As the powerful rainbow somewhat reluctantly pulled away, I pressed the stake against Waverley’s heart. Though his shirt lay between the birch and his skin, it didn’t remain that way for long. As the material smoldered away to reveal his flesh to the sharp point, I said, “This is for Karen, Mason, Marjorie, and Anna. May you rot in hell for all eternity for the pain and the suffering you inflicted on them.”
And with every ounce of strength I had left, I shoved the stake deep into his heart.
He didn’t scream. He didn’t get the chance. His body simply burst into flame and consumed him.
But even as hell reached for his soul with eager fingers, the unconsciousness I’d been fighting finally overcame me, and I knew no more.
Epilogue
They kept me in hospital under observation for five long days. It wasn’t my arm they were worried about—even though the bullet had gouged out a good chunk of flesh that would result in a decent scar, it was still just a flesh wound.
They weren’t even worried about the blood loss—a transfusion had fixed that easily enough.
It was the damn vampire bite that concerned them—or, more precisely, the possibility of serious infection. Apparently, more than half of the people who actually survived vampire attacks subsequently wasted away within a couple of days.
Happily, I wasn’t one of those people, though I suspected the wild magic had a whole lot to do with that. Aside from being so damn tired I could barely move without needing several hours of sleep to recover, there’d been no lasting side effects from carrying the wild magic within my body. There had, however, been at least one physical change—my green eyes were now ringed by silver. A silver that ran with the colors of all creation.
If that was the only price I paid, then I’d gotten out of the whole experience very lightly. And if it wasn’t, well, I’d worry about that when the time came. Right now, I was simply glad to be alive.
As the sixth morning rolled around, they finally cleared me to leave, though they gave me a bucketload of antibiotics and orders to take it easy for another couple of weeks. I rang Belle to let her know, and then carefully climbed out of bed and got dressed. After which I sat back down and tried to curb my impatience.
Footsteps finally approached the room. I grabbed my bag and headed for the door. “About bloody time—”
The rest of the comment died on my lips. It wasn’t Belle who’d come to pick me up. It was Aiden.
“You,” I all but blurted, even as I came to an abrupt halt. His right arm was in a sling, but he otherwise looked as fit and healthy as ever.
A smile touched the corners of his eyes, warming both them and me. “Alive and in person, thanks to you.”
“Hardly just me.” My gaze dropped briefly to the sling. His arm didn’t appear to be bandaged, but that didn’t really mean anything given silver ate away at a werewolf’s flesh and muscle even as it poisoned their blood. “How bad is it?”
“They’re saying that if I keep doing the physical therapy, I’ll regain full use.” His mouth twisted. “I have, unfortunately, been placed on damn sick leave until that happens.”
I frowned. “Then why are you here?”
That eyebrow rose once again, but this time, there was only amusement evident. “You need a lift home, do you not?”
“I do, but Belle—”
“Asked me to do the honors,” he said. “I was indulging in a cup of coffee and several of those addictive brownies when she got your call. You’ll be pleased to hear the place is packed.”
“No doubt the gossip brigade is trying to figure out what exactly happened last week.”
“We’re on a total news lockdown, so I wish them luck.” He turned and offered me his good arm. “Shall we?”
I hesitated briefly, and then hooked my arm through his. His scent spun around me, warm, musky, and enticing, and I had to clamp down on the stirrings of desire. But the smile that teased the corners of his lips told me he’d caught it.
He didn’t say anything, however, and simply escorted me out of the hospital. At least the silence was a companionable one, with little evidence of the enmity that had accompanied our first meeting. Granted, that had been under extenuating circumstances, but still… it was a nice development.
He led me toward an old Ford wagon rather than his truck. He must have caught my surprise, because he opened the door and said, “I borrowed it from a friend—it’s automatic, and easier to manage when you only have one good arm.”
“Sensible.”
“I can be on rare occasions.” He helped me in, put my overnight bag in the rear, and then climbed into the driver seat.
“Have you heard how Anna is?” I asked.
“They transferred her down to Melbourne.” He carefully reversed out of the parking space. “But they’re saying the burns aren’t as bad as they initially appeared—she only required a minor skin graft.”
“I’m so glad,” I said, even as I wondered if the holy water had been behind that miraculous recovery. “What about Blume?”
“He left the day after he took your statement.” He hesitated. “Hart’s funeral was yesterday. Two council elders attended.”
“I thought the elders hated the IIT?”
“They do, but Hart died in the course of doing his duty here on the reservation. It would be unjust to both his memory and to the sacrifice he made not to attend.”
