by Dark, Raven
I nodded numbly. Exhaustion suddenly took hold, and I had to lean back on the throne. Drawing all that power must have sapped my strength; my limbs felt heavy.
“Kitten.”
I lifted my head a little. Hawk strode across the floor to me. Tabir left us with a nod. Hawk knelt in front of the throne, gently pulling me to a sitting position. His palms rubbed my arms, massaging in more of the warmth from Tabir’s cloak.
“Are you all right, Kitten?”
The warmth of his voice seeped into me, wrapping around me. Letting me know I was safe.
Safe.
Relief, shock, horror, and what seemed like a hundred other emotions stormed through my mind, all threatening to shatter my heart. My gaze snagged on Julian’s headless corpse.
I’d done that. I’d killed him.
My eyes stung. I covered my mouth, but it didn’t smother the sob that bubbled up. I shook my head at him. I was miles from okay right now.
Hawk pulled me against him, folding me in his arms, holding me tight, as if he’d never let me go. I clutched him to me, my body shaking with huge, choking sobs.
I cried because of what I’d done, what I’d pretended to do. Because I knew Hawk understood, and that he didn’t hate me for what I’d done to him and the others.
And because the calamity and danger and death that had been following us for months was finally over.
He crooned in my ear, his big hands massaging my back in soothing circles. I had no idea what he’d said, and it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that Julian was gone, Hawk was holding me, and everyone I cared about was alive.
In a haze of relief and exhaustion, darkness took me.
* * *
When I woke up, all I could think of was my Four. Feeling them near but too tired to open my eyes, I reached out.
“You all right, sweetheart?” Guilt twisted in my gut at the tenderness in Sheriff voice.
I opened my eyes. I was lying in a massive bed in Julian’s crystal palace, I knew, but his presence was no longer there. He was truly gone.
Around me, my men gathered. I smiled, still weak from all that had gone on. I still had a long way to go before I’d be fully recovered, especially with the three lives I now carried. As soon as the thought came, I was fully alert. My men still didn’t know.
“Masters, I’m sorry. Please try to understand, when I left last week, I—”
Next to me, Hawk lifted his hand, putting his fingers gently to my mouth. “We’re good, Kitten. We get it.”
“Under the circumstances, I think we can give you a pass.” Sheriff squeezed my hand. “My little hero.”
This time, the words carried far more respect than irritation.
Pretty Boy stepped up to the bed and bent, kissing my lips. “When we get back to the Grotto, you’re never setting foot outside of it again. He smirked.
“Fine with me.” I gave him a goofy smile. But then I frowned, noticing the bruise on his jaw. From where I’d hit him. I swallowed. “Pretty Boy. Maker, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what else to do. I had to make him think I hated you.”
His serious expression broke into a smile and he rolled his eyes. “You’re forgiven, Princess. I love you.”
Sheriff chuckled.
“I love you, Masters. I need you to know that.”
“We know, sweetheart. You had me going there when you had that sword in your hand, but I get it. You were fucking brilliant.”
“And where’s my love’in?”
I looked at the foot of the bed. Steel stood there with his huge arms crossed over his chest.
“Steel, come over here, husband.” I reached for him.
He laughed and came to my side, scooting Pretty Boy out of the way. Kissing my forehead, he wrapped his huge hand around mine, “You okay?”
I nodded. “You forgive me?”
“Yes.” He leaned over me. “But if you ever leave me like that again, wife, I’ll paddle your ass until you scream.”
“I won’t.”
His lips crushed mine, hot and possessive, and I devoured the kiss.
When he drew back, I looked at my Four. “I will never leave again. Especially now that I’m carrying your children.” For the first time since I’d found out I was pregnant, I was able to let excitement bubble in my belly.
My words were met with four pairs of wide eyes.
Maker, I loved these men.
Within seconds, Steel kissed me soundly all over again, and whoops and happy curses abounded.
Now that’s more like it.
