Page 144 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Epilogue

Knight

E ven in my wildest imagination, I never imagined that Aline and Emerson would go into labor on the same night.

My beautiful mate is in her element. It’s wild to see her take charge and step into the role of healer. She might bitch and complain about some of her tasks as a fertility witch, but it’s pretty damn clear she’s got the talent and the experience to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Nadia is still very much baking our babies. Then again, she’s a witch. I think she’ll make it to at least four or five months before she gives birth. What might be unusual in the human world is actually quite normal for supernatural pregnancies.

It seems pretty clear someone should have realized monsters often give birth on a full moon.

I laugh hysterically as Malice appears from the shadows. It’s his second attempt to subdue Wraith, but the reaper managed to escape the first try.

Malice grabs Wraith, putting him in a headlock. I snort, shaking my head at the insanity unfolding in The Den tonight. Everyone has lost their goddamn minds.

“Come on,” Malice snarls.

“No,” Wraith growls, slapping at Malice’s hands. “I don’t need to see that. I’m here. Here is fine. I can assure you that, if you need me, I’ll be in there before any of you can blink.” He punches Malice in the kidney. “I can monitor their souls perfectly well from here.”

I cackle.

I really missed that nightmare.

Malice was calm and collected until Aline started to cry as she pushed. “I need you in the room. What if one of them tries to die on me? Be a goddamn decent clustermate and shove their soul back in their shell. That’s what you’re going to do!”

“Have more faith in the female anatomy.” Wraith rolls his eyes, but he allows Malice to siphon them out of the room.

My hands rub together as I vaguely wonder if I’ll be as fucking out of my mind as Aline’s and Emerson’s men are.

Probably. And I’m completely okay with that.

Saber stomps up to my side, and my hackles immediately rise. It’s something in his energy that sets me on edge. “You might want to intervene.”

I turn to face him. “Intervene in what, exactly?”

“There are a couple of vampires I’m guessing your packmate knows. They’re pretty ancient and he’s really not. He’s probably going to need some help.” Saber sighs. “It’s like the universe decided to toss everything at us all at once.”

My eyes meet Ridge’s. He’s playing with Emerson’s daughter, Ember, on the floor in the room the baby shower was held in. He was teaching her how to shift single body parts, like her tail or ears.

“Saber is going to get you a snack while we handle something.” Ridge scoops up the child, bringing her into the hallway. He hands her off. “Where is Echo?”

“Check the back entrance.” Saber frowns at the wiggly Ember. “I’m not really a kid person.”

Ember growls, chuffing her displeasure as her ears twitch. They’re quite fluffy in shifted form.

Ridge and I chuckle. That child is a handful. I’m utterly ecstatic at the prospects of what demonic little beings we’ll be stuck with for eternity.

“You’re in love with Vivie. She’s going to be popping out a few before you know it.” Ridge nods at Ember. “It’s best to practice now.”

Ember crosses tiny arms over her chest. “I like cheese and meat.”

Saber frowns so deeply his forehead wrinkles. “I’m sure we can find the snacks from the party.” He looks at me. “I recommend checking on Echo.”

“Shit,” Ridge growls, spinning around and heading out.

I disappear from inside The Den and manifest outside the employee entrance. I stay invisible to the two vampires currently stalking Echo. He looks completely unbothered by the two ancient and deadly predators sizing him up.

“You killed our mother,” the female hisses.

“Retribution must be paid,” the male at her side says. His back is to me, but his claws are elongated. It’s likely he’s lost to his monster.

“Actually, I didn’t,” Echo says in a bored tone. “Although, neither of you would have any room to talk if I did. You both ran as soon as the sire bond was severed.”

“Imogen gave us eternal life.” The female prowls closer. “How dare you turn against her?”

“I was her puppet for three-and-a-half centuries. You barely spent fifty years by her side.” Echo crosses his arms over his chest. “Leave, and we can forget this ever happened.” The power of his compulsion fills his words.

It’s impressive, considering he’s nowhere near the age of the thousand-year-old bloodsuckers.

The female takes a step back, but the male lunges. He wraps a clawed hand around Echo’s throat. Echo raises an arm, knocking away the male’s claws. His right leg twists, pivoting and slamming a foot into his attacker’s chest.

Ridge slams open the back door of The Den. The female immediately lunges a clawed hand at Echo’s heart. Well, that’s simply not okay. My little witch would be heartbroken if I allowed her vampire to meet his untimely demise on my watch.

I siphon over, but I’m nearly too late. Echo hisses, attempting to block her attack, but she’s already penetrated his chest cavity.

I sigh.

Killing females isn’t my favorite, but I’m holding her heart before anyone can blink.

Ridge pounces, and the male vampire’s head rolls around on the ground. It continues for so long, it’s becoming awkward, but luckily, the female vampire’s now heartless corpse falls atop it. I drop her heart because it’s warm and squishy feeling.

“Holy shit,” Echo mutters, clutching at his torn open chest.

“Are you okay?” I ask at the same time Ridge says, “You’re welcome.”

“Thank you.” Echo blinks owlishly.

“Don’t mention it.” Ridge glares at his bloody hand. “Seriously. Nadia isn’t to hear about this. I’m fairly sure it would upset her.”

Echo snorts, shaking his head. His chest finally starts to knit back together.

“Would you siphon home and grab us some clothes?” Ridge looks at me. “We should probably shower and get back inside before Nadia notices we’re missing. And you should wash your hand and change too.”

“What’s the plan for those?” I gesture to the dead bodies.

Mattias, an older ghoul, approaches slowly. The look on his face spells pure interest. “If you don’t have other arrangements, then I’d be happy to take them off your hands.”

“Sure.” I shrug. “Have at it.”

“I thought ghouls only consumed human flesh?” Ridge asks, frowning.

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to.” Echo slaps Ridge on the back and they head inside.

I chuckle.

How’s that for pack bonding? Nadia would be so proud. Too bad she’ll never hear of this.