by J. L. Weil
While Zane and I were tangled up, Declan slashed at a nearby hallow, only to have him spring back. Another leapt in from behind, cornering him. He wasn’t the only one with his back to the wall. As I winced, Aspyn, Parker, Zoe, Zach, and many, many others fought desperately to keep the hallows at bay, but it didn’t look promising. If something major didn’t happen, there was no way we were going to win this war.
Never had I seen such a horrid sight. Ripping my gaze from the destruction, I stumbled, unprepared for the instant relief. Zane had dislodged his hand and released mine. Gulping, I took huge, deep breaths of air, clearing the fog of bewilderment.
I should be used to the surreal, but seeing my blood blend with Zane’s was captivating. A red mist swirled in the glass chamber like a magic potion. It shimmered, fluid and alive, eager to do its purpose. To rid the earth of those who didn’t belong in this realm, sending them back to the other side of the veil.
Blood was trickling down my face, dripping a path down my check like a giant red tear. My body throbbed, and each movement brought on a new onslaught of pain, but I kept everything into sharp focus, ignoring it all but the relic.
“Here goes nothing,” I mumbled and raised the scepter over my head, smashing it down into the ground. The dirt shook under my feet, followed promptly by a burst of blinding light that raced across the garden and spread over the island. My blood and Zane’s oozed out of the chamber, seeping into the earth.
Lights exploded behind my eyes, and before my next breath, I was flown back into a corner. My head whacked on something hard, and stars burst as I slumped to the grass. The relic became like a black hole, drawing all the hallows to it and sucking up them up.
Oh. My. God. We did it. I couldn’t believe it. I must have blinked fifty times, but the fire in my belly was already celebrating. Zane had the same dumbstruck look. I moved to throw my arms his neck, doing a little victory dance until a low voice stole my moment.
“Do you know what you’ve done?” There was no mistaking the intense bitterness.
How could I have forgotten about Heath for even a second? I turned around and Zane placed his hand on the small of my back. “Yes. I do. I undid everything corrupt you started.”
His lips curved. “Not everything.”
My stomach twisted and a lump rose to my throat. A great sense of foreboding took root. “Just admit defeat and maybe I’ll spare your life.” …but not your power.
He wasn’t having it. “You’re going to have to kill me.”
I kept my voice light and even. “With pleasure.” A murmur went through the ranks of the reapers, all eyes turning to me.
Everything happened at once. I extended my hand, intending to siphon Heath’s reaper powers right from his slimy core. At the same time, he grabbed his son, throwing Crash in front of him. “If you’re going to kill me, you might as well take out my entire bloodline.”
Bastard.
I hesitated, as he knew I would, my hand stopping a centimeter from Crash’s heart.
“Cutting a bit close, luv,” Crash said, keeping his voice light, but I caught the slightest tremble.
Zane growled.
Crash observed me with solemn gray eyes, and I knew he was going to do something I wouldn’t like. My heart splintered. I had begun to think he wouldn’t betray me, that all the things he had said to me had been the truth.
My eyes couldn’t believe it. What kind of father did that, sacrificed his son to save himself?
A monster.
A coward.
Heath was nothing more than a spineless douchebag. He didn’t deserve to be a reaper. I vowed before this night was over, I would kill him; rid the Earth of such a foul being.
As soon as I got an opening.
“I’m sorry,” Crash uttered. “It had to be this way.”
The truth hit me in the chest. Crash had never betrayed me. He might have even saved me—saved us all.
He deliberately stared his father in the eyes as he spoke, but he had been apologizing to me. Smart move. It was never wise to take your eyes off a snake like his father. Heath wasn’t a fool. He knew his son. Moving so fast, Heath was all like lightning, his hands on either side of Crash’s head.
A sickening crack echoed in the night, followed by Crash hitting the ground. His body flickered between human and wolf.
I yelled his name, frightened he might die. Zane has his hands on my waist, keeping me at his side. I forced myself to stay calm and stretched out my abilities to see if I could still sense Crash. He was indeed alive, but his breathing faltered. Crash thrashed on the ground, blood pooling at his hands. Anger flared in my chest as I lifted my chin, eyes burning into Heath.
In horror, I opened my mouth to scream. Heath had lifted his weapon for the killing blow. I tore from Zane’s hold, and I didn’t stop, not even when he called my name.
But I was too late. Crash somehow managed to steady his form and roll to left just as Heath swung out with his sword, nicking Crash on the top of the shoulder. He winced as his shirt soaked in blood, but it was the least of his concerns. Heath wasn’t going to quit until the job was done. His blade sliced in the air. Heath might be old and wise, but Crash was young and quick. Anticipating his father’s move, he knocked into Heath’s arm, dislodging the weapon. It clattered to the ground with Heath staggering backwards. Crash took advantage, stepping within Heath’s guard and plunged his own dagger through his father’s chest.
Time ceased to a stop. Heath stood there, a look of shock on his face, staring at the blade in his chest. Crash had used such force the knife erupted out of Heath’s back. “What have you done?” Heath gurgled, eyes blank and confused.
