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Epilogue

E mon eyed the cocoon of darkness. “So…” His eyes sparkled, turning to look at the monstrosity I had created. “Is this permanent or will the shadows fall soon.”

I frowned at the cascading darkness swirling around us. “I have never powered this much shadow before without my sentient ones. This is all new for me.”

Emon watched my face for the pain the separation of my shadows had caused me. “We will get them back, Remnant, we will get the umbras back.”

I ran my hands through the wall of shadow, ignoring the deep ache inside.

“I know we will, but there is no time to focus on that. Penina has Riella and we need to regroup. Deirdre won’t wait long before she strikes again and with the Sanguine using the shadows there’s no telling what she can do with them.

” I swiped at the dormant shadows, baring my teeth at them.

“I can’t even control these damn things now. Everything is so off balance.”

Stepping forward, Emon took my hand and pulled me against him. “Remnant.”

Exhaling harshly, I glared at him. “What?”

He smiled sadly down at me. “Thank you for releasing Jar.”

I shook my head. “Don’t.” I choked. The master healer's eyes begging me for death would haunt me for many nights, along with Quinn’s.

Reaching under my chin, he tilted my head up to look into his sad eyes. “You freed him. He is with his wife now…his soulmate he has lived without for over two thousand years. He knew his time was near...”

Sighing, I closed my eyes at the memory, his answer to what the knowledge of the God brothers would cost him.

None that I cannot handle, my clever cub. Do not fret, Sheol will not come for me this day.

“I know.”

Emon’s lips brushed against mine. “I'm in awe of you, little umbra.”

I kissed him back, feeling his lips move slowly over me.

Groaning, he pressed my body closer into him, extending my head further back to deepen his kiss.

I clutched at his bare chest, needing his comfort, his touch more than ever before. “I need you.” I whispered into his mouth and ran my hands down his thighs.

“Fuck.” Emon’s mouth tore away from mine, tilting his head back in a growling moan. “Take what you need from me then. I’m yours. Yours to use. Forever.”

I tore at Emon’s clothing, my desire mixing with my sorrow and loss. He soon followed my lead, assisting us both until we stood naked in front of each other, breathing heavily just staring in awe of one another.

Neither one of us moved for what seemed like an eternity, finding peace in baring our bodies and souls with one another.

Reverently I sank to my knees in front of him, tilting my head up to see him watching me like a wary predator before looking back down at his cock, already hard for me.

Emon’s hand threaded through my hair and tilted my head back for me to look up at him. “Fuck. You’re so goddess damn beautiful.”

I smiled and brought my hands up to his trembling muscular thighs, lightly running the pads of my fingertips over the smooth bronze skin teasingly.

“So are you, my king.” I leaned forward and licked the tip of his weeping cock.

A harsh rattling breath escaped him, whether it was from my words or from my actions I was unsure.

It didn’t matter. I was going to worship my soulmate for the king he was—not of the shifters, but of my soul.

“Perhaps another time. When I am not here.” A booming voice echoed around us as if it came from the shadows themselves.

Growling, Emon had me up on my feet, shielding me with his claws flashing. “Who the fuck is there?”

I narrowed my eyes behind Emon’s protective stance and watched the darkness stir where a figure began to form—whoever it was, they were weaving shadows.

Stepping out of Emon’s protection, I gripped onto the moving shadows and wrenched them back, only to stare dumbstruck at the imposing masculine figure within them.

He was too beautiful to be fae and yet too eerily similar to not be one.

His skin shimmered like the stars, short wavy black hair fell across his brilliant green eyes that sparkled like a million faceted emeralds combined into one.

He wore black from head to toe, with the sleeves of a silk shirt rolled up, revealing tattoo brands identical to my own.

His otherworldly face wrinkled with disgust. “Fuck really? I have not seen my daughter in over two thousand years and this is the cruel fate I am given? Not only that, but you stole my fucking grand entrance, daughter.”

He waved an elegant hand adorned with multiple silver and gold rings. Abruptly, I was covered from head to toe in a tailored black shirt and pants, complete with a thin silver buckle and my favorite laced black leather boots.

