“What?” My stomach pitted, my red-streaked eyes blinking up at him.
“Yeah. It’s fucking time.” He growled, running a hand through his hair. “It’s pathetic I’ve been living with you guys so long. I’m a fucking pirate. It’s about time I got back to it.”
“Croygen…” My voice caught in my throat. “No. You can’t leave. What about me? Annabeth? Ryker or even Rez?”
“No!” He snarled. “Are you fuckin’ kidding me, Zoey? You think you’re my mother? Sorry, you can’t tell me what to do. My daughter is a grown woman who has lived this long without me. She’s better off with me gone. Actually, you all are.”
My hand shot to my chest, feeling as though my heart was going to fall out on the floor.
“Croygen, please. We need you. You are my family. Your home is with us. She wouldn’t want you to go. Lexie—”
“Don’t.” Croygen stepped closer, his head bowing, getting right in my face. “Don’t you fucking dare bring her into this. Don’t use her as a guilt trip to tie me down.”
“Tie you down?”
“My home is on the sea; my family is my crew. For one moment I let myself be domesticated.” He snapped, clenching his fists. “But now I see clearly again. Her death reminded me I was not meant to be tied to people or things. I don’t need anybody. And I certainly don’t belong to anyone. My only love is the sea.” He spun around, trudging down the hall.
“When?”
“This afternoon,” he barked back, not even turning around, and walked through the door.
The instant the door slammed, my knees buckled, my back sliding down the wall, and my chest constricted. My mind understood he was in pain, his heartbreak dictating his cold words, but my heart didn’t care. All it gathered was it was losing another piece of my family. Another person I loved.
I had my suspicions Croygen was in love with Lexie, no matter his denials, but until I saw him rocking over her body, I didn’t realize how deep it went. It was as if he broke, shutting off his humanity, so he wouldn’t feel the grief so much.
Her death was a domino effect; one by one, we were falling apart.
Now, staring at him and Jack drifting away with what was left of their crew, I didn’t hear Croygen’s hurtful words. All I felt was his loss. The echo of his laughter and smile blowing in the breeze.
“Did you find the underground base?” I leaned back, needing something to pull me out of the quicksand of grief.
Ryker stepped back, nodding. “Yeah.”
“The women?”
“We got them to the Honey House as you wanted. Some ran, but for those who wanted help, we got them food, clean clothes, and a bed. They are going to need a lot of counseling.”
“I know.” I swallowed. The only moments that ebbed the grief of Lexie were those when I focused on my plan to help the women who had been so terribly abused by the stone. I could relate to them, and I wanted to provide them a safe place, counseling, and a way to get back on their feet. For some, it might never happen, being far too damaged by what occurred to them. But if I could help even a few, it would be enough.
Lars and Kennedy both said they’d pay for a new facility and all the expenses for the women, eventually opening it to all. But for now, we’d begin with the girls from the cave. Until it was built, they would stay in the Honey House. It wasn’t until the idea formed that I realized this was something I really wanted to do. Because Annabeth and I were both survivors of sexual abuse, we wanted to help others who had gone through it, expanding our business beyond foster children.
Kate said she wanted to help with their recovery as soon as she was done with her own. She still had a long road of healing from the stab wound, but I knew she would get better. She was feisty and strong. Dunn, the fae father of her daughter, hadn’t left her side once.
“And Vadik?” I asked.
“Escaped.” Ryker flicked his white eyes to the side. “Rez is still searching the tunnels even though I told her it was pointless.” Ryker wasn’t the only one who had a past with Vadik. I discovered Rez was one of the fae Vadik drugged and prostituted in one of his sex clubs. When she’d found out he was still alive, she’d bared her teeth and demanded to be part of the group that went after him, showing both anger and heartbreak. She wanted to face her demons. Literally.
“Vadik waited until I saw him, winked at Rez, saying he had missed his favorite concubine, then vanished down one of the passages. I ran after him, but he is like a ghost. No, he’s a fuckin’ cockroach and will always somehow survive.”
