Page 68

Harlow

Dark Haven Institute

M ore time had passed than I’d expected when we stepped through the portal into Dark Haven.

Already the courtyard was full of lush green grass and repairs were well underway.

We’d been so busy in Helheim, it had fallen to the bottom of the list.

“Drake!” Sarah’s voice was strong and excited as she ran through the doors. “I was waiting for you!”

“Mom,” he breathed out as he wrapped her in a hug. She didn’t flinch at his demon appearance, she just held her son like a mother should, dancing around with him as she excitedly whispered how much she loved him.

Then she was moving on to me, hugging me tightly before going down the line.

“My babies, I’m so glad you’re all okay,” she ended, clapping her hands together and fighting tears.

“You look great, Sarah. How is Dark Haven treating you these days?”

“Well,” she said, ushering us inside as she spoke, “as soon as you closed the portal, it was like a fog lifted. I could think and speak clearly. Even my exhaustion ended. I’m not perfect, but I’m normal again.” The relief in her voice was loud and clear.

“She’s perfect,” Elkan said as he joined us. “Welcome back.”

He hugged Drake, offered a handshake to the rest of the guys, then bowed for me.

He showed me respect as the Queen of Helheim even when he no longer belonged to that world. It was such an Elkan thing to do and I smiled back, happy to see them thriving.

“And how are you coping? I’ve been worried,” I admitted. He shook his head in exasperation at my words.

“I told you I’d be fine as long as I had her. Let’s have some tea, the cafeteria always serves it at this hour,” he told us, leading us downstairs.

I half expected a room full of patients, instead we foundfamilies.

“Um?” Hiro said. “What happened here?”

“We’ve made a few changes,” Sarah said proudly. “This is the new Dark Haven. A safe place for families, teens, individuals.... anyone who needs it.”

“I managed to get us some amazing funding and grants and now we feed and room anyone who needs it. We set low rent for those staying long term and that helps bolster the funds we need.”

“This is incredible,” I said, looking out over the faces, then back at the two who made it possible. I knew that everything had happened this way for a reason.

Dark Haven had not only been their home, but mine, and I was glad to see it become that for even more people who needed it.

“How are things back home?” Elkan asked, not bothering to call Helheim by name in a room full of unsuspecting humans.

“They’re changing,” I admitted.

“For the better,” Drake tacked on, giving me a look that said he didn’t approve of me downplaying our efforts.

He was right, things were crazy, and settling in wasn’t easy, but we’d found a way to make Helheim our home.

Hel had demanded accommodations for the afterlife the moment they’d recovered. But I no longer owed her anything. She was given what everyone else was, a place of peace where the other souls resided.

After realizing there’d be no special treatment, her demands stopped and she focused on her partner.

Layne and Crew loved interacting with the souls and found their own peace welcoming the souls into Helheim. They were working through things and Crew was finally accepting Stravos as a teammate instead of an enemy. Loki still popped in from time to time to offer her wine and cause casual chaos. I was starting to get used to it by now.

Monty kept his soldiers in line, as did Achar and Kol. If the need ever arose, our numbers were growing stronger by the day and ready to defend their land and their new ruler.

Now that Helheim and I were connected, judging souls and adding to the demon and gargoyle ranks, was second nature. The realm honestly did most of the work and I helped when I needed to.

It was strange to think the same girl who was fighting her own demons and fighting for her life, now decided the fate of every soul that passed on to this realm.

Now that my pack had witnessed me save Helheim, and the energy of the realm was no longer being zapped away, they could all feel the connection, too.

They were stronger than ever before, as was I.

Roman and Hiro were living their best lives. Roman trained with Kol’s men during the day, and enjoyed evenings with our pack. Hiro had started a library in Helheim, working with Valgri who was eager to help in his pursuit of knowledge. They’d even started recording the history of Helheim.

I had one last cleanup to do from Hel’s reign before I could feel like Helheim was my home.

First, we needed to check in on Dark Haven and see how the humans were recovering. I didn’t want to lose my humanity in our quest to right Hel’s wrongs.

When I tuned back into the conversation Sarah was gushing about the community gardens they’d set up. My chest warmed and when I tuned into the bond, Drake and Hiro’s were just as full of happiness.

We spent a few hours taking a tour of the new changes and Sarah introduced us as the owners to Dark Haven anytime someone approached. Seeing them so full of life was exactly what I needed to relax.

Dark Haven was in good hands. Knowing that, I no longer felt the need to hop between worlds.

“You should come back for dinner soon,” Sarah said around a yawn. She was exhausted from entertaining us for hours and walking every inch of Dark Haven.

“We should get back, let you rest,” Drake said, giving his mom another hug. “We’ll come back. Just remember that the realm passes time differently. It will be a while.”

“Call through the portal if you need us, I know we’ll be able to hear,” I said. Helheim brushed against me, giving me the reassurance. Really, the few gargoyles who remained here, unseen by the humans, would be the ones to spread word.

They didn’t need to know that though, I’d tell them on our way out.

“Thank you for giving me this, My Queen,” Elkan said as he hugged me goodbye.

“And thank you for helping me find my footing as Queen,” I whispered back, giving him one last squeeze.

Sarah jumped in next, giving me a quick hug then brushing a kiss on my cheek.

“Take care of my boy.”

“Always,” I promised.

They waved as we stepped away, walking back toward the gazebo. I latched onto Helheim’s powers and called us home.

I blinked open my eyes back in the throne room. Monty, Kol, and Roman were waiting for us.

“Now, it’s time to make this castle our own,” I announced. Kol swept me in his arms, his wings closing us off for a moment as he threw the bond open. His grief at his brothers’ fate, his gratefulness at me fixing it, and the love we shared easily now. It was funny, my gargoyle and demon had started with no shreds of humanity in them. Now they had a piece of it thanks to the bond.

