"I'm tired of fighting." He always thought it would be Aya leaving him in the end. She'd already set the precedent for it. Had she felt this way when she'd told him all those horrible lies? It seemed such a long time ago and so much had happened since then. "Aya, I will never love anyone else like I love you. But we can't do this." As the words left his mouth, he felt his heart breaking. "If this is what it does to me… What it does to you… Then we can't do this."
"You can't be serious," Aya exclaimed.
"I need to learn how to live on my own again. I relied on you to the point where I couldn't function without you. And you…"
"And I what?" She narrowed her eyes.
"This isn't you, either."
By the way her expression crumbled, she knew he was right.
"You were right when you said it was a dream," he sighed, looking away. Looking back, it often felt like their love had been the ultimate fantasy. They both wanted to feel that feeling for someone. Zac had always felt like he'd been waiting for something to break it apart. To wake up or feel a sharp pinch that told him it was just that, a dream. But now, here she was pleading with him not to leave. This dangerous thing would push them over the edge to their destruction. They had different paths to take.
"How can this be wrong?" She placed a hand over his heart. "After everything that we've been through, how could it be wrong?"
"We've hurt each other so much all in the name of love. You don't see anything wrong with that?"
"Zac, don't do this."
"Aya," he sighed, struggling with his words. "Without you I could never have found the path I was meant to take. I need to find the person I'm meant to be on my own. It was never wrong. Just the wrong time." It was ironic that now the tables had been turned, Aya couldn't let him go. They would never be even. "If you truly love me, then you'll let me go."
She let her hands drop limply from his face, her expression pained. Smiling at him sadly, he knew she understood. "I love you and I know you love me. I'll be here, no matter how long it takes."
"I can't ask you to wait for me."
Running a hand down his face she smiled. "You're closer than you think, Zachary Degaud."
Leaning in, he kissed her deeply, savoring the taste of her lips. Who knew when or if he'd be able to do this again. "Goodbye, Aya. We'll see each other again… someday."
As he walked out the door, he didn't look back. He couldn't.
Nye was waiting for him in the hallway, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. "I'm sorry, mate," he said, frowning.
"Save it, Nye," he snorted. "We've got work to do."
"Do you really think we can convince them?"
Turning, he looked at him pointedly, "Without a doubt."
"Then where do you want to start?"
Zac grinned, "The Tower."
EPILOGUE
Gabby sat in the darkness of the catacombs underneath Highgate Cemetery, her coat and scarf drawn tightly around her. The only light was from her cell phone, which she had open on a torch app, shining it onto Regulus' coffin. Enough time had passed since Aya had ended the Coven. How she knew was still a mystery to her, she'd had no contact with anyone since Zac and Nye had left her. There had been a build up of power, then nothing.
A simple phone call from Zac had confirmed it all.
Walking over to the coffin, she shuddered, knowing who was inside. There was no way he was waking up any time soon. Not without a little help, anyway. Opening the lid, she gazed down at Regulus' desiccated body. If Aya knew what she was doing, god, if Zac knew, she would be in a lot of trouble.
Suppressing a shiver of revulsion, she reached out towards the Roman and placed her palm over his heart. Or the deceptive pile of ash that was his heart. The glamour really was quite lifelike. If she didn't know it, she'd think the Roman was truly dead as well. His evil, black heart still sat intact in his chest and what she'd done made her gag. What she'd put Zac through… He had every right to be mad with her.
The Roman had brought her to London days ago. She'd undone the link when she was bidden and orchestrated Coraline's escape. When she knew Zac had been given her power, she cast the complicated glamour over Regulus. She'd had no choice in the matter. The lives of her family and friends had been threatened and she had no way of protecting them all.
If Regulus was going to make her play his games, then she would give as good as she had to take. Sending a sharp jolt of energy straight into his heart, his eyes snapped open and rolled slowly to meet hers. They were bloodshot and tinted a sickly grey color and very much alive.
Scowling at him, she pushed another burst of energy straight into his heart, this time not holding back. Let the bastard suffer, she thought.
Regulus sat up sharply, gasping for breath as life began to creep back into his body. "God, Gabrielle," he wheezed. "You could have been a little more gentle about it."
"Now, why would I do that?" she sneered, leaning against the wall.
"Because I could kill you right now," he spat and lifted his hand to grab her, but much to his surprise it stopped in midair.
Gabby cocked her head, "You were saying?"
He climbed out of the coffin, his jaw set. "I'm breathing again, so I take it Aeriaya did what she was meant to."
