I held his gaze. “I struggled with it, to be honest. And yet, I love medicine. I’m not going to give that up. But I love magic too.”
A flush of warmth worked through me. It was strange for me to admit that, and yet it was true. I had struggled with it at first, but the more I thought about, the more certain I was I did love both. Kate might not have been able to balance them both, but there was no reason I couldn’t. I wasn’t Death. I wasn’t even a full mage. And now I knew what I was and how my magic worked, and now we had finally stopped the Shara, I thought I might be able to have a role in helping to pull the organization into a tighter alliance with the councils. With Barden’s help, we might put an end to all of this.
“Well, I guess you managed well enough without any magic for a while.”
I smiled at him. “You’re not going to break up with me?”
“Break up with you? I was willing to come here – wherever here is – because I care about you. I love you, Jen.”
I couldn’t help it. Tears streamed down my face, and I reached for Brad, pulling him close, wrapping my arms around him. I hugged him for a long time before releasing him and sitting on the stone next to him.
“What now?” he asked.
“Well, now we have to get back out of here.”
“Where is here, anyway?”
I hesitated. “I’m not sure you’re going to believe it.”
“Now you aren’t sure if I’m going to believe something?”
I grinned to myself, and then to him. I would tell him everything, no matter how strange it sounded. “We’re in an abandoned shifter den. And we are partially across the Veil. And we are near Crater Lake.”
He blinked a few times, and the corners of his eyes twitched. I wondered what he might say, and what came out wasn’t what I expected. “Crater Lake? I’ve always wanted to visit.” He looked around, frowning deeply. “This doesn’t look quite like I was expecting.”
“I can show you a better view.”
I took his hand, and we walked. When I passed Matt, Barden was there, glaring at him. There was power building from him, and he nodded to Brad and then me. The other shifters circled the Shara. I didn’t have to worry about them escaping this time. They might have managed to take the shifters by surprise once, but I doubted they would do so again. And now they were captured. Trapped. I would let the councils, along with the shifters and the alphas, and perhaps even the vampires, decide what to do about them.
As we reached the stones marking the boundary to the den, I found Charles. He was sitting on the stones, staring outward.
“Charles?”
“Dr. Stone. It seems we succeeded.”
“We have. I guess you are going to get back to Jean-Pierre.”
“Eventually.”
“Thank you for your help.”
“I am pleased I was able to be of assistance. If they had succeeded…” He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “I don’t want to think about what would’ve happened if they had succeeded.”
“Is it really so bad?”
“Previously, we almost experienced a war between the fae, but that was thwarted. But if the Great Ones were released, it would’ve been a thousand times worse.”
“Well… thanks for your help.”
“I believe you did the heavy lifting.”
“I would like to learn more about the runes.”
“I think you would be an excellent student.”
“Would you teach me?”
“I have a few tasks I must still do, but then I will find you.”
We headed off, and when we had put in space between us, Brad looked over at me. “What was that about?”
“Continuing my education.”
“Who is he?”
“I don’t know. He’s either a student of Odian… or he is Odian.”
As often as Charles had said it, and given the nature of his knowledge, I wasn’t even sure. But the more I thought about it, the more uncertain I was it even mattered. All that mattered was that we had succeeded.
We reached the edge of the lake, still holding hands, and then we stood there, looking outward. The moon reflected off the water, bright and full. It was beautiful. Brad slipped his arm around me, pulling me close, and I rested my head on his shoulder.
“I didn’t tell you, Brad, but I love you too.”
He squeezed me closer, pulling me around to wrap me in his arms.
I smiled.
Thanks so much for sticking with me for Jen’s story! Her story really begins with Kate in the Medicine and Magic series, but she definitely deserved a series of her own.
Her story might be over (for now) but there will be more in this world. I hope you’ll stick with me for those stories!
If you haven’t signed up already, subscribe to my newsletter and you’ll be the first to hear about news and new releases.
Have you read the other series in this world?
Flatline: Book 1 of Medicine and Magic. You’ll find Kate’s story here.
Taker of Spells: Book 1 of The Tattered Veil. A story of the fae, with some vampires and shifters mixed in.
Author’s Note
Thank you so much for reading End Stage. I’ve really enjoyed writing Jen and her magical adventures and hope you’ve enjoyed reading about her.
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Cheers,
SA Magnusson
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Also by SA Magnusson
Medicine and Magic
Flatline
Postmortem
Malignant Magic
Hemorrhage
Anaphylaxis
Paralyzed
Hedge Mage and Medicine
Frost Bite
Open Fracture
Heat Stroke
Lost Cause
End Stage
The Tattered Veil
Taker of Spells
The Silver Chalice
Wand of Despair
Neutral Ground
Shadow Heir
End Stage Page 20