Page 70

Harlow

Post epilogue - Harlow’s anniversary celebration in Helheim

Time in Helheim moved differently than in the human realm. I’d been here long enough that I was used to the strange, slow flow of time.

Yet there were times, like today, that I was shocked so much time had passed.

Three years as queen of Helheim.

Three years since my death… then rebirth.

Here, I was so much more than the lost girl who saw shadows and heard voices. I was a queen with the power to make change.

Hel herself had run this realm with an iron fist. Punishment happened often, the prisons stocked full of those she damned to rot.

I learned quickly that not all souls could be saved, but I never abused my power and threw away souls that didn’t deserve eternity in a desolate place like the Scourge.

My stomach sank as the soul stood before me. He passed through the portal, his pale blue form flickering as he glared around. It was a sad attempt to look at anything but me.

“Stanley Gibson,” I called out. With a single thought he was frozen, facing forward, no choice but to regard his new queen. Now that my magic was holding him, I saw into his character. Flashes of a life full of lies, deceit, and causing nothing but pain.

My stomach rolled as his darkness filled the space.

“To the Scourge,” I said, turning to Monty, my lover, mate, and commander. He was a true alpha, one that made this sorry excuse for one quiver in fear.

“What level, my queen?” Monty asked as a smile spread over his too-wide mouth, showcasing his sharp teeth. The shadows shifted around him, making him larger than life and twice as terrifying to behold.

“The lower floor. He deserves it,” I said, voice even.

Hiro must have sensed my unease, stepping forward to curl his fingers around mine.

“Last one. We have plans tonight,” he reminded me.

I watched as Monty curled his shadows around the man, my magic falling away as my commander took over.

The moment he was gone, Roman beat his wings, magic infusing the movement and sweeping away every ounce of vile poison that soul left behind. The sickly flicker of his soul form should have been the first red flag.

“Enough.” Drake’s words were harsh and final, his hand taking my free one and tugging me and Hiro with him. I let their scents and presence curl around me, shaking off the mood that was starting to take over.

“What do you have planned?” I asked, glancing from one of my mates to the next, curiosity winning out.

Drake smirked and dropped my hand, curling his arm around my shoulders. “Just you wait. Wear something sexy so I can peel it off you after, omega.”

My body shuddered with need, loving that even though I was in charge of a realm, my omega still craved her alphas and beta.

We’d barely walked through the door of the castle before Layne was bursting through the side hall, excitement dancing on her face.

“Girl time!” she yelled, taking my arm and tugging me to my suite.

“So, you’re in on it, too?” I challenged as we stepped into my empty room. It smelled incredible in here, a mix of all my mates.

“Duh,” she snorted. “Of course, I was. It’s not every day that the anniversary of you becoming a fucking queen rolls around.”

Shock hit me. I knew they had planned something, but I didn't realize that much time had passed again.

Layne shook her head at my shock.

“So, the real question is. Slutty, or regal?”

She held up two dresses, one a little black number that was sleeveless and would definitely push up my cleavage. The second was long, with a train of shimmering material. It was gorgeous, but I had a feeling with the way she was eyeing the short one, this party wasn’t a gala.

“I’m guessing the short one?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. Her grin turned wicked.

“Yes, girl. Music, booze, and I hear a certain god of chaos is making an appearance. She did a little shimmy.

Loki wasn’t the type to be locked down, but he adored Layne. Much to her mates’ frustration. They had a sort of on again, off again, everlasting friends with benefits situation that they all seemed happy with, so who was I to judge?

“I’m going to shower first,” I said, rushing into the ensuite and turning up the heat on my shower until steam filled the room. I was in desperate need of a cleanse and reset, so I did just that.

When I had scrubbed my skin clean and officially let the judgments of the day roll off of me, I finally stepped out, clad in a robe. Layne had hung the dress on the changing divider and I stepped out of her view and slid it on.

My mates would prefer I didn’t put anything on underneath, so I didn’t. Torturing them was one of the highlights of my afterlife.

Layne didn’t hesitate to dive in with makeup brushes and hair dryers and curling irons. She could have easily used magic, but we both liked to feel human once in a while.

She claimed girls’ night was sacred and who was I to argue?

A loud pop was followed by a glass appearing in each of our hands, overflowing with a bright green liquid.

“Bottoms up, ladies!” Loki cheered, conjuring one into his own hand before upending it and draining every drop.

Layne grinned, her cheeks flushing even before she sucked hers down. I did the same, knowing damn well Loki wouldn’t harm either of us.

Even the god of chaos had some morals.

“I heard there was a celebration so, of course, I had to make an appearance. Don’t worry, I already helped the boys set up,” he said. “Open bar, plenty of food, and music already echoing through the ballroom. Get your asses out there, ladies.”