"The Coven is gone," she confirmed.
"Good. And what of the ritual?"
"They believe it was interrupted, but the priest Maximus and Coraline have gone to Brú na Bóinne to make sure."
"And the link?"
"Severed."
"Zachary is still alive."
"Yes."
"How heartwarming."
"Why do they need to think you're dead anyway? It doesn't make sense."
Regulus laughed. "I am the last Original Vampire. There are things only I can do."
"You went to a lot of effort to orchestrate your own death."
"It had to be believable."
"To who?"
"The Coven and in case they succeeded, to their little friend."
"Don't make me regret helping you, Regulus," she said sharply. "I want answers."
He snorted, leaning forward. "Gabrielle, there is a hell of a lot at stake here. I need all the people on my side I can get. I may be the only vampire alive that can stop this thing."
"What is it?"
"Everyone stupidly thinks it's the Original Witch. None of you have one iota of intelligence."
"What do you mean? It's not?"
"Let's just say that Aeriaya is not the only hybrid I've been hunting these past two thousand years."
Gabby's face paled and she swallowed hard. "What do you mean? There's another? A hybrid with what?"
Regulus smiled wryly, "Are you ready for a wild ride, Gabrielle? You better hope to god that the Coven didn't succeed."
"Why?"
"Because if they did? It will be the end of the fucking world as we know it."
OTHER BOOKS BY NICOLE R. TAYLOR
The Devil’s Tattoo (Devil’s Tattoo #1)
What Remains
The Witch Hunter Saga
The Witch Hunter (#1)
The Return (#2)
The Shadow’s Son (#3)
TITLES COMING SOON…
The Fire Walker (Devil’s Tattoo #2) (December 2013)
The Awakening (#4 in the Witch Hunter Saga) (early 2014)
Young Blood (A Witch Hunter Saga Novella) (2014)
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A LETTER TO ALL THE SAM AND LIZ FANS
You may have noticed that in the third book, The Shadow's Son, Sam and Liz have taken a back seat. The Witch Hunter Saga was always going to be a story about Aya, Zac and the Roman founders. Sam and Liz have their own story apart from all of their drama. They're worlds away from the action going on in London and Zac wants to keep it that way. The last thing he wanted was for his little brother to be dragged into another fight. After all, he left this time to keep them safe from Regulus.
In T
he Shadow's Son, we find out that Liz and Sam have moved to LA so Liz can go to college. But, there's still so much to their story that has yet to be told. How exactly did Liz become a vampire? Who turned her? That's why there will be another novel. Yes, that's right. Another novel. It will probably end up being a novella, but it will still tell their complete story in two parts. How they met. How the brothers first came to Ashburton. Their romance. Then; their new life in LA and an unexpected meeting.
When will this come out? Some time in 2014, after the fourth and final Witch Hunter Saga novel is released. As I write this, I have three novels scheduled to write before I can even think about beginning this one. But, don't worry. It will be launched with epic fanfare so you won't miss out.
Finally, thanks for sticking with the massive a-hole, Zac and letting him have his chance at redemption. He does some pretty stupid things, but he's getting there.
Nicole R. Taylor
PS: And for you Alex fans, don't worry. We'll see him again in the fourth book and he'll get his time to shine. I love him just as much as you do and will be glad to see him return.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicole R. Taylor is a paranormal, urban fantasy and contemporary fiction author from country Victoria, Australia.
Previously, she has written for various small street press music and entertainment publications as a gig and album reviewer before publishing her first Urban Fantasy novel in early 2013.
When she isn't writing, Nicole likes to spend time curled up with a good book and her 3 year old rescue cat, Burger. She gets itchy feet more often than not and has lived in three countries and travelled to three times as many.
Learn more about her writing at:
www.nicolertaylorwrites.com
You can also find her across social media:
Twitter
Facebook
GoodReads
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I have seen empires crumble and kings and queens fall.
I have seen mountains of fire and the bowels of the earth as it was ripped asunder. I have seen plagues of death claim good along with evil. I have seen war and strife take men, women and children. I have seen the earth decimated by nature and by man. I have seen the blood of your ancestors run through my fingers.
I have died a thousand deaths and lived a thousand lives. I have been called countless names, but only one has followed me from my tormented birth.
I am the devourer of worlds.
Take a deep breath, my friend, because it will be your last.
Are you afraid?
You will be.
the AWAKENING
Book 4 in the Witch Hunter Saga
Coming early 2014…
The Shadow's Son (The Witch Hunter Saga) Page 26