Jaeger puts his hand on my back, and I let him lead me away. We pass the ranks of robed members, and I hold my head high.
And then he’s pushing me in front of him and telling me to run. My ankle twinges a little, but I dart ahead of him in the darkened hallway, wanting the thrill of running from a powerful hunter. I look back to make sure he’s chasing me. He comes toward me, firelight licking across his face. His blue eyes are full of hunger.
I suck in a breath and whirl, racing away.
I don’t get far.
He grabs me and pushes me down to my hands and knees. His hand is on the back of my neck, tugging on my collar.
He thrusts inside me, and I’m so hot for him it only takes a few thrusts before I cum. My cries echo through the corridor. He slams into me from behind, again and again, and I orgasm, this time hard enough to break in two. My fingers curl, and my nails break and chip on the black marble.
On the wall in front of me, our shadows tangle and merge. My palms are sore, and my knees are bruised by the time Jaeger grunts and spills into me. His cock pulses, and he scrapes his teeth over my bare shoulder. I shudder in pleasure.
His weight sags into me, and it feels so good. But the moment passes, and I grow uncomfortable being crushed.
I sit up and knock into him. He grunts, and I remember his gut wound.
“Did I hurt you?” I reach out to him.
“No. It’s not my blood.” He gives me a feral smile, and for some reason, I think this is hilarious. My laughter bounces off the walls.
He pulls me to my feet, and my dress flops off my shoulder, baring my breast. He’s torn my gown, which makes me giggle again.
“I’ve got you,” he murmurs and pulls me close. He lifts me off my feet, and I struggle until he tells me to stop.
“I’ll hurt you.” He’s still recovering from getting shot, for godssakes.
“Elodie. Let me carry you.”
I go very still so I don’t hurt him. He hoists me against him, and I turn so I’m huddled against his chest, holding the scraps of my dress up so I’m not half topless.
“Now what?” The scent of smoke and incense is strong around us, making my head swim and think of rituals and vows uttered in Latin.
“Now we go home.”
He starts walking through the dark. And despite everything—killing a man, getting fucked on the floor until my sex is sore and cum is running out of me—I feel warm all the way through.
He enters an elevator and speaks the code.“Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch’entrate.”The door closes, and the elevator ascends. I’ll have to get him to teach me the code one day. But there’ll be time for that.
We have forever.
EPILOGUE
Jaeger
There’snothing like springtime in the country. It wasn’t so bad spending a long winter inside, hibernating on the couch with myelita,but it’s nice to stand on the deck at the Lodge and breathe in the fresh air.
We came to Billionaire Island today, summoned by Damien. He likes to host what Lucy calls “family dinner.” We used to gather like this on Sundays when we were kids, and Father Francis lured us into church by promising us a good meal. Now, we break bread by feasting on five courses, followed by expensive booze and cigars in the lounge.
I’ve left the festivities for a moment outside alone. Elodie’s inside, hanging with a group ofelitas. She’s made friends, and I’m glad.
“Brother.” Kaiser steps onto the deck. The forest scent hits him, and he inhales, tilting his head back. The fresh air washes the tension from his face. He sets his drink down on the railing and braces his hands on either side of it, gripping the woodand breathing deeply. His eyes are half-closed. I could tease him about communing with the trees or some shit, but I don’t.
I say, “Did you ever think we would have something like this?”
His eyes blink open. Blue, like mine. Like looking into a mirror. Sometimes, I think I can hear his thoughts. They often mirror mine, too.
“No. But we had each other.”