He turned to leave before looking back at Layne like he wanted to eat her up.

“Save me a dance, and maybe a bed tonight.” He grinned before popping out of the room again.

Layne let out a breath and looked at me, flushed and excited now.

“You know one of the best parts of Loki coming into town? My men get twice as possessive afterwards. Count me in for excellent sex for the next month.”

She cackled as she disappeared behind the screen to change into her own dress. When she rounded the divider again it was in a hot pink dress that looked painted on. It cupped her breasts and pinched her waist so her curves flared. It was hot as hell and she knew it.

“Ready?” she asked as she tossed her dark hair over her shoulder.

“Hell yeah,” I said, putting the glass I was still holding down and letting her lead me out to the ballroom.

Once we left the suite, the music filled the air, voices mixing in and making the castle seem lively. It filled me with happiness, knowing this was what we’ve turned this realm into.

The afterlife didn’t have to be sad and depressing for everyone. We could celebrate and live out our existence how we wanted. Here, we thrived on doing what made us happy.

And there were my mates.

Kol was front and center, the biggest gargoyle in Helheim and twice as sexy. His smile curled over his face, claws flexing as if he wanted to snatch me up.

Monty stood at the edge of the group, licking his lips at the sight of me.

Roman stood next to him, broad frame and wings making him look strong and intimidating, though his face only showed adoration as his eyes traced my body.

Hiro was tucked into Drake’s side, both men smiling at me, one a grin, the other a cocky smirk.

Then Roman was moving, sweeping me into his arms and slanting his lips over mine. He kissed me thoroughly, to the point when he pulled away I wavered on my heels for a moment.

A warm body pressed against my back, kisses skimming over my neck. Drake bit gently at my ear before whispering his own appreciation for the outfit.

“You look stunning, Harlow. I can’t wait to devour you later,” he said, promise in his tone.

“We all know I’ll win this prize,” Monty drawled from the sidelines, oozing with confidence.

“I’m the queen, if I want you all, I’ll have you all,” I said as the song switched and I tugged them to the center where souls, wraiths, and demons were dancing.

The gargoyles were there on the edges of the room, participating in their own way though not one ventured into the crush of dancing bodies.

I let the beat wash over me, dancing as if I didn’t have the weight of a realm on my shoulders. It was one of the few times I felt truly myself again.

Confetti rained down over the dance floor, covering the room. I glanced up and laughed at Loki dancing with Layne above us, confetti showering around us as they moved through the air.

I couldn’t help but laugh at Stravos and Crew glaring up at them, both seeming to finally bond over the man who came into their life and stirred up chaos.

“My turn,” Drake said as he dragged me away from Roman and into his own arms. He was handsome as ever, even now in his demon form.

“So demanding tonight,” I teased as he pulled me closer so our bodies touched. He breathed me in, not denying my words.

“Always,” he finally agreed. “You make me feral.”

“Good,” I said simply. “I live to drive you crazy.”

“Are you happy here?” he asked, surprising me. They’d asked me this same question from time to time. Sometimes the answer was complicated. There were good days and bad, and the adjustment to this life wasn’t seamless.

Yet, they never wavered in their support. I never felt cast aside or forgotten because I was busy.

They simply found their own place in this realm, content to be with me in any life we were given. Afterlife included.

“Yes,” I admitted. “Even after the last soul of the day. It’s exhausting some days and overwhelming. But then we have moments like this, where I know I’m not alone, that my pack is here to make sure I enjoy this life when I’m too busy to do that for myself.”

“We’ve got you,” he agreed. “You’ve changed this realm.”

“That you have, little omega,” Monty agreed, sliding his shadows over me and pulling me from Drake. “This realm was pretty before, but as cold as the ice this castle used to be carved from. Now the realm has life. The good souls thrive, and the wraiths are twice as strong. It’s only those who deserve it that suffer.”

“And what if another portal begins to fail, and the demons try to break free?” I teased. The last one was all because of Hel herself, but that didn’t mean someone wouldn’t follow in her footsteps. Grow bored and crave anarchy.

“Then my army and Kol’s will stop it,” he said. “And we will succeed.”

“Every time,” Kol agreed as he pushed past Monty’s shadows to pull me into his embrace. His wings wrapped around us, blocking us from view as he devoured me, lips teasing and hands roaming over my body until I was clenching my slick-covered thighs together.

This was going to be a long night. Not just of celebrating, but being stolen from one mate’s arms to the next.

And I wouldn’t change a thing. This was what made the afterlife worth living. Knowing my mates would be with me for eternity, and that we were surrounded by family and friends and the people who believed in me as much as they did.