“It’s time to go,” a voice behind him said.
John didn’t know who was in the room, but he knew they’d come for him. As he remembered his death, he also remembered what happened just after—his refusal to leave his true love’s side. She was hurt, and she needed him to stay.
So much blood.
“Not everyone gets a second chance,” the voice said. “You helped the living, and your actions have saved many lives.”
John stroked her cheek. “Will she also come back as Breed?”
“Yes. But your children will have a different destiny to follow.”
Children.
John took one last lingering look, wishing that a part of him could stay behind with her until they met again. He would miss her sparkling eyes, her gentle smile, and the passionate touch of her lips against his neck. But her heart would know him again.
He rose from the bed, walking backward until he was in the hall. John pressed his hand against the door and couldn’t let go.
“This is not your life anymore,” the voice said.
John slowly turned away and followed the light down the hall. It grew brighter, warmer, and filled him with the peace he had long sought. As he passed by a room, he noticed a toy truck at the foot of the door. John stepped into the room and stood between two small beds that held the precious lives of his twin children.
“We made beautiful babies,” he said proudly, looking between them as a burst of light enveloped him.
The little boy opened his eyes and smiled… just as John disappeared.
Chapter 26
“Again, Raven. Not good enough.” Niko circled around me in the center of our training room.
Viktor had ordered everyone downstairs that morning to sharpen our skills. He worked out for a little while before taking a seat on the sidelines and watching our moves. Every so often, he would switch up partners.
Right now, I had the simple task of removing a knit hat from Niko’s head. The only problem was I’d been trying to take it off for the past hour.
Nothing got by Niko.
He had on his usual black pants—sans shirt and shoes. His hair was tied back in a thin braid, and his body glistened with sweat.
I didn’t glisten; I perspired. Sweat formed nice circular patches around my armpits and a line down the center of my back. A grey shirt probably hadn’t been the best choice.
Gem and Wyatt were tossing knives at a wood plank on the wall while Shepherd gave them pointers.
My body ached, and I decided not to use my flashing ability anymore. Those bursts of energy weren’t getting me any closer to that hat, and Niko anticipated every move I made.
When I advanced, he stepped back, matching my pace.
“What is the point of this?” I asked, flustered.
Viktor looked up from where he was sitting on the floor. “If your opponent has a weapon or something you want, how will you take it from them if they refuse to fight?”
“I can get anyone to fight,” I said. “I find their buttons and push them.”
“Then you must figure out what Niko’s buttons are,” he said with a chuckle.
“Niko doesn’t have buttons.”
Viktor went back to reading his book. It had been a long eight hours without a break, and Christian had left early to pick up the costumes from the delivery location. Blue had joined him so she could get fitted with a blond wig. Luckily, Glass had never met Blue; he’d only seen her falcon.
Niko gave me a close-lipped smile, his crystal-blue eyes trained on me. Sometimes I caught tiny flecks of light in them—a common trait among the ancients.
