“The Fae man. Councilor Ashwick.”
I didn’t know him well, but my heart sank anyway. That meant a spot was open in an already split Elder Council. And depending on who they chose to replace her, it could tip the scales in favor of the Purity Front and their goals.
“And they’ve already chosen a replacement,” Lila continued. “Apparently Councilor Vael and Councilor Ashwick had already chosen a successor in case one of them was killed.”
She turned back toward the double doors on the far end of the fencing salle just as a man with fiery red hair, long ears, and a mischievous grin stepped inside. Behind him, a dark-haired man remained close, his calculating gaze sweeping over the room. The pair of them didn’t look a day over twenty-four.
“That’s the new councilor,” Lila nodded. “Wilderain Briar Hall of the Seelie Court.”
Epilogue: Archer
One Week Later
Steel flashed, striking steel as my sabre collided with Valen’s. The weight of the blade in my hand felt familiar and welcome after everything that had happened. The afternoon sun reflected off of the windows of Valen’s cottage garden, casting dancing shadows across the grass as we moved through our forms.
“Better,” Valen said, his amber eyes following my movements with the critical gaze of a professor. “But you’re still telegraphing that thrust. I can see it coming from a mile away.”
I adjusted my grip, trying to incorporate his feedback. A week ago, I would have bristled at the correction. Now I just nodded and reset my stance.
A lot had changed in seven days.
The Elder Council had cleared Valen of any criminal wrongdoing, thanks largely to Councilor Briar Hall’s surprisingly progressive stance on vampire-witch relationships. Not to mention, they had far more important things to deal with right now. My father’s testimony about the Purity Front attacks had helped pull their attention away too. Apparently his monthsof subtle eavesdropping had provided crucial evidence that several prominent magical families were funding the terrorist organization.
Dean Thornfield had quietly removed me out of Valen’s history class to avoid any appearance of impropriety. But he’d suggested private fencing lessons. The only thing he asked was that we keep our relationship discreet until I was graduated. With the Purity Front growing bold again, the last thing he needed was a bunch of students thinking it was okay to sleep with their professors.
“Again,” Valen commanded, settling into his guard position.
I lunged forward, putting everything I had into the attack. This time I managed to slip past his initial parry, though he caught my blade on the second pass and twisted it aside with casual expertise.
“Much better,” he said, and I caught the hint of pride in his voice. “You’re damn near perfect.”
“I have a good teacher,” I replied, lowering my sabre and wiping sweat from my forehead.
He stepped closer, that familiar heat in his eyes. “Do you now?”
“The best,” I said softly, reaching up to trace the line of his jaw. The cut from the Purity Front attack had healed completely, leaving no trace of how close I’d come to losing him.
His hand covered mine, pressing it against his cheek. “I love you,” he said quietly, like he still couldn’t quite believe he was allowed to say it out loud.
“I love you too.” The words came easily now, no longer weighted with fear or uncertainty. “Even when you’re being a demanding bastard about my footwork.”
He laughed, the sound rich and warm in the garden air. “I’ll show you demanding,” he growled, backing me against the cottage wall.
“I’m not sure this is going to help me prepare for any possible attacks,” I said, looking up into Valen’s hungry eyes.
“Then call it protest,” Valen grinning. “Our own little way of not letting the Purity Front win.”
“That’s something I think I can definitely get behind…”
Instead of answering with words, he kissed me, hard and possessive and full of the passion that had nearly destroyed us both. But this time, there were no secrets between us. No hiding, no shame, no fear of discovery.
Just us, and the love we’d fought for, and the future we were building together one day at a time.
“Is this what we’re doing now, Professor Crowe?” I asked, grinning at him between kisses. “Are you going to take me right here in your garden?” I reached down, tracing the hard line of his cock through his pants.
He groaned against my mouth, his hips pressing forward into my touch. “That depends,” he murmured, his fangs grazing my lower lip. “Are you going to be a good student and let me teach you a few new things?”
“Always,” I breathed, my cock already straining against my jeans at the promise in his voice. “Though I have to warn you, I’m a very hands-on learner.”