* * *
Slowly I recovered my energy enough in the next twenty-four hours to see the aftermath of Julian’s evil.
The men had filled me in on everything that had gone down since my five Sisters and I had left their camp more than a week ago. The MCs that had joined the fight, the surprise meet-up with the Devil’s Breath Chapter. It would take me months to fully process what all these men, friends, and strangers had done for this cause.
The following afternoon, I looked up at Hawk as we paused from helping Doc with restocking his medical supplies.
“Master, how did everyone get things cleaned up so fast?”
“It helps when you have fifteen or so extra pairs of hands to help,” a familiar amused voice said from behind us.
I turned and saw a friendly, familiar Yantu.
Savek!
“Castle’s all clear, Hawk,” Savak said, coming over to us.
Hawk clapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks for sticking around.”
“Liberator,” Savak said with one of his customary bows. “We heard what you did in there. Well done.”
Praise from a Yantu? My cheeks flushed and Hawk’s eyes sparkled.
“Tai Dan Savak…” I shook my head. “It’s good to see you, but how did you… When?”
“We got here shortly after the fighting started. Good thing, too. There were a lot more guards here than expected.”
“About twenty of the Order showed up while we were in the castle,” Hawk said. “We would have lost a lot more men if they hadn’t.”
“Looking at this place, you’re lucky you didn’t lose more,” Gi said, stepping next to Savak along with Tae. Gi gave me a pleasant, youthful smile and shook Hawk’s hand.
“Maybe I should be glad I can’t see it,” Tae teased, casting sightless eyes around.
Hawk clasped Tae’s hand in a hearty grip. His lips twitched. Then he cleared his throat. “Savak, where is Master Leif? I heard he was here, but I haven’t seen him.”
“I am here, Sian Hawk.”
Hawk turned toward the doorway, and so did I. Master Leif came forward, his steps their usual, slow, deliberate gait.
Hawk suddenly looked a little awkward. He clasped his hands behind his back and bowed. “Master.”
I swallowed; there was definite uncertainty there.
“I am glad you came,” Hawk added.
Master Leif glided closer and gave me a deep inclination of his head. “Worldmaker. You did well. The world is in your debt.”
I shuffled my feet, suddenly unsure what to say.
Lips that probably had never seen a smile offered one now. Then his eyes turned to Hawk. The regret in them took me aback. “Sian Hawk, it is rare that a man as old as me is truly humbled, but it seems that I owe you an apology.”
Hawk’s throat worked. “Master?”
“It took seeing Sheriff’s hard work over all those days training at the temple for me to realize how wrong I was about the Legion and about your choice to belong to them. After the way we treated all of you, he gave us nothing but respect and dedication.” He flicked his eyes to Sheriff, who I hadn’t realized now stood beside me. “We… all of us in the Order want you to know that we consider the Dark Legion friends. If ever you need our aid, you need only ask.”
Joining Hawk from the door, Sheriff shook hands with him. “I appreciate it. We’ll hold you to that.”
He bowed again and turned to Hawk, settling his hands
on Hawk’s shoulders. “Sian, I should never have tested your loyalty to the Order the way I did. To you and Setora, my humblest apologies. Please forgive an old man his foolishness.”
Hawk glanced at me, waiting.
I lifted my shoulders, letting him know this was his decision. After all that Master Leif had done for Sheriff at the temple, and now for the Dark Legion and me, I couldn’t feel anything but respect for him.
Hawk took my fingers and squeezed them. “It’s forgotten, Master. Your help here means more than you know.”
His gaze flicked momentarily to me, then once more back to Hawk. “If you still wish to become a sixth level master, the tests for fifth and sixth levels are waiting for you whenever you are ready, Sian.”
Hawk shook his head again and slipped his hand into mine. The implications filled my heart to bursting, but they also made me sad for what he was giving up.
“If it pleases my Tai Dan, I have made my choice. I choose Setora.”