“He and Amara both.” I shook my head. The moment we looked up from the battle, Amara was gone. I wasn’t really surprised. Amara was the ultimate survivalist. In a strange way, I was glad. I think if she ever sacrificed herself or did the right thing, the world would truly be ending.
I had no doubt Vadik and Amara would be all right. They would find their next prey, their next swindle, and someday their paths would probably join with ours again. But they meant so little to me in comparison to what had happened, I didn’t have the energy to worry they were still out there.
“I’m sorry for Rez. I feel disgusted I’m related to that monster.” Ryker shook his head, tendons tightening in his neck. “After what that fucker did to her, to others like her, death is way too good. But if I see him again?” His fists tightened at his side. He would shred Vadik into tiny pieces. And I would happily watch.
I leaned into him, rubbing his taut back. We both stayed quiet for a moment. Dread over my next question coiled in my stomach, my tongue slipping over my lips. “And all the creatures?” I wouldn’t let myself call them children, that dozens born and trained in that cave to be monsters. I couldn’t. If I let myself think about Zeke’s words, his hurt over my betrayal, I might want to make another choice and I knew I couldn’t. They could not exist.
Ryker tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his mouth compressed into a firm line. “All you need to know is they have been taken care of.” I had seen the explosives Garrett had designed. I knew what that meant.
Ryker, the dark dwellers, Rez, West, and Lars had gone back to deal with the experiments and get the women to safety. Lars had asked if I wanted to go back to the cave, if it was something I needed to do.
I didn’t. There would not be closure for me. I never wanted to step in that place again. For Lars, I think going back was his way of dealing with his trauma. Perhaps it restored his sense of control and power. He never outright showed it, but in private moments I could tell the King had been shaken to his core.
Humbled.
Humiliated.
The all-powerful King had been brought to his knees by his own greed and fear.
When taking his throne again, he made it clear he would do everything in his power to secure the kingdom. Most countries were behind him, except the Eastern bloc in Europe. They wanted to cut all ties to the King and Queen. Their people had already begun protests in their streets to extricate from the kingdom.
Lars and Kennedy had a lot of work to do, to get everything back on solid ground, but because of this battle, Kennedy’s popularity had risen high in the polls. Most thought she was a strong and capable Queen and did not appear to care that she was Druid, young or mated with a dark dweller. She had proven herself.
“Kennedy and Fionna took off right after us. They should be back in a few days.” Ryker rubbed my bare arms, the cool wind chilling me. The two Druids were the only ones who would bury the treasures far apart from each other. Then they would each perform a forgetting spell on each other. I hope the treasures would be forever lost. “Lars is hoping we’d stay around for a bit, until they come back.”
“Actually, I was thinking…”
“Staying here permanently,” he finished my sentence.
An empty smile wobbled my mouth. He knew me so well. Our main house was in South America, but I couldn’t imagine staying in the house Lexie and Croygen had shared with us. They would haunt me, the echoes of their laughs, the ghosts of their figu
res wandering the halls.
“Casa de Miel is running fully without me and Annabeth anyway. I can still pop in… And I know Annabeth is going to want to stay here now…and…”
“I know.” He leaned in, brushing his mouth across my forehead. “I can live anywhere, human. If you guys are there, I’m happy.” He rubbed Wyatt’s head, causing the baby and Sprig to stir.
“Thank you,” I whispered, gripping him and shutting my eyes. I tried to hold back another wave of emotion. Even in the despair, I knew how lucky I was to have him and the family we created. Lexie might not be here physically, but she would always be part of this family. Wyatt would know of his aunt.
“Stop, honey bears! No, that tickles!” Sprig giggled then sputtered, pulling me back away from Ryker. Sprig’s head popped from the Björn, looking around in a daze. “Huh? What?” He smacked his lips together. “Is it breakfast time?”
“No,” Ryker responded.
“Oh good, lunch then,” he squeaked, wiggling out of the Björn. “Only time I want to be smooched like that is alone with Pam and some honey.”
“I really didn’t need to know that.” Despite my torn heart, I smiled, needing Sprig’s presence more than he knew. He slid out from beside Wyatt and leaped to Ryker’s shoulder. The last three days he hadn’t left either of our sides. Going from one to the other.
