“Three days. It’s as I suspected, then.” He leaned down, pressed a lingering, tender kiss to her lips.
“I love you, Bran,” she murmured as he pulled away.
“I love you too, Narcissa. Always.”
And then he snapped her neck.
He held her in his arms as she died, her eyes full of betrayal. And when the life left her body, the red seeping from her eyes, he lay down and followed her into the abyss, her faithful warrior until the very end.
A great flash of white light left her chest, and I threw up an arm to block it from blinding us.
The battle continued only for a moment longer, as the hunger for war began to drain away from our enemies. Wolves, confused and broken, shook off Narcissa’s evil influence one by one and lay down arms.
Within moments, it was over.
Truly, blessedly over this time. And when the cheering began, I turned to Valens.
“Kiss me, Brute. Just kiss me.”
And he did.
Chapter 72
Valens
Three weeks later
Night of the full moon
People were everywhere, running haphazardly, but I didn’t care, and I couldn’t stop grinning. Tonight was the night I got to bond with Elodie, and literally nothing could bring me down. Famine? I could stand to lose a few pounds, as long as there was enough food for Bence. War? Been there, done that. Locusts? Just flying popcorn to a wolf.
I was ready to bond with my girl, and there was nothing that would stop me from having her tonight.
A gentle tug on my hand made me look down. “What’s up, bud?”
“Uncle Walens, my tie is itchy. Do I have to wear one? You’re not.” The little fella tugged at his tie, wearing a comical grimace.
“Nah, you can take it off.” I crouched down to help him unthread the offending piece of clothing.
“Thank you. Aunt Leigh said I looked too handsome, anyway.”
I snorted. “That was a compliment, and you’restilltoo handsome, even without the tie.”
He sighed, as if it was the worst thing ever. “If you say so.”
I chuckled as I stood, tucking his tie into the closest planter. Good riddance, as far as I was concerned.
“V-man! You ready to get hitched?” Lucien strolled up, wearing a suit, slick-backed hair, and a near-feral grin. “I hear the ladies are getting impatient. Something about the moon being almost right. And Kane’s nearly done at the New Peace ceremony. You’re up immediately after.”
“There’s gonna betwoceremonies? Ugh!” Bence buried his face in his hands, just as Olivia walked up at Lucien’s side.
“I know, ceremonies are so boring. What do you say you and I go prep the flowers for the bonding? We’ve got to make a really big pile of them, and I feel like you’d be the best person for the job.”
Bence sprang up from his pity party like it never happened and grabbed her hand. “Thank you, Aunt Oli. That sounds way better.”
“Agreed.”
The two of them strolled toward the door, but Oli shot me a wink over her shoulder as she led my adopted son away.
