Page 64

EPILOGUE

“ F uck! Addeus, you giant bastard,” I snap as I tug him down next to me to avoid the rocks being thrown at him by the shapeshifter. It thinks we are hunting it when that couldn’t be further from the truth. We are hunting the rogue hunter who is hunting the shapeshifter.

They are spread out around the world now, and it’s our task to track each and every one down, which is what we have been doing for the last six months. Our job will never be done. As long as there is good in the world, there will be evil, and it’s our duty to stand in its way.

The others are only a call away if I need them. I haven’t had to as of yet, but we set up quarterly meetings just to check in on how everyone is doing. They have their own lives to lead, which brings me back to mine.

“I mean it. We are not here for you!” I roar to the shapeshifter as another boulder sails over my and Addeus’s heads and down the mountainside. The others are concealed behind their own rocks. Shamus will be glad he didn’t come this time, that’s for sure. He splits his time between hunting with us and leading. It works for him, and I’m always glad when he’s at my side.

“Lies!” it shouts.

“Fuck this,” I mutter as I watch another rock sail overhead. “A little hand, Zeev?” I call.

“Why? This is amusing.” He chuckles. He’s still an asshole. It just so happens I love that asshole. More fool me.

“Jarek?” I try.

“Nope.” He grins. “All yours.”

“Great, thanks,” I mutter.

“I can help, mistress.” Tem pops up behind me, grinning.

“Nuh-uh, you’re banned. Remember the last time you helped?” I snap.

“I accidentally tore down the temple.” He pouts. “Okay.”

“Are you not offering?” I ask Ronan.

“Not a chance,” he scoffs.

“Scaredy cat ghost,” I mutter as I peek over then duck when another rock hits where I was. “Fuck it,” I mutter again, leaping over it. I race towards the shapeshifter, ducking and rolling as boulders soar at me. I make it to him and slam a fist into his face. He goes down hard, and I pant as I stand over him. “I meant it. I’m not here for you.”

“Then why are you on my land?” he yells.

“For him.” I point out the hunter coming for us in the distance. “Think you can stand not throwing a rock for a minute while I deal with him?”

“Fine,” he grumbles, and I nod as I climb up onto the nearest boulder and pull out my rifle. I can use magic or my men, but sometimes the old ways are the best. I put my eye to the scope and take aim. He’s sneaking up on the shapeshifter. He enjoys killing too much to stop, uncaring if the monster is innocent or not—like this shapeshifter, no matter how annoying he is.

“Gotcha!” I whoop as I squeeze the trigger just as a rock hits him. I gape, turning to the shapeshifter.

“He was stepping on my flowers!” he says, and I turn back to the scope with a growl as the hunter races towards the trees, knowing he’s under attack. I fire rapidly, and bark explodes around him before my last shot clips his shoulder, spinning him back into view. Blowing out a breath, I line up my next shot and squeeze the trigger, and his head explodes.

“Got him,” I exclaim triumphantly as I stand, slinging my rifle back over my shoulder.

“Yay, mistress!” Tem cheers.

Ronan appears with a handheld chalkboard. “Tate, ten. Hunters, zero.”

Snorting, I sling my rifle higher over my shoulder and look at the shapeshifter. “We will take care of the body. Enjoy your day, sir.”

“Why did you help me?” he asks. “Hunters don’t help our kind.”

“They do now.” I grin as I head to the portal waiting for me, showing Shamus on the other side.

I step through and into his waiting arms. He kisses me quickly as he holds me tighter with a happy sigh. “Are you home for a while, angel?”

“Two days. We have reports of a band of hunters up north moving against us.”

“Then I have two days with you.” He smirks as the others come through behind me. “Let’s test out that new giant bed, shall we?”

I can’t help but laugh as I’m tossed over his shoulder. We all know I could stop him, but I don’t want to.

Shamus and this place are my home, these people are my home, and they are exactly where I want to be as we hunt and rid this world of evil.

It’s why we took our name for the other supes.

For humans, we are hunters, but our elite team?

We are the Court of Evil.

The end . . . for now.

Are you ready for the next generation?