by T. A. White
Tate smiled softly, threading her fingers through his hair. “Just as I never want to watch you being tortured again.”
“Then we’re agreed.”
Tate reared back, her questioning look meeting his impish one.
“Neither one of us will ever step foot out of your bedroom again,” he said.
Tate sputtered as his form folded away and Rath took his place. Before she could react, he plucked her off the ground to cradle her body to his chest as gently as Ryu had. There was barely a jolt as he took flight, arrowing toward home.
Tate shook her head at the two as Ilith puffed up in outrage. At least life wouldn’t ever be boring.
* * *
Several weeks later, Ai accompanied Tate into a section of the tunnels no other living person had visited in centuries. They stopped in a large room, which contained countless rows of pods. They covered every inch of the walls and marched in tidy columns along the floor.
Tate and Ai stopped in front of one with a familiar looking man inside. Christopher’s eyes were closed as if in death, though the screen on the pod assured Tate there was life within.
“You weren’t yourself, yet you saved him,” Tate mused.
“I do not know why though.”
Tate smiled. “That’s alright. I do.”
Ai sent her a questioning look. “Please explain.”
Tate tucked her hands into her pockets. “Something of you remained even after Nathan reset your coding.”
“I do not think that’s right, but if that’s what you want to believe I won’t argue.”
Tate’s smile widened.
“Your young-looking friend informed me of this man’s crimes. Are you sure you want to let him live?”
Tate didn’t even have to think about it before she nodded. “I do.”
“He was severely wounded. It’ll take centuries to heal.” Ai said emotionlessly.
“That’s alright. Sleep brought me a second chance to get things right. Maybe it can do the same for him.”
Ai’s face remained expressionless except for a slight furrowing of the brow. “Very well. If that’s what you desire.”
“It is.”
Ai moved away, giving Tate privacy.
Tate stepped close to the pod, placing one hand on it. “I pray you find a better ending when you wake up again.”
A short while later, Tate and Ai retraced their steps through the tunnels. The silence allowed Tate to ask the question that had been on her mind since she’d released Ai.
“What will you do now?”
Ai stopped. “I would like to explore the world a bit and experience life.”
“Alone?”
Ai shook her head. “Roslyn says she wants to go with me.”
A good choice. Roslyn would be able to keep an eye on the other woman, teaching her about this world and hopefully guiding her onto a good path. Ai would also provide companionship for Roslyn, something Tate sensed her friend sorely needed.
Tate didn’t know what had happened between Roslyn and her father during the confrontation and after, but the result was Roslyn’s sudden need for exploration.
At least the two could look after each other.
“That sounds like a good plan.”
Ai touched her arm when Tate would have moved on. “My brothers and sisters. What should I do with them?”
“Whatever you want. This is your life now.” Tate clasped Ai’s shoulder and sent her a mischievous grin. “Just try not to destroy the world.”
“I will do my best,” Ai said as Tate moved past her toward the man waiting for her at the end of the corridor.
Despite the frown on his face, Ryu’s eyes were warm as he watched her come. “You escaped the bedroom.”
“Sometimes, lover, things aren’t going to go your way.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Tate pretended to think about it. “Pretty sure.”
He leaned over and kissed her. “We’ll see.”
The End…. At least for now.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Thank you so much for reading Tate and Ilith’s adventures. When I started their story all those years ago, it was because I needed a release from the constant stress that comes from being deployed to Afghanistan. Now, it feels like I’ve come full circle as I write their ending amid a pandemic that has affected everyone in both big and small ways.
For now, I am saying goodbye to these characters that have seen me through some of the most trying experiences in my life. However, that may not always be the case. For me, there are no true endings. There are always paths still to explore, threads left undone. Who is to say what the future may bring?
DISCOVER MORE BY T.A. WHITE
The Firebird Chronicles
Rules of Redemption
Age of Deception
Threshold of Annihilation
The Broken Lands Series
Pathfinder’s Way
Mist’s Edge
Wayfarer’s Keep
The Wind’s Call
The Dragon-Ridden Chronicles
Dragon-Ridden
Of Bone and Ruin
Destruction’s Ascent
Secrets Bound By Sand
Where Dragons Collide
Shifting Seas – Novella
The Aileen Travers Series
Shadow’s Messenger
Midnight’s Emissary
Moonlight’s Ambassador
Dawn’s Envoy
Twilight’s Herald
CONNECT WITH ME
Twitter: @tawhiteauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tawhiteauthor/
Website: http://www.tawhiteauthor.com/
Blog: http://dragon-ridden.blogspot.com/
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Writing is my first love. Even before I could read or put coherent sentences down on paper, I would beg the older kids to team up with me for the purpose of crafting ghost stories to share with our friends. This first writing partnership came to a tragic end when my coauthor decided to quit a day later and I threw my cookies at her head. This led to my conclusion that I worked better alone. Today, I stick with solo writing, telling the stories that would otherwise keep me up at night.
Most days (and nights) are spent feeding my tea addiction while defending the computer keyboard from my feline companions, Loki and Odin.