Then Crash yanked the blade free, and Heath’s eyes rolled up in his head. He crumbled to the floor like a decrepit old man. Red veins slithered over his entire body, followed by the dark shadow of death, hiding him from view.
“I was never going to be the son you wanted,” Crash said, looming over Heath’s body.
He had killed his father.
I shuddered, torn between passing out and throwing up. Strange how I was a harbinger of death, yet still I wasn’t desensitized at the sight of blood.
Heath might be dead, but I knew better than anyone, he wasn’t really gone, not until his soul was destroyed. “Zane,” I prompted.
Crash had proven his loyalty, but I couldn’t risk the chance of his father coming back as a hallow to be reckoned with. I’d rather avoid that encounter altogether, and there was only one way to ensure I’d never see Heath’s ugly mug again. His soul needed to be destroyed.
There would always be hallows who lingered on earth and the crows would destroy them, that was how the cycle worked—balance. It felt epic to level the scale.
Zane crouched over the source of all my problems, and put his palm on Heath’s chest. As the essence of the overlord pumped into Zane, his veins darkened, spidering over his body. And just like that, the source of all my problems, my mother’s death, Rose’s death, the ruin between two realms dissipated at the hands of my husband.
It was finally over.
Chapter 29
“Sit down,” Zane instructed. “Let me see your face.”
My body trembled from the aftermath of shock and adrenaline. I sat down, folding my hands together to keep them from shaking. The cut wasn’t deep and already had begun to heal, although now that he had brought it to the forefront of my mind, it stung like hell. Zane knelt at the side of the couch, studying the gash. He pressed a cold, damp cloth to my cheek. I instinctively flinched and jerked away.
“That hurt,” I hissed through my teeth.
Zane shook his head, the corner of his lip lifting. “I haven’t even touched you yet.”
I grimaced. “It’s been a long night.”
He lifted the towel, blotting it very carefully to my face. He was as gentle as possible. “It has been, but it’s over. And now we can rebuild.” He took my hand and pressed a kiss on the center of my palm. “There, all better.”
/>
“I can’t believe it’s really over.” The truth of it exploded inside me. It was hard to imagine what my life was going to be like. I’d grown so used to the constant fear, always waiting for the next attack or the next attempt on my life.
Zane squeezed my hip. All we could do was stare at each other.
I wasn’t the only one in need of tending. I pulled my gaze from Zane’s, searching the parlor for our group of friends. They were really okay. Warming near the fireplace, Zoe was patching Parker up. I caught his eye and he smiled.
Pure, sweet relief poured through me. He was safe.
Crash, Declan, Aspyn, and Zach were huddled near the window. Declan had his arm secured around Aspyn as she wiped at her eyes. I looked up into Crash’s tired face and he winked. There was so much to be joyous over, but I found myself thinking about all those we’d lost, including Oliver.
I swallowed back a fresh bout of tears.
It was then, as I was quashing the raw emotions that TJ wandered into the room. He took one look around and blurted, “What happened? What did I miss?”
“Your sister just saved the world,” Parker said proudly, his glasses crooked on his nose. Zoe straightened them, smiling.
TJ busted out laughing. “Yeah right. You guys are hilarious.”
“He wasn’t joking,” Declan jumped to my defense. “She really did just save us all from extinction.”
I cleared my throat. “I didn’t do it alone.”
TJ took a closer look around, seeing the cuts, the blood, and the weary expressions. “I literally miss everything.”
It didn’t matter that TJ was bummed. What mattered was he was alive, and the world wasn’t going to be overtaken by psychotic ghosts. “Trust me, it was better you missed it.”
Concern wrinkled his forehead. “Do you think we should call Dad, make sure he is okay?”
I cringed and stiffened. Damn. How could I have forgotten? I’d told TJ the truth about myself, but had failed to tell him the truth about his father. I was so exhausted, and the last thing I wanted to do was tell my little brother I was his only living relative. “Sit down,” I said, leveling my voice. “There’s something I need to explain.”
“Why you do have that look like you’re going to tell me he’s dead?” he tossed at me.
I winced again. He made it sound so heartless. “Because he is.” I laid it straight. The timing sucked, but that’s what I get for procrastinating. I had been distracted between Zane and the veil, but it was no excuse. TJ was the only family I had left. We needed each other.
“How are you so sure?” Doubt weaseled its way into his pinched expression.
“I saw him. The night before you came back to the island, he showed up.”
“As one of those ghosts,” he concluded.
I nodded, my face going still and white. What else could I say? Congratulations, you’re now an orphan?
He finally took a seat, robotically sitting on the edge of the mattress. “No,” he rejected.
I watched as his eyes worked through what I was telling him, and I felt my gut clench, blinking so hard so I wouldn’t start bawling like a baby. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “He won’t be coming back.”
The color drained from his face, and I knew I had just turned his world inside out, a feeling both of us knew well. I could only hope he would lean on me and the new family we had here in Raven Hallow.
I didn’t tell him that he wasn’t my biological father. I didn’t tell him that James had threatened to kill him. Instead, I let him remember his father as he was.
***
My hair was a mess, tangled and crusted with blood, my clothes worse, torn and disgusting. I peeled them off, discarding them into the trash as I walked into the bathroom for a long soak in the tub. I needed warmth to heat me from the inside out.
