He was a father soon to bury his beloved son.
Down, down in the earth. No one would know he was there except those who loved him and still lived. And when the time came, and everyone was gone, he would be no more.
Poppy shook his shoulders again, lying over his body. The wetness from her face streaked the gray to black on his chest. On a sob, she coaxed, “Godric, come back to me. I can’t do this without you. Forever, big man. We are forever, remember?” Her dainty hands shook his shoulders harder. “Please. I’m begging you. Don’t leave me here alone.”
I tipped my face down on my white tiger’s shoulder and allowed my pain to emerge with everyone else’s. My tears freefell down his skin, sliding over his shoulder.
Finn turned his torso and grabbed me around the waist, yanking me onto his lap. We held one another. I wouldn’t let go, and he wouldn’t let go. Together, we shed our pain in shuddering sobs.
We reached out and touched others every so often, letting them into our embrace. No more words were spoken by anyone. The full gravity of Godric’s death pulled us all under into that ugly darkness of despair.
* * *
I used Poppy’s key and unlocked then held the door open to her house—only hers now.
Theron turned to the side and maneuvered into the foyer. His son was in his arms, still warm and breathing but a living corpse. A true monster had stolen his soul.
The son he carried was only a shell.
Wolfe sidestepped through the entrance as well, his arms full of an incoherent woman who continued to cut her hand in hopes it would quit healing instantly.
The men had talked about it.
Mr. Wood would be staying with her for a time. She may not be able to permanently die, but she would try to kill herself again and again. In her mind, she was facingforeveralone.
Finn took the key from my hand and set it on the floor by the door. My white tiger pulled me outside and hugged me close. He whispered in my ear, “I want to go home. Leave with me.”
I peered up into his blue eyes. “You don’t want to stay here for a while?”
“We did that last night on the train. Now, I need my mate in my bed so I know she’s safe in my arms.”
I pressed my lips against his jaw. “Take me then.”
We stepped on the golems still piled high and littering the yard. Now, there would be no Mr. King to help clean up the mess. It was now only Ms. Poppy Carvene’s duty.
“We should come over tomorrow and clean this outside area up,” I murmured.
“I agree. We’ll do it first thing in the morning.” He cleared his throat pointedly. “Then, if you wish, we can stop by your parents’ house to pick up more of your things?”
“Are you asking me to live with you?”
I didn’t have to anymore. The immoral man wasn’t after my soul. He was after the aberrations’. He had one now.
How many more souls would he steal?
“Yes. I’m horrible at this, obviously. But I would like you to move in with me.”
“I will.” I paused. “As long as we can change some of the palettes inside your home. You are a bit obsessive over the color of blood.”
“We’ll see.” He didn’t deny the blood issue.
“That’s a yes.” I bumped his hips gently.
“Nice catch.”
“Thank you, my white tiger.”
