“Ehh, the universe isn’t fair, but I got you and Annex out of the deal. That seems like a pretty good trade to me.”
“Indeed,” I agree.
Annex siphons into the room, landing behind Hazel. He smirks at me over her shoulder and runs his clawed fingers down her arm. “Aww. You two look exhausted. Does this mean we get to have our first real cuddle pile as a pack?”
“That sounds good,” Hazel says, snuggling deeper into her pillow.
“No secrets does feel nice.” Annex stretches a hand over, squeezing my shoulder. “Right, Zeph?”
I believe that might be the first time he’s called me by a nickname that wasn’t stick-in-the-mud or angel. It seems things truly are looking up between us.
“It really does.” I’m not sure where we’ll settle after Black Cove, but we have eternity to explore and grow. And I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Epilogue
Annex
Two Weeks Later
Itry not to torment Zephyr too much these days. The poor guy has been through it.
That doesn’t mean I can stop myself from laughing as he struggles to look badass wielding a three-inch-long dagger. It probably serves him right for hunting Hazel around the globe for months, but Hazel’s dads have confirmed the demon blacksmith is actively working on another, more appropriately sized, sword.
Personally, I’m fond of Truthseeker, and not just because Zeph looks pained every time he has to wield it. It’s a very aptly named companion since Zephyr is finally stepping into his age of enlightenment.
I still give him hell occasionally, mostly because that’s what friends do. I’m actually really proud of how far he’s come.
I lean against the tree, watching Hazel watch Zeph. She looks physically pained, like she’s having to fight against her instinct to interfere.
Zephyr is more than capable of handling one vampire, but I laugh when he tosses Truthseeker in the air and slams his fist into the vampire’s face.
The vampire stumbles back, and Zephyr tackles him, raising his hand. The dagger falls from the ether, landing in Zeph’s palm, and he stabs it straight into the vampire’s heart.
“See, baby doll. He totally had that.” I chuckle at the glare she shoots my way. “If you need to protect someone, I’ll pick a fight so you can come to my rescue…” I wiggle my eyebrows. “That actually sounds really hot. Let’s role-play that sometime.”
“This takes so much longer than it would with Oathkeeper,” Zeph grumbles.
Movement catches my eye near the tree line, and my head tilts.
Hazel disappears from view and reappears at the edge of the forest just in time to wrap her clawed hand around a female vampire’s throat.
Well, shit.
That vampire is old too, at least based on how long her fangs are. Luckily, I know my mate can handle herself, so I settle back against the uncomfortable tree bark.
“You’re only coming to his aid because you feel like you have to. Not because he was truly worth saving.” Hazel’s head tilts. “That makes me sad for you. You know he wouldn’t have risked his life for you.” She spins around, holding the struggling vampire off the ground by her throat. “Why would you risk yours for him?”
The female vampire fails to answer as she scratches at Hazel’s arm, but that was likely rhetorical, anyway.
No matter how much she fights Hazel’s hold, she doesn’t have a chance.
My mate is a badass.
And now my dick is hard.
“She’s done nothing severe enough to deserve being devoured. I’m going to siphon her somewhere a few hundred miles away so she isn’t tempted to interfere.”
I nod. “We’ll be here when you get back.”
