“It’s okay,” I whisper, my voice barely more than a breath against the night. “Just go to sleep.”
Fora few long moments, I watch her, feeling the tension slowly ebb from her body as she relaxes into the embrace. Her breathing becomes steady again, and soon, both she and Ash are sleeping, their bodies warm and safe in the circle of my arms. The fire crackles beside us, the only sound breaking the silence of the night as its soft glow casts flickering shadows across the ground.
I know I should sleep too. My body is weary with exhaustion, my eyes growing heavier with each passing moment, but I can’t bring myself to fully relax. Ash assured me her shadows are guarding us, that I can let my guard down, but my instincts won’t allow it. Not yet. Not until we’re back home.
I hold onto consciousness for as long as I can, listening to the rhythmic breathing of the two women beside me, the crackling of the fire, the distant sounds of the forest. The world feels strangely peaceful in this moment, but I know better than to trust it completely.
Chapter thirty-eight
Kai
“Love has the power to rescue us and not let go, otherwise it isn’t love.” -Garrison Keillor
“Finally,” I grumble under my breath, the weight of exhaustion seeping into my bones as I glance up ahead. Through the barren trees of the forest, I can just make out the veil of mist, a shimmering curtain that seems to beckon us forward. Our ticket out of these wastelands, at last.
Beside me, Ash catches sight of it too. “Almost there, big boy,” she teases, her voice laced with that familiar playful edge.
A smirk tugs at the corners of my lips, and without a second thought, I reach out and grab her arm, pulling her to a stop. The suddenness of it catches her off guard, but she doesn’t resist, her dark eyes locking onto mine.
“I’ll show you just how big I am when we’re alone,” I murmur against her lips, my voice low and thick with promise. The words come out more playful than anything, but there’s an undercurrent of truth in them—a reminder of what we’ve been fighting for, what awaits us beyond this ordeal.
I am making her mine.
“Don’t be crass,” she says with a laugh, but I don’t miss the way her pupils dilate or the slight hitch in her breath that betrays her. She can brush it off all she wants, but I know the effect I have on her, just as she knows the hold she has over me.
“You love me,” I say, the words coming out almost as a challenge, daring her to deny it.
Her laughter fades, and her eyes soften, a tenderness creeping into her expression that she doesn’t often show. Reaching up, she cups my face with her soft hand, her thumb brushing against my cheek, and for a moment, everything else fades away—the wastelands, the mist, the battles we’ve fought.
“That I do, Kai Cartwright,” she whispers, her voice steady and sure, carrying a depth of emotion that hits me like a punch to the gut. It’s not just the words; it’s the way she says them, with a certainty that’s unshakable. A love that’s endured through every hardship, every trial we’ve faced together.
I lean into her touch, my forehead resting against hers as I close my eyes. We’re so close to the end of this journey, to finally getting out of this hellhole, but in this instant, nothing matters more than the woman standing in front of me.
I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her flush against me as our lips meet, sending heat straight to my cock.Fuck, I need to get her home and claim every inch of her, body and soul.
Chapter thirty-nine
Ashwiyaa
“Coming to my rescue?” “Of course. It’s what we do. I rescue you; you rescue me. We just take turns whenever the other needs it.” -Richelle Mead
Together, we push through the veil, leaving the suffocating Outlands behind. Instantly, the air feels lighter, and the atmosphere becomes less oppressive. Relief washes over me as I realize the unseen creatures lurking in the shadows chose to remain hidden as we journeyed back to the veil.
In this moment, I silently vow to never set foot in that dreadful place again, haunted by memories of encountering an ancient vampire and an old hag.
I stop and tilt my face up to the warm sun, feeling its gentle heat wash over me. A soft, fresh breeze caresses my skin, tangling my hair in its playful grip. The oppressive weight of the Outlands lifts, replaced by a serene, almost dreamlike calm. When I open my eyes, my gaze lands on a tree at the edge of a glade.
Nero is sitting at the base of a giant elm, his head tipped back as if he’s asleep, sunlight filtering through the branches to paint golden streaks across his dark features. Relief and joy flood through me so swiftly I nearly collapse under their weight.
“Nero,” I whisper, my voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and elation.
His eyes flash open instantly, like twin embers igniting in the shadows, and before I can blink, he’s on his feet. My heart surges as I let my body fade in my excitement, dissolving into the air and moving faster than the wind itself. When I materialize in front of him, his arms are already open, reaching to enfold me in a crushing embrace. The warmth of him, solid and real, melts away every ounce of tension and worry I’ve been carrying.
“I’m so happy to see you alive,” he says, a soft chuckle rumbling from deep within.
“You doubted me?” I say, my voice muffled against his chest.
He pulls back slightly, holding me at arm’s length, his golden eyes scanning me with an intensity that steals my breath. It’s as if he’s memorizing every detail, every scar and shadow, ensuring that I’m truly here and unharmed. His eyes, though calm, hold a betraying mixture of relief and concern that he can’t quite hide.
