“What else can you offer me?” I asked coolly. “What would you give me to spare your life?”
“Anything,” Talon growled. “I have properties all over the world. I have incredible wealth. What do you want?”
“I want youto beg.” I stepped forward and glared at him. “I want you to beg me just like my mother begged you.”
Talon's jaw clenched but then he begged, “Please, don't kill me, Your Majesty. I'm so sorry for my part in their deaths. The chance of being immortal can make a man do things he wouldn't normally do. I didn't want to die. Idon'twant to die! Please!”
I latched onto Talon's aura; it was streaked with neon yellow panic and custard fear. I could have sucked down his aura along with the remaining magic inside him. I could have drained him until he was dead. But that would be too quick and not nearly painful enough or satisfying. No, Talon wouldn't get a quick death. Instead, I added more yellow to his aura—lemon yellow. I twisted it to send his intestines into cramps. I squeezed his stomach and pulverized his liver.
Talon screamed, but it was a whimpering, pathetic sound that ended on a spray of blood. He fell forward, claws scraping at the cement. I splashed him with cherry red, shocking his kidneys into failure. Talon's wings stretched, fluttering pathetically, then dropped as he moaned. I changed the cherry to merlot and his back arched as I pushed pain through his spine. On and on I went, using colors to torture the Fury—painting him in pain. A rainbow of vengeance.
My hands clenched into fists and my teeth bared in rage. In my mind, I heard them again—my parents begging for mercy, not for themselves but each other. Their love had been a shining, precious thing until the very end. They could have lived another thousand years together, but that was taken from them. By this man. By his greed and cowardice. Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I began to sob as Talon's screams melded with my memories.
A warm hand settled on my shoulder. Strength washed through me. Another hand laid upon me. Another. Cyprian stepped up beside me and covered my fist with his elegant hand. My fingers unclenched to weave with his. Everan did the same on my right, and then I was surrounded by love. Peace poured into me. This is what my parents had when they died. They had pain and fear, but they also had love and each other. The peace of knowing that they weren't alone and that their little girl would survive.
I let out a breath and the pain I'd been carrying for years left with it. Enough. This was enough. It wasn't for them, it was for me, and I was satisfied at last. I pulled on Talon's asha, draining his magic and life-force—taking everything he had. I drank it like a shot of whiskey, savoring the burn and relief it gave me. Then I lifted my head and met Talon's stare, full of fear and pain, then nothing. Talon's body fell forward onto the bloody cement. Just a shell now.
Landry stepped in front of me and opened his arms. I launched myself into them and cried like a child.
“It's okay, kid,” Landry murmured as he stroked my hair. “They're all dead now. It's over. You did it. You make me so proud, and I know they're proud too. They can rest now, Mara. You did it. You gave us all peace.”
I cried and cried as my father held me, and we both let go of our dead. The imbalance of their deaths had been paid with blood and pain. Landry was right; it was over. It was finally over.
Chapter Forty-Seven
“Have fun,” Cyprian purred in my ear before he kissed my cheek.
It had been four months since I killed Talon and so much had happened. The supe prison in China was emptied of nearly all its prisoners and was under new management. Many of the criminals were found innocent, or it was deemed that time-served was enough for the minor crimes they'd committed, and they were released. Those who were aliens and dangerous were handed over to their people and banished from Earth. The new warden was a Dralmarin, one of Rain's group, and several of his guards were supes. Hopefully, that would ensure fairer treatment of prisoners. Bishop's assets had been seized by the U.S. Government and his properties searched. All of his research was destroyed and several of his associates were found and prosecuted. The group in China who was selling supe magic were all imprisoned—in a normal, Chinese prison, but I was content with that since they're humans.
Landry and Rywen got engaged and would be married in the Spring. Lily and Rain have also gotten serious, though there wasn't any jewelry involved yet. Jason never did take Lily up on her offer. Instead, he started dating a supe girl from the D.C. market. She's got the oddest ability; she can stretch herself like rubber. Now Jason can't stop smiling. Rain's Dralmarin buddies were open to working with us again in the future, especially with Lily and Rain forming a bridge that kept the lines of communication open. It looked as if F.E.A.R. was making all sorts of new friends.
As for my personal life, Kyrian and I decided to have our wedding on Eden to appease my uncle, but that would be after Landry and Rywen tied the knot. Everan and I decided to wait until after I married Kyrian before we started trying for a baby, so I wasn't pregnant yet. Which was a good thing since Braxis and I had been dating. I think I would have been uncomfortable going on dates while dealing with pregnancy issues. Courting is hard enough as it is without adding heartburn and a huge belly to the mix. Although, dating Braxis has been a delight. He had to learn American courting traditions, but he was a Bleiten warrior and quickly adapted. I think Cyprian helped him with that.
