Alec shook his head, his mouth parted in surprise. Somehow their enemies were taken out all at the same time. He jerked his head back toward the black bubble. The women were gone. The charred godson remained intact. He raised the now black stone in his hand and whispered something. The stone burst into a million pieces like a glass sphere struck by a hammer. The bubble exploded in a thunderous clap, knocking down the surviving hybrids and townsfolk.
With ringing ears, Alec stared up at the blue sky above. A dark shadowy humanoid form emerged from the ash in the sky. For a brief second, he was certain it looked at him before swirling away into nothingness.
“Shit,” he muttered.
Chapter Nineteen
Hope rolled over in bed and looked over at Alec. She touched the spot where he had been shot. The formerly deadly wound was now just a small dot on his otherwise unmarred chest. It still amazed her that the stone could do such amazing things while also being responsible for such horrors.
Her thoughts returned to the aftermath of the battle. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours, and there was no evidence left on the battlefield. The wind had already swept away the ash from the disintegrated Azilians and godsons. Anassa was gone, leaving only Vestals and hybrids in the compound. Everything had been quiet all around.
Hope shivered a little. After what they had seen, quiet could just mean the calm before the storm. There was always something else to follow.
“You should be resting,” Alec mumbled softly.
Hope looked up from his perfect chest and found two beautiful blue eyes staring back at her. No matter what else happened, she had her perfect man to protect her.
“I’m not the one that was shot,” Hope huffed.
A slow, lazy smile spread across Alec’s face, and despite everything that had happened, Hope still felt her heart flutter at the sight. He rolled over and pressed his body close to hers, pulling her tight against his bare warm chest.
“No, you’re the person who healed someone who was shot,” he replied.
Hope blushed. Really, she hadn’t done it. The stone had. She had just known that it could help.
“It’s gone now,” Hope said softly. “They all are.”
The words were more for herself than him. It was strange to think that all she had been living for this past year was now gone. Without Anassa, the Azilians no longer existed. She wasn’t exactly sure just what the next step was.
“Marry me,” Alec said softly.
Hope snapped her head back to stare at him. Had he really just asked that?
“I spoke with Rem already,” Alex said. “Frank can make it official. We can make it a double wedding with Joran and Nicole. I want to be together with you every way I possibly can.”
Hope opened her mouth and closed it. This was the sort of thing everyone in life warned about, jumping in feet first to a new relationship and then getting married. Yet every part of her knew there wouldn’t be another man for her. Alec was it. Her soulmate. She had never really been so certain about fate and if it was real, but looking at him, she was certain it was. There was nothing else that could pull them together from across time like this. Every part of her called to him.
“Yes,” Hope said. “I’ll marry you.”
Alec smiled brightly before pulling her into a searing kiss. Their mouths moved in unison as if they practiced it. Hope moaned. He shifted until he was half on top of her. When Alec pulled back, she frowned up at him. He leaned forward and placed his head against her forehead.
“Why are you stopping?”
“Company,” Alec huffed. He opened his blazing blue eyes. “We’ll finish this later.”
Hope licked her lips. She could only be so lucky to finish it later. Over and over again.
Alec slid back over to his side of the bed. Hope sat up and tried to make herself presentable. At least it was just a nap for her, and she was still mostly dressed. She wasn’t even certain what time it was since they were back in her apartment underground.
Hope knew hybrid hearing was good, but it still always surprised her just how much they could hear. It didn’t matter that she’d spent so much time around them recently. She wasn’t sure if she would ever get used to their superhuman abilities.
She rubbed her stomach thinking about her sweet child. She could only hope she was just as amazing. When she turned, she caught Alec watching her and couldn’t stop her smile at how happy he seemed. Regardless of everything else, they were a family and had each other. That was all they really needed.
“Come in,” Alec called out.
Rem stepped into the room followed closely by Magnus. Alec wasn’t at all surprised to see them both after everything that had happened.
“How’s Jenna?” Hope asked quickly.
Rem gave a small nod. “Resting,” he said softly. “I can’t thank you enough for all you did for her. For all of us.”
Hope shook her head. Alec was certain she had no clue just how amazing she was during the battle. Over and over, she kept giving the stone all the credit, but in less skilled hands, it would have been useless.
“I’m just glad everyone is safe,” Hope said. “Most everyone is safe.”
Alec knew she was thinking about what happened to the others in the battle. It still seemed so strange.
“We think it was a sacrifice,” Magnus said, breaking his silence.
Alec looked up, started. They had seen Anassa sacrifice people to the stone before, but nothing on that scale. It would certainly make sense, but why?
“Do you think it worked?” Hope asked, her voice trembling.
He understood her fear. They had both seen the shadowy figure that came from the ash.
Rem didn’t answer, and Alec wondered just what his leader was thinking. If Erebus was free, none of them knew exactly what that meant. Maybe it wouldn’t mean anything at all. Evil gods might have something more important to do than harass small towns in rural Washington.
“I never got to congratulate you on your pregnancy.” Rem smiled at Hope.
It was clear that whatever was going on, Rem didn’t plan on showing his cards quite yet. Everyone had learned to expect that from him, and they knew he would do what was right. He was a good leader, and his attention to details is what made them so certain of his leadership.
“Thank you.” Hope blushed.
“Frank and the townspeople who stayed have been trying to help with the injured,” Magnus said. “Doesn’t look like there were any deaths on our side, but there were more than a few hurt, including hybrids.”
It wasn’t a surprise. They knew there could wounded considering just who they were going up against. Although Alec imagined a majority of the injuries came from the Glycons given their sheer numbers. That had been another curveball they hadn’t been expecting. The Azilians had sacrificed themselves for Anassa.
