Rebecca, apparently tired of all the chatting, let out a growl and resumed closing in on Lucinda. She moved up the corridor enough to let me get to Blake.
"Blake?" I put a hand on his shoulder. I didn't dare to shake him, in case I hurt him worse.
He groaned and opened his eyes a crack. "I'm all right. I think." He winced as he raised one arm, then the other and wriggled his fingers. "Nothing's broken except my pride."
"Can you move? We should give these guys some space." I helped him to his feet. He staggered the few steps to the top of the stairs and sat down out of sight.
Just as he did, Leo and Dyson appeared from the corridor on the other side of the stairs.
"We found Kane." Dyson's voice broke on as he spoke his brother's name. "He's…"
My heart sank. The words choked my throat. "He can't be."
Dyson blinked. "Oh no, he's not dead. He has a broken arm and probably leg. We'll need some help to get him out of here."
I stared. "Later, remind me to sock you for scaring me like that."
Dyson gave me a half smile, half grimace. "Yeah, sorry."
"Mate, don't fuck with a lady's… Don't fuck with a lady." Leo clapped him on the back. "Or a chimera. Bloody hells, she's impressive. It must run in the family."
I smiled. "Probably."
My smile faded when I turned to see Lucinda pinned between two huge talons. Her face was pale, eyes wide with terror.
I felt nothing, not even a hint of sympathy for my egg donor.
"She's not a good person," Blake said.
"No, she's really not, but—" I winced and turned my face as Rebecca drove a talon right through one of Lucinda's eyes. Blood squirted out all over my sister and the carpet. In moments, the expensive pile was slick and red.
"Yuck," Leo groaned. "Have I mentioned I'm really not good with gore?"
"Yeah." I leaned away from Blake so I didn't get him when I vomited all over the floor. "Neither am I."
Rebecca shifted back into human form and fell to the ground, sobbing and rocking back and forth.
I hesitated for a moment, then wiped my mouth and went to crouch beside her. Slowly and tentatively, I put an arm around her. She was covered in blood, slick with it. I had to remind myself not to think too hard about whose it was.
"I'm sorry she did all of that to you." Truthfully, I suspected I hadn't scratched the surface of whatever "all of that" might entail. Maybe I never would.
"I've been wanting to do that for a long time," Rebecca whispered. Her face was so pale I thought she might be in shock. I couldn't blame her for that. I was pretty shocked myself.
"Yeah, I don't think you're alone in that."
"No, she's not." Nash was back in human form and wrapped in someone's jacket. I thought it might be Leo's. "The council is coming. They'll search the place and figure out what else was going on here." His expression was just this side of a thundercloud ready to burst.
"They're here," Matt's voice came from the stairs. He appeared with a grim look on his face to match Nash's. "They've been trying to find this place for some time." He took one look at Rebecca and pulled off his shirt to offer it to her.
I took it with a nod and wrapped the fabric around her shoulders. After a moment, she tugged it the rest of the way on. Blood soaked into the fabric, but at least she had some modesty.
I rose and moved closer to Matt so I could speak without Rebecca hearing. "My father is here somewhere too. He knew."
Matt gave a curt nod. "I'll let them know."
"Corinne is on our side," Blake said from his spot against the wall.
"We think," I said with a nod.
"She's been keeping the council apprised as best she could," Matt assured us. To me, he said, "There's someone downstairs to see you."
I nodded. "I think we'll need some help to get down. Some more than others."
Dyson and Leo carried Kane between them. His arm and leg were both at odd angles and I felt his pain through the bond now he was closer, but he was alive, thank the gods.
Nash and Matt helped Blake and Rebecca. I walked behind them, not touching, but near enough to know the other was there. We missed so much already. I hoped some day she'd be ready to handle having a crazy sister who had so many guys in her life. One day at a time on that score.
We passed a handful of what I assumed were representatives of the council. They were talking in low voices, several to women in various stages of pregnancy. Each woman had that haunted look in their eyes, but at least now they were free to raise their children without Zeta taking them and experimenting on them. That so easily could have been me. My heart went out to each of them. Doing their so-called duty took its toll. They would need a lot of support in the coming years.
"Peyton!" Another familiar voice greeted me when we stepped out the front door and Ariana threw herself into my arms.
"Ariana, why are you here?" I hugged her tightly.
"Hamish and I were on our way to school when we heard what your mother did. We might have followed Nash." She shot him a sweet smile.
He responded with a frown, but said nothing. What could he say? We all got out alive and more or less in one piece. Without my mother and with the help of the Paranormal Council, hopefully Zeta's breeding program was at an end.
I had a suspicion Zeta itself would go on in one evil form or another, but if they stopped trying to impregnate me against my will, I would appreciate it. I'd quite like a quiet life for a while. I had studies to finish, a job to find, and a life to make with my guys.
"I have great news, too," Ariana said. "Guess what?"
"You're crazy and I'm not?" I replied automatically. "Wait, we all know that isn't true."
Ariana grinned. "No, you're just as crazy as I am. But it's better than that. The Academy of Modern Magic has a new campus! It's up in the—"
I only half listened while we walked out to waiting cars. With any luck, the new campus would be safe for the rest of the school year and the years to come. Maybe I would teach there some day.
Nash slipped a hand in mine and drew me to him as we walked.
Matt took my other hand in his.
I sent them both thoughts of love through the bond. They sent it back. My heart was so full I thought it might burst. This was the best part about the future. The bit I was looking forward to the most. Spending time getting to know and love all my guys.
I don't know how I got so lucky, but I was going to spend the rest of my life enjoying every single second of it.
The end.
About the Author
Maggie Alabaster is the pen name of Australian author Mirren Hogan. Mirren lives in NSW, Australia with one spouse, two daughters, dog, cat, and countless birds.
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Also by Maggie Alabaster
City of Darkness
Book 1 Hunting Darkness
Academy of Modern Magic
Book 1 Digital Magic
Book 2 Virtual Magic
Book 3 Logical Magic
Summer’s Harem
Book 1: Shimmer
Book 2: Glimmer
Book 3: Flicker
Wild Magic
Jingle All the Way
Collections
Hearts of Darkness
Once Upon a Fairytale Night
Wicked Souls reverse harem collection
Also by Maggie Alabaster and Erin Yoshikawa
Caught by the Tide
Book 1–Pursued by Shadows
Book 2 Pursued by Darkness (coming soon)
Book 3 Pursued by Monsters (coming soon)
Also by Mirren Hogan
Crimson Magic
Book 1 Crimson Fire
Book 2 Crimson Fury
Book 3 Crimson Fate
The Dragonhall Chronicles
The Dragonwar Trilogy
The Dragonwar Trilogy complete
collection
Book 1 Dragonwar
Book 2 Dragonwings
Book 3 Dragonfall
The Reasoner Trilogy
The Reasoner Trilogy complete collection
Book 1 Dragonhaze
Book 2 Dragonstorm
Book 3 Dragonblood
The Chadanar Cycle
Child of Fire (novella)
Book 1 Daughter of Shadows
Book 2 Son of Solace
Book 3 Ashes of Chadanar
Stand alone
Night Witches
Stand alone with Erin Yoshikawa
Lesser of Two
Logical Magic (Academy of Modern Magic Book 3) Page 16