We were all changed.

When Kol pulled away I glanced around one final time.

“Skoll is with Layne?”

“Yes,” Roman reassured me.

I nodded before turning my focus to the room. “Zetta!”

She appeared in front of me.

“Yes, Harlow?”

Thank the gods she finally learned my name. Though, she was still one of the few staff I knew by name. The others still preferred to go unseen.

“Clear the castle. Ensure everyone is outside.”

“Yes, my Queen,” she said, giving me a teasing smile before disappearing.

“Let’s go,” I ordered my pack.

“Our omega likes to boss us around these days. I think the power has gone to her head,” Monty rumbled, letting one of his shadows slither over my throat in warning.

“You like me like this,” I shot back, raising one eyebrow. “Plus, won’t you love punishing me for it later even more now?”

“Oh, I will, little human,” he said, using my old nickname with a wicked grin.

“I’ll help,” Kol promised, his eyes burning with heat at the reminder of our last encounter. One that nearly killed me all over again.

“And we’ll be there to calm you down then fuck you all over again,” Hiro added with a smirk. He might still just be a beta, but he was as cocky as they came. It was a good look on him.

“Then I’ll fuck you, beta,” Drake added, smacking his ass as he passed, making Hiro yelp.

Roman shook his head and just gave me a fond smile. He was the most patient out of my entire pack. There was no pressure and in some ways, he was still my main safe space.

Zetta appeared on the steps in front of me, bowing quickly before gesturing behind us.

“We’re all out. The castle is empty.”

I glanced back, taking in the small army of wraiths waiting for me to clear the castle.

When Kol and Achar had told me how Hel had built her castle out of the remains of the gargoyles, stopping them before they could stop her, I knew I couldn’t spend another night inside of it.

Helheim was in agreement. The moment I thought it, the realm flared with power, showing me it could handle the feat I was about to attempt.

“Monty, protect them if this goes sideways?”

“I’m a demon, Harlow, I don’t protect.”

“For me, you do,” I said, confident as I turned to give him a pointed look. He shook his head but nodded once, telling me silently he would do as I asked.

With that out of the way I turned my focus to the gaudy castle in front of me. I closed my eyes and let Helheim flow through me then to the castle. There was no holding back, only willing the magic to release its people.

There was no fanfare, but a collective gasp had me opening my eyes to see an empty field, wind whisking off the ashes of the gargoyles, taking them home.

“Now for our home,” I said with a smile, relief so strong in my chest that I had to fight off tears.

I already knew what I wanted. Something cozy and warm, inviting, an oasis in the midst of this realm.

A warm hand on my cheek was my sign that I’d done enough. I opened my eyes and grinned at Hiro. His eyes were dancing with excitement and I quickly stepped aside to see what I’d done.

The mountainside grew so it looked like the castle was forged from the stone below. It would protect the portal rooms that already existed there.

The castle above was exactly like I pictured. A mix of old stone castle meets some modern flair. There were towers and ivy, large windows and spiraling stone staircase leading up.

The top floor of the main castle was mostly glass, allowing me and my mates to see our realm from above.

I hoped inside was more of the same. I’d spent days browsing old websites, giving myself a mental picture of each and every aspect from rooms for the wraiths, kitchens, a library, a new war room, and a cozy, inviting interior.

Then there was our floor.

The entire thing was full of warmth and cozy fluff like I wanted. Plush rugs, huge roaring fires, a sectional across from a huge TV. We’d discovered weeks ago that we could power electronics from the human realm, we just couldn’t quite master internet.

That was alright with me as long as we could watch movies again. I needed to experience pack life as it was intended. Snuggled on the couch with my mates, living our best lives without fear and stress.

I might not have heats in the afterlife like I did before, but I would need my nest and mates all the same.

We were ravenous for each other and now we had our own space to give into those desires.

Drake, Hiro, and Roman were all excited when we entered. Kol and Monty stood back, watching with smiles on their faces, happy to stand aside while they watched us give into the human indulgences we never wanted to leave behind.

“Harlow, can you conjure snacks, we need a proper pack movie night,” Hiro declared.

“Only if we do matching jammies,” I grinned, waving my hand and covering us all in matching sets of pajamas. Monty’s version was a robe instead, though the cozy, cream colored cotton looked great against his dark skin.

“Harlow,” he warned, but I wasn’t listening. I was already nuzzling down into the corner of the sectional. Drake and Hiro dropped down to one side, Roman on my other. He shifted me, pulling my legs over his lap.

Kol didn’t hesitate to come over, picking me up and dropping in my spot, giving Roman my legs back but keeping me tight in his lap. A rumbling purr echoed out of him and I sighed blissfully as I snuggled in.

“Drake, what are we watching?” I asked.

Drake tapped his chin before a grin spread across his face.

“Silence of the Lambs.” I snorted at his campy, horror classic but didn’t protest as I put it on the screen and a spread of snacks appeared on the table.

Hiro, who was always insatiable, dove in. The only one who stood back was Monty.

At least until I turned a glare his way.

“Get your demon ass over here and appease your omega,” I demanded. Now that I was no longer stuck in survival mode, I was ready to indulge the omega side who had been denied for far too long.

Monty groaned but relented, dropping down at Kol’s feet. A single shadow wrapped around my wrist and stayed there, connecting us as the movie started.

Honestly, I couldn’t tell you what the movie was about. The only thing I could focus on was the feel of safety and home that radiated through our bond.

We were finally a pack in every sense of the word, my omega was humming in bliss as our scents mixed around us, and I knew that eternity wouldn’t be so bad now that my pack was at my side.

I’d never be alone again.

The End

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