“So what do we do now?” Alec asked.
Rem shrugged. It seemed like such a nonchalant response after everything that had happened.
“We start living,” he said simply. “Anassa and Agatha are gone. Maybe we make a real home here. Not just some cabins in the woods, but a real town. I don’t think anyone is going to be coming back after everything.”
Rem was right. Most of the townsfolk had just loaded up and left. The hybrids and Vestals could make this their home. Based on the news and what Agatha had said, the Horatius Group wasn’t a threat anymore.
Rem stepped forward and placed a hand on Alec’s shoulder. “Nothing has to be decided today. Get some rest, and let’s focus on the good. A wedding and a child are always something to celebrate.”
Alec nodded. His whole body warmed at the prospect of what was to come. A whole new life. For a moment his eyes caught Rem staring darkly into the distance, and he wondered just what the other hybrid was thinking. Things still weren’t resolved. They knew that. Maybe it was easier to just keep moving forward though. It was what they had always done. Hybrids weren’t that different than humans in that regard.
>
“Let’s give these two a little time alone.” Rem nodded to Alec and winked. “I believe they have their own celebrating to do.”
Alec snorted as the men closed the door to the bedroom and made their way out of the apartment. He leaned back and sighed as Hope nestled into his side, her hand sprawled out over his chest.
“Will it really be okay?” she asked.
Alec reached out and linked his fingers with hers still on his chest. He rubbed his thumb over her hand. “We have each other.” He wrapped his other arm around her until it rested on her stomach. “I will protect you both no matter what comes our way. Together, we can’t lose.”
Hope nestled against him and placed a soft kiss against his chest. “All my life I’ve spent running from anything that might make me feel. I don’t want to run anymore. I want to share everything I have with you and our child. We will make the life we both wanted.”
She tilted her head back and Alec leaned down to kiss her sweet lips.
He grinned and leaned back to stare at her sleepy face. “So…” He winked at her. “Rem’s right. How about we do a little celebrating?”
Hope squealed, and he knew it wouldn’t be long before he had her moaning beneath him. He’d always be eternally grateful to whatever force had brought them together.
A Note from Madison
Thank you for reading Alec. If you enjoyed this book, please consider reviewing it. We authors live and die by reviews.
Please keep an eye out for the final book in the series, Rem.
You can join my mailing list at http://eepurl.com/OX9r5
ALSO BY MADISON STEVENS
Luna Lodge: Hunters of Atlas (Paranormal Romance)
Magnus (Hunters #1)
Nero (Hunters #2)
Lucas (Hunters #3)
Sergius (Hunters #4)
Marcus (Hunters #5)
Jace (Hunters #6)
Quintus (Hunters #7)
Atticus (Hunters #8)
Vitus (Hunters #9)
Joran (Hunters #10)
Luna Lodge
Sol (Luna Lodge #1)
Titus (Luna Lodge #2)
Lucius (Luna Lodge #3)
Marius (Luna Lodge #4)
Apollo (Luna Lodge #5)
Apollo and Val (Luna Lodge #5.5)
Remus (Luna Lodge #6)
Justus (Luna Lodge #7)
Zeno (Luna Lodge #8)
Varius (Luna Lodge #9)
Servius (Luna Lodge #10)
Cyrus (Luna Lodge #11)
Kyros (Luna Lodge #12)
Cato (Luna Lodge #13)
Lucan (Luna Lodge #14)
Rollo (Luna Lodge #15)
Nikon (Luna Lodge #16)
Tycho (Luna Lodge #17)
Berserk Series
Dog Fight (Berserk #1)
Devil’s Den (with Willow Hazel)
Caleb (Devil’s Den #1)
Malcolm (Devil’s Den #2)
Shadow Series
Shadow’s Embrace (Paranormal Romance)
Allen Securities (Romantic Suspense)
Reed (Allen Securities #1)
Kace (Allen Securities #2)
Liam (Allen Securities #3)
Ryder (Allen Securities #4)
Cage (Allen Securities #5)
Mason (Allen Securities #6)
Zane (Allen Securities #7)
Bryce (Allen Securities #8)
Kelly Clan (Romantic Suspense)
Finn (Kelly Clan #1)
Conor (Kelly Clan #2)
Noel (Kelly Clan #3)
Riley (Kelly Clan #4)
Braden (Kelly Clan #5)
Davin (Kelly Clan #6)
Special Forces (Romantic Suspense)
Trent (Special Forces #1)
Johnny (Special Forces #2)
Road House (Contemporary Short Stories)
Letting Go (Road House #1)
Holding On (Road House #2)
Standing By (Road House #3)
Privileged (New Adult Romance)
Privileged (Privileged #1)
Elite (Privileged #2)
Author Bio
Madison currently lives with her husband and two children in the Valley of the Sun in Arizona. After leaving the frozen tundra of the north, she was more surprised than anyone with how much she has enjoyed living in the desert. Seeing as she stated on more than one occasion before moving to Arizona how much she hated heat, it was an odd move, but it seems her hatred for sub-zero temperatures and ice has won out in the end.
When she’s not writing, she’s enjoying time with her family. Madison and her family frequent festivals in the area, as well as local cultural events, and spend time with family in the area. In the summer, she is most likely to be found in the pool with the family and in the winter by the fireplace. Since both her children are autistic, days can be a little chaotic, but with her husband beside her, there’s nothing she can’t handle.
She can be contacted at [email protected] or reached at her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/madisonstevensauthor/
Alec: #11 (Luna Lodge: Hunters of Atlas) Page 10