I nodded and glanced at the window. It was odd, but now that the danger was over, I wasn’t entirely sure how to act in his presence. He might appear relaxed, but there was still a deeper wariness in him.
We arrived at the café all too soon. I gripped the door handle as he came to a stop, and said, “You coming in for another coffee? My shout.”
He hesitated. “I can’t.”
“Ah.” Well then. “Thanks for the lift home—”
He reached across and placed his hand on my leg. A giveaway tremor raced through me, and once again a smile tugged at his lips. But the wariness sharpened in his eyes.
“I have an appointment I can’t get out of, otherwise I would,” he said. “But how about dinner when you’re feeling stronger?”
My pulse stuttered for several seconds and then jumped into overdrive.
“If you’re feeling the need to thank me, forget it.” I forced a smile. “I was only doing what any witch would do in the same situation.”
Any seriously insane witch, that was.
“I doubt most witches would quite go to the lengths you did—”
“Yeah, because they’d actually have the talent and skills to deal with Waverley without ever letting the situation get so out of control.” My voice was dry. “Shout me a beer at Émigré next time we’re all there.”
“You’re not going to make this easy, are you?” he muttered, and then took a deep breath. “Lizzie Grace, I very much would like to take you to dinner as soon as you’re well enough.”
I blinked. “But I’m a witch. You hate witches.”
“Apparently,” he said, voice dry and amusement glittering in his blue eyes, “not as much as I thought I did.”
“So this is a date?” That edge of incredulousness remained in my voice. “You’re actually asking me out on a date?”
“I am indeed.” He lifted his hand from my leg and lightly brushed my cheek. “You might be a witch, but you’re also a strong, stubborn, intriguing, beautiful, annoying woman I’d really like to know better.”
I laughed. “With a statement like that, how can I resist? Ring me tomorrow, and we’ll talk.”
“I look forward to it.”
So did I.
With a somewhat silly grin on my face, I got out, grabbed my overnight bag from the rear seat, and all but skipped into the café.
About the Author
Keri Arthur, author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson Guardian series, has now written more than thirty-nine novels. She’s received several nominations in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of the Romantic
Times Reviewers Choice Awards and has won RT’s Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. She lives with her daughter and two old dogs in Melbourne, Australia.
for more information:
@kezarthur
AuthorKeriArthur
www.keriarthur.com
[email protected] Also by Keri Arthur
in series order
City of Light (Outcast Series, 1)
Winter Halo (Outcast Series, 2)
Fireborn (Souls of Fire Series, 1)
Wicked Embers (Souls of Fire Series, 2)
Flameout (Souls of Fire Series, 3)
Ashes Reborn (Souls of Fire Series, 4)
Darkness Unbound (Dark Angels Series, 1)
Darkness Rising (Dark Angels Series, 2)
Darkness Devours (Dark Angels Series, 3)
Darkness Hunts (Dark Angels Series, 4)
Darkness Unmasked (Dark Angels Series, 5)
Darkness Splintered (Dark Angels Series, 6)
Darkness Falls (Dark Angels Series, 7)
Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Series, 1)
Kissing Sin (Riley Jenson Series, book 2)
Tempting Evil (Riley Jenson Series, 3)
Dangerous Games (Riley Jenson Series, 4)
Embraced by Darkness (Riley Jenson Series, 5)
The Darkest Kiss (Riley Jenson Series, 6)
Deadly Desire (Riley Jenson Series, 7)
Bound to Shadows (Riley Jenson Series, 8)
Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson Series, 9)
With Friends Like These (Stand Alone Novel)
Destiny Kills (Myth & Magic Series, 1)
Mercy Burns (Myth & Magic Series, 2)
Circle of Fire (Damask Circle Series, 1)
Circle of Death (Damask Circle Series, 2)
Circle of Desire (Damask Circle Series, 3)
Beneath a Rising Moon (Ripple Creek Series, 1)
Beneath a Darkening Moon (Ripple Creek Series, 2)
Memory Zero (Spook Squad Series, 1)
Generation 18 (Spook Squad Series, 2)
Penumbra (Spook Squad Series, 3)
Dancing with the Devil (Nikki & Michael Series, 1)
Hearts in Darkness (Nikki & Michael Series, 2)
Chasing the Shadows (Nikki & Michael Series, 3)
Kiss the Night Goodbye (Nikki & Michael series, 4)
Lifemate Connections: Eryn (Novella)
Keri Arthur, Blood Kissed
(Series: Lizzie Grace # 1)
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