Merry Ever After

by Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward, Lucy Score, Marie Force, Tijan, Kennedy Ryan

  I frowned.

  It was, well, a he-she. He was male, but he was also female, and they smiled at me.

  “I am you, Shay.”

  “Me?”

  They nodded, such kindness coming from them. “We are you. We are your messenger spirit. You have extracted us to defend yourself against a part of your soulmate’s darkness.

  “It’ll be fine. We are stronger than your soulmate’s darkness—at least this one that got loose from him. As we are speaking, he is binding his darkness back to himself. You are helping him. We are helping him, because he didn’t know this could happen. We are instructing him.

  I felt a pinch in my chest.

  “That’s the binding. It is coming into your soul bond. There’s no other way.”

  “What’s happening exactly?” I asked.

  “Your mate has neglected his darkness for too long, but it’s a part of him. He’s tried to live among the humans as you do. It is hard on him. A portion of him suffers, and he’s begun to unravel on the inside. His father felt it happening, took advantage, and helped move forward more unraveling. Your mate’s darkness can do the father’s bidding, and that bidding is to destroy you. With you gone, he’ll get his son back, but he’s not aware of the ramifications if that ever happens.”

  I swallowed hard. That didn’t sound good. “What are those ramifications?”

  “Total destruction of the universe.”

  Oh…okay then.

  “Your bond is woven too deep. If you were to be extinguished, Kellan’s pain would be too much. He wouldn’t return to his father, as is assumed. He would destroy everything. The pain would be intolerable, and yes, your soulmate is powerful enough to bring about the destruction of the universe. His power would be unmatched, except by a few.”

  “I didn’t know Kellan was that powerful.”

  “He’s a full demon, but he grows more powerful the longer he is bound to you. He has woven your bond so tightly that if you were ever killed, he would take all of your power. You both have pockets of strength that neither of you is aware of. He would seek those pockets and empty them. It would be enough to end the universe.”

  My head swam with all this information, and the figure broke off into two parts. One female. The other male. The male stepped forward, and both spoke out loud at the same time. “We are both you: the feminine and the masculine. We are your pure goodness and your celestial spirit. We are here to guide you, instruct you, and protect you. We are you, but we are your human guides as well. We are all-knowing. The binding is almost done. We will join with you again, but to prevent this from happening again, your soulmate must be allowed to be himself. To deny oneself is to starve oneself. The universe survives on both sides of the pendulum. Each side needs to fulfill its destiny.”

  “What does that mean...?” I trailed off.

  There was another flash of light and a sudden burst of wind. It came at me all at once. I felt like a part of me had been stretched thin to stand apart, and now I was whole again.

  I opened my eyes, finding myself once again in the backyard of Damien’s fraternity house, but it wasn’t Kellan staring at me. Or at least, it wasn’t the Kellan I knew.

  Panic lurched up in me, seizing my throat. “What just happened?”

  A DOUBLY EVIL KELLAN

  I raced against time, chasing after myself, after Shay, and then time stopped.

  He’d made a lunge for her, intent on shredding her from the inside out, when she threw up a hand, and everything paused.

  I fell back, feeling the force of her power as it seeped into me—both of me—and a pure essence materialized. It was Shay’s soul. I was held immobile. My other self was held paralyzed, and a needle appeared, much like the scythe that had appeared to me in the Underworld. Glowing light from Shay’s essence began to weave the separated thread into me, her light helping to infuse it.

  It burned into my soul as the needle moved in and out. In and out.

  This wasn’t entirely Shay, but it was her, joining the separation back to me with herself attached. The pain of her essence helped return that thread to me, not by its own spirit, but with her power infused.

  It was painful, like surgery without anesthesia, but in the end, this extra power from her seeped into my being. I couldn’t explain it, but I had so much power, I was engulfed in it. It was everywhere. In me. Behind me. In front of me. Above. Beneath.