As I returned to my room, freshly showered and semi-normal, a chill coasted along the floor. I glanced up and gasped. “Zander?”
His smile widened. “I told you we’d see each other again.”
I managed to swallow the squeak of surprise before Zane came barreling through the door to check on me. Looking at Zander, even the ghost of him, brought a fresh memory of his death. It still haunted me. I smiled, tears shining in my eyes. “You did.”
Gaze twinkling, his eyes moved to my loosely tied robe. “Not the best timing, but timing never seemed to be our thing.”
I laughed, tightening the terry cloth around me. “No, it wasn’t.”
Zander was lounging on the edge of my bed. “You did it, Piper. Always knew you would save us all.”
I leaned my hip against the vanity. “You did, huh?”
He nodded. “From the first time I saw you at the bonfire, I knew you were going to change everything. Zane did too. We all did.”
“I wish someone would have told me.”
He chuckled. “What fun would that have been?”
I snorted. Seeing Zander drudged up raw feelings, and my emotions got the best of me. I couldn’t help but thing of Zane. “He misses you, ya know,” I said, rubbing my arms. “He doesn’t need to tell me. I can feel how much it pains him to not have you around anymore.”
Zander’s pale face fell flat. “It’s a good thing he has you. Take care of him. He needs you more than he would ever admit.”
I pressed my lips together. “It goes both ways.”
“The universe knew what it was doing when it paired you with him.”
“I guess,” I conceded. “But some days I’d argue that the universe has a cruel sense of humor.”
A ghost of a smile curled on his lips. “He might not be the easiest person to love, but he loves you fiercely. The almighty Death Scythe was willing to thwart the council in the name of love. He might have stretched the limits of the council’s rules, but never outwardly spurned them. What will you do now?”
“Assign new council members,” I joked, sort of.
“I think that’s exactly what you should do. Out with the old, in with the new,” he encouraged.
“And how do you think Death would feel about that?”
“Have you met my father?” he replied directly. “I would take him making Zane his heir as sign. He would welcome the change.”
I twirled with my wedding band. “Maybe you’re right.”
A smug smile stretched across his face. “Of course I’m right.”
“Things like that remind me your related to Zane.”
“He learned from the best.” His smug smile faded a little, and I knew our time was coming to an end. “Take care of him.”
I stepped forward. “Do you have to go?” I asked, thinking maybe he would like to see Zane.
He nodded, and I understood. It would be harder for them both to see each other. “No goodbyes.”
I forced a smile on my lips. “See you later.”
He grinned in return, the Hunter killer smile, dimples and all. “I’ll be seeing you, Piper.”
I watched in a sad, wistful silence as Zander’s form began to break up, flickering like a faulty lightbulb. In a matter of seconds, I was staring at the empty spot where he had been.
Dragging my feet across the floor, I collapsed on my bed, and no sooner did my head hit the pillow, tingles tiptoed down my spine. Zane sauntered into the room looking like everything I ever needed. A warrior, a lover, a friend, a savior. And he looked damn good too. Seeing his face caused a slew of emotions to materialize, including all the ones I’d been suppressing. I had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to hold the dam much longer.
He climbed onto the bed, lying down beside me, our faces close. “I love you,” he whispered softly.
Oh gosh.
He had no idea how much I needed to hear him say that. I pressed my lips to his, fighting back the messy balloon of emotions rising to the surface. It had been a helluva day, and now that it was over, really over, I had all these feelings I didn’t know what to do with. I was going to cry.
Yep, I was definitely going to shed hot, me
ssy tears. Some for those we lost, some for being alive, some for the relief and happiness.
We’d defied the rules, fought back and won.
Staring into Zane’s gleaming eyes, I was feeling pretty good. We had brought an end to the apocalypse, and every ending was also a beginning. Zane and I were just about to start ours.
Epilogue
Two years later…
I was being shaken awake. Blinking in the darkness, a tiny cry ringing in my ears.
“Piper,” Zane murmured, “Wake up.” He was sitting on the edge of the bed, blue eyes sparkling through the shadows.
Exhaustion pulled at me. Sleep made my eyes heavy, and I was more tired than I imagined I would be. Being woken multiple times a night made my thoughts swirl muddily.
He slipped a hand onto my waist. “Your daughter is hungry.”
“Why is it she is my daughter when she is either wet or hungry, but your daughter when she is smiling or cooing?” I asked, my voice still muffled from sleep. Being a mother was hard work, sometimes harder than being the White Raven.
He chuckled lowly. “She’s perfect, isn’t she?”
I opened an eye and glanced at the clock. “At four in the morning? Adorable, I’ll give her that. When she sleeps through the night, that will be perfect.”
There wasn’t a more heartwarming sight than seeing Zane hold our petite daughter in his arms. She looked so fragile against his chest.
Arabella wrinkled her little nose, her tiny fists flailing in the air, and a sweet smile on her rosy lips. She had hair as dark as midnight and eyes as crystal clear as the ocean, just like her father.
Yeah, the middle of the night feedings were killer, but when she peered up at me as she did now, I would do it all a thousand times over.