Sprig looked past me, rising onto his legs. “Why is the smelly butt-pirate waving at me? Where is he going?”
I turned my head, staring back to the ship sailing between the gates. With my fae sight, I spotted a figure standing on the first rung of the mainmast, facing back our way.
I gave a small gasp and pulled away from Ryker, stepping closer to the edge of the lake.
Croygen.
“He’s leaving for a bit,” Ryker answered Sprig.
“Whhaaatt? Nooooo!” Sprig cried out, his eyes going wide. Then he sat back folding his arms, his lids blinking rapidly. “Good. Good riddance to that swashbucket. Never liked him anyway.”
“Sure, furball.” Ryker snorted.
“I mean, I’m fine he didn’t even say goodbye. Whatever. I don’t care.” Faster than I almost could grasp, Sprig wiped his eyes with his tail. “See if I ever share my honey with him, or that juniper honey he liked so much. If he ever dares to show his face again…”
Annabeth came up beside me, her face forward as her fingers laced with mine. Cooper stood on her other side, already a member of our family.
All of us stared out at the diminishing figure, the ship slipping into the setting sun.
“Please,” I whispered into the wind, staring at Croygen’s outline. “Come home to us someday.”
As if he heard my plea, he lifted his fist into the sky, then brought it to his heart, tapping it six times. One for Ryker, Annabeth, Sprig, Wyatt, me and…Lexie.
A hiccupped cry broke from my lungs, feeling my heart crash against my chest.
In unison, the four of us tapped our hearts, motioning back to him. I couldn’t see it, but I felt it in my gut… He smiled.
There was hope.
One day he would come home.
Epilogue
Ember
(Eight months later)
Lights twinkled off the tree, enveloping the room in a cozy warmth, and snow softly pelted down outside the windows. Fire crackled in the hearth and the scent of cinnamon and baking bread danced around the room, making my mouth water. Wrapping paper, tissue, and boxes were spread all over the floor, covering it like wall-to-wall carpet.
Sighing contently, I looked around the room, taking a moment to process the idyllic scene before me. I dreamed of having Christmas in this house, all of us together under one roof. It had come true, but at a very high cost. The absences of those we lost in the battles echoed loud, but the promise of new life gave us hope.
In the upstairs living room at Lars’s, the growing group of those I cared about and thought of as family, spread over the room.
“Sprig, stop. You had enough,” Zoey yelled at the sprite holding another one of Marguerite’s breakfast honey muffins.
Sprig moved to put it back, until Zoey looked away, then he shoved the entire muffin in his mouth.
“I saw that.” She scoffed, reaching for Wyatt. Ryker sat on the sofa, Zoey between his legs on the floor, watching their son play with the bubble wrap, not interested in the toys he was given. Their dog Matty was curled up beside Zoey.
She put on a brave face, but I could see the pain of her first Christmas without Lexie, the silence where Croygen should be.
Beside Ryker, Annabeth and Cooper sat on the couch, whispering and touching each other like teenagers.
Love. You could see it blooming vibrantly between them. I had never seen Cooper so happy, a content grin on his face, his gaze raking over Annabeth as though she were his world. Eli felt it as soon as he saw them after they were together the first time. It still took me a little longer to feel it. When I noticed the link to Annabeth, I realized what it meant. She had become part of our family. A pack member. And with the link I shared with the group, I knew Cooper wanted Eli to help him find a way to extend her life. Fae food no longer existed since the worlds had meshed as it had when it changed Mark and Ryan. He needed to find another way.
Burying the treasures not only terminated West’s chance to become full dweller again, but it possibly ended the chance for Annabeth to have a long life, as well. But if I knew Cooper, he wouldn’t give up. He would find a way. When it comes to your mate, there is nothing you won’t do.
Rez was proof of that. West chose to let the treasures go, but she still wanted to find a way to restore his beast. None of us would stop searching for a way to return him to full dark dweller again. He sacrificed a lot for the greater good and not one of us would forget it.