Emon growled fiercely with irritation next to me and I snorted with humor—my soulmate was completely covered in layers , with an oversized cloak covering his entire person and pooling down onto the shadowed filled ground.

“Much better,” the being grinned.

I arched my brow, distracted at how well Emon actually wore clothing. It would be fun to peel those layers off of him…Emon gave me a side glance, telling me he knew exactly where my thoughts had been going.

“You need to learn to school your thoughts, daughter, if you are to survive.” The powerful being shook his head and turned towards Emon.

“And stop that incessant growling, shifter king.

Despite popular fae belief, not everyone wants to see your shifter dick…

especially when it's swinging around my offspring.”

Daughter. Offspring . I blinked. If Emon and I’s assumptions were correct then we were standing in the presence of Shea. The God of Death.

I stepped forward menacingly. I had no shadows, no weapons, but I was not afraid. “You speak as if you know us, but we do not know you. Care to introduce yourself?”

That green gaze, that I realized was so much like my own, perused over my person and smirked. “You know who I am.”

“Suppose I entertain the idea you're the God of Death and my father. What do you want? Why are you here?”

My supposed father chuckled and peered at the shadows surrounding us, ignoring my question. “Interesting weave here, daughter. Did you know you made them permanent? You definitely need training but this…this is exquisite work.” He ran his hand over the darkness.

My eyes ensnared on his arms again and the identical markings there. “That’s not an answer to my question.”

Rolling his eyes, he crossed his muscular arms in front of his chest. “You’re very much like your mother. So focused on control that you miss out on the beauty.”

Emon and I both growled simultaneously.

The God of Death snickered. “Exactly like her. Be at ease, daughter. It is a compliment, beauty is misleading.” Smiling, he snapped. “I come bringing you gifts.”

Suddenly, our friends materialized with Riella carefully protected in Penina’s arms. They acted quickly, like the prepared warriors they were with Bane, Tyr, Xi, and Riley circling around the God of Death while Asher guarded Penina who slowly backed towards us with our daughter.

No one’s eyes left the God of Death’s who watched them all amusedly.

“Mother. Father.” Riella called out when she saw us. Her swirling gold and green eyes alight with happiness as she stretched her hands outward.

There was no stopping us. Emon and I both rushed to our daughter. Taking her quickly from the assassin's arms.

“Penina is nice.” She smiled sweetly at us.

Smiling back, Emon and I squeezed her together. “Yes she is.” I looked up into Penina’s knowing gaze. The shifter smiled and nodded once before turning to guard our little family along with Asher.

Looking back down on my daughter, I smoothed her hair back. “Are you okay?”

Riella straightened and gave me a serious look. “I stayed brave. But he does not scare me.” She glanced back to the death god whose eyes twinkled listening to her. “He feels familiar.”

“I’m proud of you for being brave, little one.”

My father winked at her and then glared at Emon, who had his arms wrapped around both of us.

“I give you credit, shifter king. Your people are loyal. Even your swordmaster refused to give up my granddaughter so that I could convince you to trust me. So instead I had to bring them along…unharmed and alive as you see.” He pursed his lips in thought.

Emon released us to step forward snarling. “I do not need your praise to have faith in my own people, death god.”

“Someone want to explain what the fuck is going on and who the fuck this new asshole is?” Tyr growled, his purple eyes almost bored with a stand off against a god.

My father snorted. “I take it back. I give you credit for all except that one.” He waved his ring adorned hand at the grinning Tyr.

Holding Riella to me, my voice was hard. “What is it you want? No one in this world brings gifts without wanting something in return.”

His face suddenly turned serious. “We have much to discuss, my little chickadee, and we have very little time to do it.” Nodding to the fae that surrounded him he growled. “Step aside.”

Seeing the death in his eyes, our group slowly retreated to form a protective circle around my little family.

Muttering with irritation, the death god waved his hand.

A portal appeared, bright with a stunning fluorescent night scape of shooting stars, glowing moons, and rainbow hued lights dancing in a darkened sky.

Shifting white sands rolled to reveal a silvery pathway that blurred when it shimmered before us.

Looking over his shoulder, the death god smiled proudly at me.

“Welcome to Sheol, daughter. Your home and birthright. Come, your mother and brother are waiting.”