Braxis and I drew stares wherever we went because of his height and build, but I'd gotten used to it. Especially since he'd taken to D.C. nightlife like a fish to water. We'd been to the theater, nearly every fine restaurant in town, the opera, and the ballet. Watching the audience at the ballet as they tried to decide what was more interesting—the performance or the massive man watching it—had been one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen. But all of it had led to this moment.
Braxis had spoken to Lucifer, and my father-in-law, after much discussion, finally agreed to transfer the ducal crown to the Reaksarian warrior who'd been looking after things for Braxis for all these months. Braxis would continue to help the new duke monitor the trade agreements, but he'd be staying on Earth. With me. With us. My kishanos and I were welcoming him into the Fusion tonight.
This would also be our first time together. I'd asked Braxis to go slow, and that was exactly what he'd done. We'd had a few heart-pounding interludes that got close enough to confirm that Braxis would be accepted in the Fusion, but we hadn't completed the act. We both wanted it to be special, and he had agreed to join the Fusion on the same night. But this wasn't a mating ceremony, and we'd never have one. Braxis had decided that being with me in the Fusion would be enough for him, I didn't need to bear his mating mark. It shocked me and Malik both—a Bleiten warrior instinctively needs his wife to bear his mark—but the Fusion was a type of mark, and to have me, Braxis was willing to accept that alone. Because of that and the way Braxis had handled things with Lucifer, Malik had finally given his consent for Braxis to join the Fusion.
But before we fused with Braxis, I wanted to draw him into the magic alone.
“Thank you,” I said to Cyprian, then kissed him properly before kissing each of my kishanos. “I'll see you soon.”
“Hopefully not too soon,” Cyprian teased. “I'd be terribly disappointed in him.”
I shook my head at Cyprian and strode out the French doors that opened on the patio. The night was cool but not uncomfortable. Still, I shivered and pulled my shawl more firmly around my shoulders. Little lights twinkled among the rose bushes and in the trees circling the back garden, turning the darkness into something magical. It felt like a wedding, especially with my long, white lace dress trailing behind me as I stepped across the patio and down to the gardens. The path before me was outlined in little lanterns, leading me to a grand tent that had been erected in the middle of the lawn. It was of Danutian make and its draped roof had several panels removed so that it was more of an enclosure than a tent. My kishanos had arranged everything for us, their gift to Braxis and me since this was the only ceremony we'd have to celebrate our love.
My chest tightened in gratitude and love to see their hard work. I turned to look at them, standing just inside the doorway of our home, watching me go to another man. I couldn't have done it if the roles had been reversed, but they smiled and sent me out to Braxis knowing that they went with me. That whatever I felt tonight, they would share it. They would experience the pleasure of my first time with Braxis along with me, and then they'd come to us, and we'd bring our final kishano into our fusion.
“I love you,” I said to them all.
Then I turned and strolled down the path between the sleeping flowers to the tent where the final man I loved waited for me. I brushed aside the flap and ducked inside, stepping into a romantic haven. The grass was soft beneath my bare feet, but a massive, four-poster bed had been set upon it, dressed in swaths of silk and adorned with wreaths of flowers. The scent of roses and jasmine was just slightly overpowered by Bleiten musk—a rich, woodsy, resinous aroma. I breathed it in deeply.
Refreshments—wine, water, fruit, and cheese—were artfully arranged on silver platters that sat on a small table to one side of the bed. A delicate lantern lit the offerings while tiny lights twinkled from the wreaths of flowers and the draped silk on the walls, lighting the entire space with a golden glow. Music played softly from a speaker beneath the table, a basket of oils and toys sitting beside it—obviously a gift from Cyprian. But it all faded into the background as soon as I set eyes on Braxis.
Braxis looked larger than life. An ancient god come to Earth to take a lover. His bare chest gleamed in the moonlight streaming past the swaths of silk above us and glowed in the fairy lights—silver and gold competing for space on that coveted expanse. Dark auburn hair hung nearly to his waist; Braxis had stopped cutting it after I mentioned that I liked it long. The ends teased the taut muscles of his stomach and draped over his pecs, parting around hard nipples like water around rocks. His broad shoulders looked capable of carrying the world and his hands strong enough to bend steel. His leather-clad legs were set in a warrior's stance—at ease but ready for action. That stunning face had once frightened me—all cruelty and hard resolve. But now, Braxis's full lips parted on an adoring sigh and his eyes stared at me with love. His violet eyes.
“Hello, pretty pixie,” Braxis said softly.