Rez was hurt about Croygen’s departure, feeling abandoned once again, but she was trying to understand. He lost someone he loved and was dealing with his broken heart in his way although I think it hurt she wasn’t enough for him to stay. She talked about going to find him, but Ryker thought it was better to let him come back on his own terms.
“Look at her,” Rez cooed, rubbing her Christmas gift. She and West sat on the floor, their brand-new husky puppy sound asleep in the wrapping paper next to Wyatt. Dwellers weren’t normally pet friendly, but he knew she had wanted a dog. Raising it from a pup, it would be used to the dominant males and become part of the pack. It was amusing to see all these alphas cooing over the fuzzball. And the way Rez looked at the puppy, with unconditional love exploding across her face, I had a feeling children wouldn’t be far behind.
“Nerf-herder,” Kennedy groaned, grimacing in annoyance. She and Lorcan took over the entire other sofa, her legs in his lap as he rubbed them. “I have to pee again.”
“Seriously? It’s been, like, five minutes.” He rubbed the large bump of her belly.
“You tell them that.” She motioned to her stomach. “Whoever is pressing down on my bladder, get off please.” Kennedy swung her feet onto the ground. Lorcan got up, helping the extremely pregnant Kennedy to her feet. The healer told her she was having a boy and a girl. Their parents so powerful that both their traits were adapted. They would also be a new breed of fae. As far as anyone knew, there were no half-dweller, half-Druid children, so this was a first for all of us.
They were going to be a handful. But those babies would be so loved. I couldn’t wait to be called Auntie Ember. Piper talked to Kennedy’s belly all the time, telling them of the mischief they would get into.
Lorcan kissed her forehead. “I’m gonna get you a catheter or bedpan.”
“Don’t think I haven’t thought of that.” She went up on her toes kissing him. She was huge for her tiny frame, but she looked beautiful. Happy.
“Look, Auntie Kennedy. Look what Darz gave me.” Piper jumped around her, holding up a book. “They’re Irish tales. He says we’ll read one together every night.”
“Wow, your book looks amazing.” Kennedy leaned
over and kissed Piper on the head. “I’m jealous.”
“Of the book or Lars tucking you in and reading to you at night?” Lorcan muttered playfully to her, making her laugh.
Piper grinned before she bounded off to show Wyatt, promising she’d read them to him. Wyatt only spoke in single syllables, but Piper could understand him without a word uttered. They had a connection none of us understood.
“My Darz is the best.” Piper hugged the book to her chest.
My gaze drifted to Lars across the room. My father. His arms were wrapped around Fionna on the sofa. Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, he looked almost human. Relaxed, like for the first time in his life he was letting himself be loved. Happy. He was still the King. Strong and ruthless, but his priorities had clearly shifted. Fionna, Piper, and his family came first, then his work. Looking at him as Piper jumped on his lap, snuggling between him and Fionna with her new book, I felt as though my heart was going to burst. He deserved happiness.
We were spending more time together, but deep inside I think we had always been father and daughter, so not much had changed. He really did like to use that “because I’m your father and I said so” line. Not that it ever worked on me.
There had been a lot of alterations and redecorating of the compound since Lars’s return. Besides getting rid of anything reminding us of Stavros or places his bare ass might have touched, they had constructed entirely new secret exit tunnels since the others had been exposed. Piper had a new playroom, but the toys managed to escape and drop all over the house. The compound felt much more like a home, even though we all still missed those we’d lost.
Travil was now Lars’s right-hand man. Cadoc was being trained to take Travil’s old spot, but mostly everything ran much as it had before. Rimmon’s spot had been filled with kin of the ogre’s, but it wasn’t the same. I knew Lars missed Goran and Rimmon, but he was good at compartmentalizing. You didn’t live as long as he did and not get used to death.
Fionna helped Lars as a secretary but was rallying for him to hire a new one. ASAP. She had her plate full with her own organization: a group fighting for equal rights among all fae and humans. And sleeping with the King didn’t always mean she was able to get laws passed easily or that things changed overnight. Too much racial, species, and class prejudice still existed in the world. Fear and hate would always be a battle.
Rise From the Embers (Lightness Saga #4) Page 41