying my soulmate, the feisty darkling who has become my best friend, my lover, my queen, and my wife. She is my Everlasting.

  Epilogue

  Charlie

  One year later…

  It’s been an exciting year. Dashiel was promoted. He is now in charge of a new training program for reapers to learn to fight and defend themselves. Dashiel came to Kian and me to propose the training program for all reapers that want to learn how to fight. Right now, it is only mandatory for the reapers from the chosen bloodlines who are genetically capable of taking on an infernal, but many reapers have been interested in training. We are thinking about adding it to the required training that young reapers must complete before they are allowed to work in the Provisional or the other realms.

  Jarrett now runs a task force for dealing with defiant and wayward souls. The task force is bringing in souls that normally would have withered away in the Provisional hiding from their judgment. The increase in soul returns has created a surplus in our energy budget, even after the expenditures for the task force and the training program. Jarrett loves his new job and its added benefit of being popular with the ladies.

  Rhett proposed that the reapers needed a central command center, a place that reapers could call or visit if they were having problems with their reaper duties. It turns out that our reapers often encounter problems on the job, and they didn’t have anyone to turn to for a solution or advice. These problems range from emotional support to security issues to technical problems. Dashiel’s trainees and Jarrett’s task force help out with command center issues.

  Finlay did indeed become an ethereal and has settled into the Everlasting. He was appointed as an advisor to the Creators. The Creators like input on what is going on in the Realms. He is trying to convince them to lift the travel ban on some of the higher level ethereals and infernals. He argues that they can help the Balance run more efficiently if some of them were allowed in the Provisional.

  He and Emilia are still seeing each other, though you can tell the long-distance relationship is hard on both of them. That is part of the reason he is advocating for some of the ethereals and infernals to be allowed out of their realms.

  I have been visiting my parents on a weekly basis. I taught my mother how to use video chat technology, so she can keep in touch with my father. It’s nice to see them interact. It’s obvious that they love each other immensely.

  I usually visit Finlay on the days I visit my mother since I am already in the Everlasting. We usually end up pranking the ethereals as the souls are off-limits. Rule number one of the Everlasting is that you cannot upset the souls. They have earned their peace. The ethereals aren’t loving our pranks, but we are having a blast.

  I have also become really close with Ameny and Ingrid. They have become my sisters over the last year. I train and spar with Ingrid on a fairly regular basis. She is enjoying having someone to fight with that she doesn’t have to worry about breaking. Ameny is literally the sweetest being I have ever met. She has taught me how to be a Lady of the Waiting which includes all the etiquette involved in formal situations. She has been very patient and encouraging.

  Kian has impressed everyone with his ability to lead the reapers. The reapers love and respect him as their king. They even surprised him with a statue of his likeness in the center of Soul City on the anniversary of his coronation.

  Today is my one-year anniversary of being married to my soulmate. Kian and I are celebrating tonight...

  Thanks for reading!

  A Note FROM THE AUTHOR

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading this book. I really hope you enjoyed it. It is my hope to turn this story into a series. There is a lot more left to be told and Charlie, Kian, and family are screaming at me to write it. With the support of readers like you, I will be able to continue the series. Word-of-mouth is crucial for any author, especially new authors, to succeed. If you enjoyed this book , I ask that you please leave a review online. Your support is very much appreciated!

  Thank you!

  C.L. Nelson

 

 

 


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