  It stretched as far as the world I could see, and I saw it all.

  It was all within my grasp. I could reach out and take it—that easy.

  But I knew that wasn’t the truth. It was just a feeling, the false sensation of being the ruler over all kingdoms, my father’s included. It was intoxicating and heady, but I knew there was a caveat. Every cell in my being wanted to seize it, take it, control it, and do what I wanted with it.

  But I did nothing, and after a moment, time slowly restarted again.

  I returned to where we’d been, and everything was the same.

  Except it wasn’t.

  I was different. I was more.

  I looked, and Shay was there. She was more too.

  There was an otherworldly glow to her, and I felt it inside of me, too. I was the mirror to her. The opposite of whatever she was, but we were connected, and we needed each other. If we didn’t have the other, there would be complete and utter destruction.

  I didn’t understand it, but I knew it.

  I breathed it, and it was there.

  I needed her to ground me as if I were a human who needed air.

  I started for her, and she cocked her head to the side.

  “You’re different.”

  Her words echoed inside my heart chamber.

  It was a jolt, but it felt like a purring sensation. A caress. I liked it.

  I moved closer. “So are you.”

  I reached for her, feeling her inside, but needing to feel her on the outside.

  There was a cough next to us.

  Right.

  We hadn’t been alone when this happened, and we weren’t alone now.

  We blinked, almost as one. I could see out of Shay’s eyes, and I knew she could see through mine.

  Damien’s eyebrows almost touched his hairline. A crowd of Damien’s fraternity brothers and their friends from the party gaped at us. Except for two. One guy was funneling a beer. A girl was imagining me naked. Those two were fine.

  Damien closed his eyes. “How the hell is this going to be explained?”

  Suddenly Christmas music filled the air, coming from the second floor of the house, and everyone turned to look. Crowman appeared, a hose in hand, and he waved it from side to side. Fake snow rained down on everyone.

  “Merry Christmas, bitches!” he yelled. “Welcome to the Alpha Mu house, where our live entertainment is out of this world. You ain’t getting this from any other house. Now, everyone, get drunk and pretend we’re all slutty Christmas angels together.”

  There was a pause.

  Then a smattering of laughs.

  A girl sighed. “Oh, thank God it was all a show. I thought I was on a seriously bad trip for a minute.”

  “You and me both, girl.”

  More awkward and relieved laughing sprinkled through the crowd, and slowly, one by one, they moved back inside, leaving just Damien, Shay, and myself in the yard.

  Crowman turned off the fake snow and propped the hose on his shoulder. He lifted a foot to rest on the deck railing in front of him. He shook his head, staring down at us. “I’d like to request that you two don’t attend our next holiday party. I can only handle learning that humans aren’t alone in this world so many times. I keep hoping I’ll forget, but you’re making that shit hard.”

  He disappeared inside.

  “What the fuck happened?” Damien asked. “You both look seriously weird. It’s like you’re glowing with neon light, like a backdrop behind yourself. It’s freaking me out, and I’m not human. That shouldn’t freak me out.” He held his hands up, backing toward
the house. “Do me a favor. This time, I don’t want to know. I want to pretend I’m only a fraternity brother tonight.”

  With that, he turned around and went inside.

  The music went up a few notches.

  Shay almost floated to me.

  I looked down, but her feet were there.

  She seemed less human than she had before. And I certainly didn’t know what I was anymore.

  She gave me a serene and loving smile, placing a hand on my cheek. “It’s a Christmas miracle.”

  “That it is.” I chuckled.

  We both knew that wasn’t the truth.

  But at this moment, I was just relieved the prophecy hadn’t been a prophecy.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” she said, drawing me close. “Let’s figure it out tomorrow.”

  I groaned. “I’m down for that.”

  CHRISTMAS, NOT MY FAVORITE

  KELLAN

  These humans. Such simpletons.

  They brought trees into their living rooms and put up lights. They sang the same songs every year, most of them sacrilegious—about altars and sacrifices made.

