“Not just a human weapon,” I mock, prowling closer.
Tarron’s eyes widen in shock, clearly not expecting a bullet to affect him. “What trickery is this?”
“Dragon fire.” I smirk, advancing steadily. “You know, dragons can kill you, the bullet might not, but it can make you bleed.”
Around me, chaos ensues. My brothers engage the other elves, metal clashing against otherworldly weapons. Pyro’s massive dragon form breathes a stream of fire that engulfs three elves at once, their screams piercing the air. Inferno uses his tailto sweep others off their feet before crushing them beneath his claws.
I focus solely on Tarron, the connection between McKenna and me growing stronger with each step. Her power surges through me like it’s always been a part of me waiting to be awakened.
Tarron’s eyes widen before narrowing, and he snarls, “Impossible.You cannot wield her power. It is mine.”
“I told you, we’re connected. She’s mine. We are one in a lot of ways. Our souls for one. Now, it’s time you die.”
Pulling the full strength of the power, I launch it at Tarron as I watch him drop to his knees, screaming.
I can feel Tarron’s soul fighting against my pull, writhing and struggling as if he were a fish caught on a hook attempting to get free. It’s dark and ancient, filled with such malevolence that it churns my stomach. This is what McKenna never wants to feel. Why she doesn’t use the power. She doesn’t want it to tarnish the light that is inside her. I get it now more than I did before. She is too light a person to have such maliciousness invade her mind, body, and soul. I also understand more why Hel gave us the drink she did. Why the Norns decided I was fated to be McKenna’s. I can handle what she cannot. I’ll protect my woman from this and not abuse the power.
“What—what are you doing?” Tarron gasps, his body contorting as I continue to draw his essence toward me. His face is twisted in agony and disbelief. “This is not possible!”
“I told you,” I grunt through gritted teeth, the effort of controlling this power making sweat bead on my forehead. “She’s mine. We’re connected by the Norns deciding our fates.”
The connection between McKenna and me pulses stronger now, almost blinding in its intensity. I can feel her presence in my mind, her strength flowing into me even from a distance. Fora brief moment, I swear she’s right there with me and not over a mile away.
I reach out my hand, focusing all my energy, all my will on drawing Tarron’s soul toward me at the same time, aiming my gun at the bastard’s head. It feels like trying to wrestle an angry snake—slippery, dangerous, fighting me every step of the way. But I won’t let go.
“This power was never meant for you,” I tell him, my voice steady despite the strain. “It belongs with McKenna, and through her, to me. You won’t ever come between us. You won’t ever be able to scare my woman again.”
I pull the trigger and watch it hit the dark elf between the eyes. His body drops the rest of the way to the ground and begins to deteriorate, flaking away like ash in the wind as his soul separates from his physical form.
Around me, my brothers are finishing off the remaining elves. Fire drives his blade through one’s chest while Brimstone snaps another’s neck with a sickening crack. Pyro and Inferno shoot flames into the open area, burning the elves that linger.
I pull back on the power flowing through my veins, tamping it down. Tarron’s dead. His soul is gone. This was done and over with, and I no longer need to wield my woman’s power for now.
With the last of the dark elves dead and gone, my brothers all gather around me, including a naked Pyro and Inferno as they shift back.
“You good, Prez?” Brimstone asks.
“Never better,” I grunt and grin at him. “Think I’m in need of my woman though.”
Brimstone grins back at me knowingly. My brothers might get what we’re grinning about, but they wouldn’t dare speak of it.
“You all did great,” I tell each of them, meeting their gazes. “Let’s get back to the clubhouse. We have celebrating to do.”
We didn’t really have much to celebrate, but the threat of this ordeal is worth partying. My brothers deserve it. I, for one, will be having my own party with my woman. One that involves me showing her how much she means to me and telling her the depths of my love for her.
I never wanted a woman of my own, but she’s no ordinary woman. Fate destined her for me, just as fate destined me for her. Guess when I said I didn’t need a woman, what I meant was I was waiting on the one who was the other half of my soul. That’s McKenna. She’s my everything.
EPILOGUE
MCKENNA
Two Months Later . . .
The day has been great. I don’t think it could get any better than it already is, but I have a feeling my man is about to make that happen.
Today has been about celebrating the birth of Evelin and Fire’s twin boys. It was a month ago that they were born. Two healthy little boys that they named, River and Rain.
I questioned Evelin about her choice of names for them, only for her to tell me she picked them out of delirium and wasn’t changing them.Said they were named the opposite of their father’s ability to draw flames in the palm of his hand. I personally thought they were awesome. Hippie-ish but totally rocked.
