Page 57

CHAPTER 56

B y mid-afternoon, my muscles are strained, I’m covered in sweat, and death coats every inch of me, but all the bodies are ready to be disposed of. I leave the arrangements to Shamus. I’m not exactly one for paperwork, but I needed to be out there. This was my fight as well as theirs, and I will not rest while they work. I am a hunter, and I pull my weight.

Bowing my head under my showerhead, I let the warm water wash over my skin. I know I will never be fully clean, not after the things I have done to get here, but I can’t bring myself to care, not with everyone I love still alive.

It’s not been an easy journey, and I know this is just the beginning, but I’m not alone anymore. I don’t have to shoulder the burden by myself.

As if my thoughts conjure them, arms wrap around me, and I lean back with a sigh. A soft kiss is dropped onto my shoulder, and from their height, I can guess who it is.

“You okay, babe?” Fang whispers.

“Just tired,” I murmur as I turn and drape my arms around her shoulders. “I think I need a holiday.”

She laughs. “Definitely somewhere warm. I want to see you in a bikini.”

My smile grows, and she leans up to kiss me. “They are cooking, so when you’re done, come out and join us, okay?”

Nodding, I catch her arm as she turns to leave and drag her back to me, kissing her deeply. When I let go, she’s blinking in confusion. “What was that for?”

“Just because.” I shrug as I slap her thigh. “I’ll be right out.”

She nods and leaves, and I wash. After I’m dried and dressed, I pad into the kitchen, only to freeze. The scene reminds me so much of the first day I stepped in here, only now the laughter is louder and the feelings of love and friendship fill the air. Fang is helping Tem set the table, Jarek is teaching Addeus to cook, and Zeev sips from a mug while watching them. Ronan floats above the stove, and Shamus is at the table, reading something on his phone.

For a moment, I just observe them, my heart so full it hurts.

No matter how hard it gets, I know I can always come back to this family. “Can I help?”

All eyes turn to me, and all that hate and pain caused by the others from this apartment fade away. “Nope, you sit, mistress.” Tem pulls out a chair at the opposite end of the table, and I sink into it as they hurry around. The table overflows with food, and they sit and start to dish up. Conversation flows, as does their laughter, and I just look around, overwhelmed and so grateful that my life led me to them.

It was worth all the hurt.

It was worth all the blood I had to shed to get here.

I hold my glass up as all eyes turn to me. “I just want to thank you all once more and say . . . to family, new and old.”

“To family,” they repeat, even Zeev, before they dig into their food as I sip my drink, happy to watch them.

“Hey, that’s mine!” Tem whines and looks to me as Jarek munches on a roll he stole. “Mistress.”

Snorting, I sip my drink and watch them bicker amongst themselves, even Fang. Shamus catches my eye and grins.

He knew this was what I needed, and he gave it to me.

At this moment, I know two things for certain.

I will never leave this place, and I love him.

I love them all. I never thought I would be able to love again, but my heart has been stolen and divided amongst them for protection, and I couldn’t care less. Let them have it because I know I have theirs as well.

“I love you too, mistress,” Tem says, and everyone turns to look at him. “That’s what she was thinking, that she loves us all.”

My cheeks heat, but I can’t be mad.

“Really? Well, well, well,” Jarek teases.

“Knew it.” Fang holds out her hand, and Ronan passes over some bills as I gawk at them.

Zeev catches my hand and kisses the back of it in a rare, tender gesture. “Love is nothing to be ashamed of. Love is the reason wars are fought and poetry is written. Love is the reason for everything. Without it, we would have nothing. Love is . . . life. I finally understand that. I think we all do. We have all been hurt and left behind in some way, but with you, we have found a second chance.”

“A new beginning,” Fang says.

“A family,” Tem remarks.

“Safety,” Jarek adds.

Shamus grins. “Brothers.”

“Friends!” Ronan exclaims.

“Home,” Addeus says, voicing my own thought. “We found home with each other.”

“I did too,” I admit. “It’s something I never really had, but it’s loud,” I joke, making them chuckle. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now let’s eat. I’m starving.”

No one dies. No one attacks. No one interrupts.

We have our very first family meal of many.

“What? No,” I grumble. “I am not battling it out for his floor. Let them have it.”

“Fine, then you can move onto my floor,” Shamus says over breakfast the next day. “Fine by me.”

“Is this all a big plan of yours to get me in your bed every night?” I mutter.

His smirk makes my thighs clench, but I keep my glare trained on him. “That’s something I would love, but we both know we would end up killing each other, so no, angel. I know where I belong in your life. You can visit my bed when you wish, not the other way around. You need your space, but you’ll have to fight for it. I can’t just hand it to you.”

I look away for a moment, and he leans in, covering my hand. “What is it?”

“I don’t know if I can stay there. There are too many memories. Besides, I don’t even know what I’m going to do now,” I tell him.

“You’ll do the same thing you did before—hunt. It’s what you were born to do, only this time you’ll hunt for those who would ruin our guild. They are still out there, and only you can find them. You’ll travel the world with your new team, rid it of evil, and then you’ll come back home to me. If you don’t want that floor, take another one, but you will have a base here, a place to retreat to when you need it. Name it and I’ll make it happen.” He kisses the back of my hand as I stare at him. “But I wasn’t planning on making you stay in the same rooms. I was going to have it all redone if you wanted it—another fuck you to Black and your old team. It’s the elite floor, Tate, and it’s where you belong, but it’s your choice. It will always be your choice.”

“I guess having a commander for a lover is a good thing,” I remark. “Though I did expect more perks.”

“You want perks?” He kicks the table out of the way, the screech loud, and my eyes widen as he grips my chair and drags me over, his lips meeting mine in a brutal kiss that has me gasping as he leans back, his eyes glistening. “You get me. Isn’t that enough, angel?” His voice is soft and seductive as his hands slide up my arms to my neck, tilting my head back as he brushes his lips over my cheek to my ear. “Now get your sexy ass dressed and prove why you’re mine. Take that elite floor back and I’ll spend the night between your thighs, reminding you why you risked it all for me.”

“Not for you,” I mutter as I push him away with a glare. “For the cause.”

“Sure, angel, whatever you say.” He kisses me quickly, avoiding my slap as he dances out of reach. “They are waiting in the courtyard.”

“I never agreed to it!” I yell.

“But you were going to!” He waves me away as he leaves.

Crossing my arms, I sit back in my chair, determined to ignore him and the others. I don’t need this floor. Let them fight over it.

But if they win, they will think they won against me and my monsters.

I can’t fucking have that, so even though I don’t care that much, I get my ass dressed and head downstairs.

What’s one more battle?