  Demons are the better species. We’re simple. We give in and enjoy and relish in our pleasures—

  “Kellan?”

  “Yes, dear?” I turned, my drink in hand.

  A slight smile turned up the corners of Shay’s mouth when she saw my drink. “I see you’re enjoying the festivities.”

  “What?” I looked down.

  It was a red drink, garnished with some mint leaves and a red and white candy cane hanging off the end. I shifted, my chest slightly tight. I blamed my soulmate’s pure joy in attending these parties for that. She’d insisted we follow the dress code, so I was in all cream. I’m a demon. Dark grey was my favorite.

  Shay pressed into me, her hand touching my chest and her arm circling behind. Her eyes grew soft, and she tilted her head back. That smile softened as well, matching the glow on her face. The glow that I put there. You know...on account of my amazing skills in bed.

  Yes. I was confident in my prowess in bed.

  All conceited thoughts aside, I took a moment to enjoy the feeling of Shay against me.

  She loved these humans, this world.

  It wasn’t my first choice. She was my first choice. Always would be, no matter who appeared against us, what battle was on the forefront. It was always Shay.

  We were at one of her college friends’ parties. We had another to attend after this, one of her professors. And tomorrow we’d travel with Damien to see their family for the holiday break.

  Since what happened the other night, Shay and I had a talk. I was to indulge periodically in my deeper bases of death and destruction—but no humans. That was Shay’s stipulation.

  So, on my holiday break, I’d be killing demons.

  I was salivating already, thinking about it.

  It would kill two birds with one stone—satisfying my demon instincts and also making me an even bigger pain in my father’s ass. He’d messed with me. He’d tried to take Shay from me. In my eyes, the war was on.

  My first move: to kill as many of his henchmen as I could.

  It was my Christmas gift to myself, and Shay was on board.

  But for now, we were here, and my job was to make her happy.

  I ran a finger under her chin, tipping her head back to meet my gaze. As her eyes caught and held mine, and as I felt the punch I always did when we connected, I smiled down at her. “Happy?”

  She melted into me, her eyes sparkling. “Amazingly so.”

  “Good.” I dropped my head down, my mouth finding hers, and I counted the minutes until I could whisk her away. In the meantime, I’d satisfy myself by enjoying her mouth, no matter where we were.

  I was a demon. I didn’t give a fuck.

  STILL KELLAN

  Between you and me, I’m looking forward to the next holiday adventure.

  I’m figuring it’ll be Easter.

  I hope you enjoyed Kellan and Shay’s adventures.

  Read Evil to learn their initial love story.

  If you’d like to grab their Halloween scene, here it is: https://BookHip.com/NSWMKLA

  www.tijansbooks.com

  Insta: @tijansbooks

  Reader group: FB Tijan’s Crew

  Paranormal Standalone:

  Evil

  Micaela’s Big Bad

  Paranormal series:

  Davy Harwood Series (paranormal)

  Mafia Standalones:

  Cole

  Bennett Mafia

  Jonah Bennett

  Frisco

  Fallen Crest/Roussou Universe

  Fallen Crest Series

  Crew Series

  The Boy I Grew Up With (standalone)

  Rich Prick (standalone)

  Nate

  Other series:

  Broken and Screwed Series (YA/NA)

  Jaded Series (YA/NA suspense)

  Carter Reed Series (mafia)

  The Insiders (trilogy)

  Sports Romance Standalones:

  Enemies

  Teardrop Shot

  Hate To Love You

  The Not-Outcast

  Young Adult Standalones:

  Ryan’s Bed

  A Whole New Crowd

  Brady Remington Landed Me in Jail

  College Standalones:

  Antistepbrother

  Kian

  Contemporary Romances:

  Bad Boy Brody

  Home Tears

  Fighter

  Rockstar Romance Standalone:

  Sustain

  More books to come!