Master Leif gave a final bow. “Some traditions cannot be broken. Love is its own mastery, often a discipline much harder than any warrior’s way.” He smiled at us. “From now on, you have my word. Setora, and the Legion, will always be treated with the same respect as any member of the Order.”
Happiness and gratitude for him welled within me at his words. Hawk would never again have to feel torn between me, his club, and his Order. Master Leif no longer saw Hawk as belonging to one or the other, but as both, and that was okay with him.
As soon as Master Leif left, Hawk and I hugged. My throat tightened, and when he drew back, his face was blurry.
“I can’t believe you just did that, Master.”
“Believe it.” His fingers traced my jaw.
“You gave up your chance at a sixth level for me…” I kissed his hands. “I don’t know what to say.”
His eyes were warm and shining. “Say you love me.”
I sighed, nuzzling his chest. “I love you. Always.”
He squeezed me and put his mouth to my ear, and when he spoke, there was doubt in his voice at all. “I love you, too, Kitten. Always.”
I’d never, ever get enough of this man.
For the rest of the day, Doc, Tabir, and I started checking on the Violets. Doc had told me how most had faired after Julian’s death, that all were now healthy and recovering. I lost myself in the huge task of helping Doc and Tabir check on their babies and making sure all the mothers had what they needed.
“Need a few extra hands in here, Setora?”
I straightened from checking on another Violet and glanced at the door to the medical room. Gita gave me a dimpled grin. Behind her, Tari, Yaela, and Kash followed, all smiles and flushed with victory.
“Always.” I ran over and hugged each of my friends, happiness bubbling up.
“How are you feeling?” Yaela asked.
“Much better. Still trying to process everything, but I’m getting there.”
“You did it, Setora,” Kash said, squeezing me. “We saw everything you did as clear as day in our heads. You were amazing.”
The other women nodded and talked over one another in agreement.
“No.” I looked at all them, my eyes blurring. “We were amazing. If you and Ali’san hadn’t been there, I couldn’t have done it.”
I hugged them all again. Maker, I was going to miss them.
Sometime later, I went out to grab some food with my men, but on the way across the courtyard, something caught my attention. In the shadows of a slowly coming night, Ali’san was laying a wreath of greenery over one of the pyres, it’s fire long since having been douced. Heart heavy for her, I started toward her.
“I am sorry it had to be this way, Brother,” she whispered, bowing her head. “May you now find peace in the Mother’s Darkness.” The pain and grief in her voice squeezed my chest.
I thought of my own brother Dax, and my stomach clenched. A wave of gratitude rose up for the years I had with him before he was killed. And for my having found my mother after being apart for so long, that she had found happiness with Mayhem.
Wanting to comfort my Violet Sister but unwilling to be intrusive, I froze a few feet away until she lifted her head and her eyes found mine. Silent, she held out her hand toward me.
At her side, I slipped my hand into hers and hugged her, an unexpected pang of guilt pricking at me. “I’m so sorry, Ali’san.”
“Don’t be.” She squeezed my shoulder. “You had no choice.”
“He was your brother, though.”
“No.” She looked back at the pyre where the wreath lay. “My brother died a long time ago. The man you killed wasn’t him. He was a monster.”
I rested my head on her arm, trying to infuse her with my warmth and friendship. Ali’san kissed my forehead and squeezed me close.
We stood there together in the falling darkness for a long time.
* * *
It was almost time to leave. Most of our party had already departed to a camp not too far from castle. Others had already started making their journey home.
The Legion men had checked over everything in preparation to depart, making a list of supplies they needed and taking them from the castle’s stores. Once we were stocked up, we went out to say goodbye to Ivek’s men.
We had decided to have all of the women Julian had held here return to Crite with Ivek’s troops, a fact which the big barbarians were more than happy to accept. Crite would be the best place for the women, being that their society was more conducive for family and resources. But most importantly, I trusted Ivek’s leadership. I knew the women would be safe there to build better lives for themselves.
