And as he kissed her again, his hands sliding over her arms, her back, and her growing stomach, Sally began to relax. Costin’s love, his touch, and his presence wrapped around her like a cocoon. For the first time that night, she felt like she could breathe again.
As the hours stretched on, the weight of the world outside their room faded away, leaving only the two of them. Sally let herself be surrounded by him, by his love and strength, and for one precious night, she felt safe. She felt whole.
Epilogue
“I want to be best friends with a troll … said nobody ever in the history of ever.” ~Kara
The air in the Troll Realm was heavy, damp, and carried an earthy scent that made Nick’s wolf bristle. The forest around them was dense, the towering trees casting long shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly in the fading light. Every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves set him on edge, and his wolf prowled just beneath the surface as he scanned the area. They’d been sent here for a reason, but Nick figured the first thing they needed to do was determine whether they were allies or enemies.
Nick glanced at Kara, whose dark hair was pulled back into a braid that rested on her shoulder. Her hand brushed against his arm, grounding him, and he felt a surge of gratitude through their bond. She was here, safe and whole. Being separated from her had been a special kind of torture. Considering their history, Nick didn’t like Kara being out of his sight.
“In my long life, I’ve never been to the troll realm.” Aphid’s head turned slowly as he took in their surroundings.
The group moved cautiously, each pair keeping close as they navigated the unfamiliar terrain. Wadim and Zara walked just ahead, Wadim’s sharp eyes scanning the surroundings while Zara kept trailing a hand along the rough bark of the trees. Gavril and Rachel brought up the rear. They were a quiet pair, but they moved around one another naturally, in perfect sync.
“No one has ever mentioned a Troll Realm.” Kara tossed a hand out as if to indicate the world around them. “Why is it that there’s so much about the supernatural world that isn’t talked about until,boom, we’re smack-dab in the middle of that unmentioned place and feeling very off balance?”
Wadim paused and turned to look at her. He pressed his lips together, his brow wrinkling in thought. “Because if you knew everything all at once life would cease to be interesting?”
Kara let out a slip of laughter, and Nick was thankful to hear it. After Jewel and Dalton’s funeral, he wondered if he’d ever hear it again. Kara dipped her chin down and lifted an eyebrow at Wadim. “There’s nothing about this life that could ever not be interesting, no matter how much we know.”
“That’s a very convoluted sentence,” Wadim pointed out as he began walking again. His naturally, easygoing nature seemed to settle the tension around them. Zara tucked her hand in his, a small grin tugging at her lips.
Kara simply shrugged, even though Wadim was no longer looking at her. “I know your brain needs a challenge. I’m not as smart as Jewel.” Kara paused and cleared her throat at the mention of the healer’s name. Nick took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. A small, sad smile appeared before she took a deep breath and let it out, then began speaking again. “But I can make my words a hot mess so you have to sort through the back-ass-words sentence structure as you attempt to figure out what I’m not trying to say while also hoping that I’ll just run out of air so I don’t keep speaking. It’s a gift that most women have, and we know exactly when to share it. You’re welcome.”
Wadim glanced back at her. He blinked several times before glancing at Nick. “Is this her just messing with me? Because I think she just spoke gibberish.”
Nick tilted his head, studying his mate. She wore a T-shirt and jeans, her small baby bump evident. She was beautiful. And to his relief, she had a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. “No.” He winked at her. “I think that’s just how her brain works. She can’t help it.”
“Moving on,” Kara said breezily as she gestured to the area around them. “Troll realm. Do we need to be concerned about being attacked by some mangy troll? Or are they a peaceful lot?”
“Why does we always gotta be mangy?” a high-pitched, raspy voice asked from just beyond Kara.
Nick tensed instantly as he stepped in front of Kara, shielding her with his own frame. Wadim was just as fast at placing himself between Zara and the unseen threat.
Gavril’s low growl rumbled, and Aphid pulled a short sword from the sheath on his back. Rachel seemed unphased as she stood beside her mate, waiting to see what would happen.
“Keep the females close,” Nick’s wolf growled and snarled.
Wadim nodded sharply, nudging Zara behind him as he faced the direction of the voice. Nick allowed his wolf to rise to the surface, his senses sharpening as he scanned the area.
“Show yourself,” Nick snapped.
“Why?” the voice came again, its pitch sharp and grating. “Her’s thinks us mangy. I bathes.”
“My bad for making assumptions,” Kara muttered. “I just don’t think I’ve ever heard of an attractive, non-mangy troll. I mean, in books they’re often portrayed as little, hairy, snarly beasts with pointy teeth.”
“I think it’s a fair assumption,” Zara offered. “Look at the children’s book,Billy Goats Gruff. That troll was creepy.”
“This not be a book,” the voice huffed indignantly.
“Are you sure about that?” Kara asked dryly. “Because sometimes it seriously feels like it can’t possibly be reality. I’m standing with my wolf mate, a fae warrior, and three other wolves. Definitely sounds like a book.”
Nick turned to her, giving her a sharp look. He was pretty sure it was her stress talking. Or perhaps the hormones were throwing her off. “Could you not?”
Kara held up her hands. “Sorry. I’ve just read books where it says to get your captors to see you as a person so they don’t treat you like an object.”
“We’re not anyone’s captives, female,” Nick growled.