  For our five-year wedding anniversary, my husband decides he wants another woman.

  The traditional gift is wood, but okay.

  After trying everything with little improvement, our marriage counselor suggests we experiment to reignite our sex life. A swing party is my husband’s adventure of choice.

  Once inside, I can’t go through with it. Seeing him walk off with someone else, I realize we want very different things. Our marriage is over, and I have no intention of having a random hook up with a stranger.

  But then away from the noise and revelry, I find him.

  It’s one illicit encounter. A night with no names and no inhibitions.

  I don’t hold back, knowing I’ll never see him again.

  And I don’t…until my parents’ Christmas party.

  Sinclaire

  Tonight I’ll sleep with someone who is not my husband.

  Wood is the traditional five-year anniversary gift, but my bridegroom wanted a swing party. No accounting for taste.

  “You sure you want to do this?” Trey asks.

  The concern in his words doesn’t disguise his excitement. It’s the most life I’ve seen in his eyes in a long time. I try to ignore the sting of hurt that it’s for some random woman he doesn’t even know, not for me.

  “I don’t know that want to do this is exactly accurate.” I swallow the nausea and anxiety back down to the recesses of my belly. “But I want us to work, and if you think trying something like this may save our marriage, I’m willing to try.”

  “Remember Dr. Casanov suggested it,” he rushes to say, obviously not wanting to take full responsibility for his desires. I don’t point out that he brought it up, and she said it might be a good idea. Next thing I knew, Trey was suggesting this swing party he’d found on some app or forum.

  Which brings us here. Parked in front of what looks like a perfectly normal house in a perfectly typical suburb. Trash bins kiss the curbs, awaiting pick up. A man walking his Doberman sports a fluorescent vest with night reflectors and trails his pet with a pooper scooper. The house next door has a Yard of the Month sign planted in the grass. Suburbia at its most unsuspecting.

  “This place is huge,” I say, taking in the sprawling traditional house at the end of the driveaway.

  “Six bedrooms.” There’s a note of eagerness in Trey’s voice
when he opens the car door and gets out. He starts toward the house, not pausing to make sure I’m following. Not that I’m necessary for the fun he’s planning to have tonight.

  I get out and, using my fob, lock the car he didn’t bother alarming. Lagging several steps behind, I climb the steep hill with cinderblock shoes.

  Why the hell did I agree to do this?

  I’m getting cold feet in my cinderblock shoes and seriously considering sprinting back to the car, when the door decorated with an autumn-themed wreath opens. A tall man fills the doorway, his dark hair shiny under the lights cast from the porch and the foyer inside.

  “Welcome!” His greeting is effusive and, knowing about tonight’s swap meet, makes me clutch my coat at the neck. Ridiculous. The man won’t pounce on me. I saw the “rules” for the night, and it’s all very respectful, actually. There must be consent and no one will ever be forced to do anything they don’t want to do. No protection, no action, so condoms for all. Watching is fair play. If I decide I can’t go through with this (and that’s feeling like a strong possibility), I can choose to watch.

  Watch what? My husband give someone else pleasure when I can’t remember the last time he gave me any? Worse comes to worst, I’ll find some unoccupied corner and wait. When Trey first proposed this, though I was disconcerted, I’ll admit there was something adventurous about it. Now it just feels weird and wrong and like something I’m not sure we’ll be able to come back from. Not because I think it’s wrong for couples who want it, but because he wants this and I don’t. It never occurred to me, but apparently the idea of having sex with someone else had been living rent-free in my husband’s head given the quickness of his suggestion and finding this party in record time.

  ‘I’m Carl,” the man says, gesturing for us to come in. “Nice to meet you.”

  Trey enters, pep in his step. I hesitate on the threshold, feeling like it’s not just a new home I’m entering, but the portal to something inevitable and irreversible. I was too nervous all day to eat, so there’s little in my stomach, but what is there threatens to come back up.