We found Gita, Tari and Yaela talking with Kash when we met up with the troops.
“Kash. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done,” I told her. “It’s good to have made another friend.”
The tall woman squeezed my fingers. “Of course. If you ever need anything, never hesitate to send word. It may take forever for us to get the message out there, but when we do, we will come running.”
I turned to Gita, Tari, and Yaela who were readying their mares. They also had elected to go with the Critians, until an oppurtunity for them to go back to Delta became available. I had a feeling, though, they weren’t in a big hurry.
“I’m going to miss you, my Sisters,” I told them, giving each of them hugs and kisses on the cheeks. “I will write as much as I can, and I expect you three to do the same, all right?”
They agreed and hugged me hard, all of us becoming teary-eyed.
“If you ladies are coming, saddle up,” Ivek called over the troops, riding up. “It’s going to be a long trip.”
My brows flew up. I’d assumed Ali’san had left with the Yantu hours ago when Hawk had seen them off, but instead, she rode next to Ivek, her bags packed and a sword sheathed on her back.
I walked over and grabbed Ali’san’s hands. “Ali’san, are you going with him?” I squeaked.
She blushed. “Well, I need to oversee the Violets’ care for a while, make sure the Vol is doing what he promised. I won’t be staying with him—I mean them—for long.” She cleared her throat and looked away.
“Right.” I grinned, not believing a word she was saying.
We chuckled. She knew she couldn’t fool me.
Her eyes went to my Four who were packing up their horses nearby. “Take care of them, Setora. Love, real love, is rare in this world. Hold onto it.”
“I will. And you, my Protector, make sure you grab and hold yours, too.”
She nodded solemnly, and I almost laughed. Poor woman had no idea how bad she had it for Ivek.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall during their trip to Crite.
“I’m so glad to have met you, Ali’san. Thank you for everything.” I grabbed her hand, and she reached down to kiss my forehead.
“Always, Liberator.”
As Ivek and Ali’san rose away with the troops and covered wagons filled with Violets, my heart swelle
d with bittersweet joy. I would see them all again, someday. I was sure of it.
* * *
It was late, well past midnight when we finally left the castle and gathered a few miles away to where the others in our party had set up camp. Reaper had told Sheriff that they’d wait around to say goodbye before heading out themselves. They needed to be back in Devil’s Breath as soon as they could. Sounded like things were still pretty bad over there.
Sheriff swung off his horse and helped me down when we rode up. “Sweetheart, there’s someone waiting to see you.”
Curious, I turned to look out toward the cluster of horses gathered nearby, mounts T-Man and Reaper were loading up.
“You’ll be riding with me most of the way, long legs, so don’t drink too much. I’m not stopping every five minutes for you.”
Long legs. That’s what T-Man called…
I brushed past him and found the girl whom that nickname belonged to beside him. She was brushing down T-Man’s spotted grey stallion. My heart leaped.
“Cherry,” I croaked.
She dropped her brush and turned. “Violet?”
I chuckled at the nickname as she pulled me into a hug.
“Not making too much trouble for those guys are you?” I said, referring to the newest Dark Legion members.
“Me?” She drew back and gave me a look of mock offense. “I’m not the one who ran off on her masters like some folktale heroine and, you know, saved the world or whatever.”
I squirmed under her gaze. “I wish everyone would stop treating what I did like some heroic deed. It makes me uncomfortable.”
T-Man gave me a smirk as if he didn’t believe me.
“Own it,” Cherry said. “You are a hero. You were born one.” She gave me a concerned look, her eyes wet. “Still, you could have gotten yourself killed.”
I hugged her again. “I missed you.”
I was about to ask her how life was treating her in Devil’s Breath, but I didn’t get the chance.
“Time to go,” Sinister called over from his horse as he tightened a saddlebag. He came over and smacked Cherry on the butt. “Hurry it up, woman, we need to get a move on. Tyrant wants to be on the road in five.”