Epilogue
Jaeger
There’s nothing like springtime in the country. It wasn’t so bad spending a long winter inside, hibernating on the couch with my elita, but it’s nice to stand on the deck at the Lodge and breathe in the fresh air.
We came to Billionaire Island today, summoned by Damien. He likes to host what Lucy calls “family dinner.” We used to gather like this on Sundays when we were kids, and Father Francis lured us into church by promising us a good meal. Now, we break bread by feasting on five courses, followed by expensive booze and cigars in the lounge.
I’ve left the festivities for a moment outside alone. Elodie’s inside, hanging with a group of elitas . She’s made friends, and I’m glad .
“Brother.” Kaiser steps onto the deck. The forest scent hits him, and he inhales, tilting his head back. The fresh air washes the tension from his face. He sets his drink down on the railing and braces his hands on either side of it, gripping the wood and breathing deeply. His eyes are half-closed. I could tease him about communing with the trees or some shit, but I don’t.
I say, “Did you ever think we would have something like this?”
His eyes blink open. Blue, like mine. Like looking into a mirror. Sometimes, I think I can hear his thoughts. They often mirror mine, too.
“No. But we had each other.”
“We did. And now we have this.” I smile at him, and his eyes crinkle. He doesn’t smile, not like I do. But I’m looking past him into the Lodge, where Elodie sits in a cluster of women. She throws her head back, laughing.
“And you have her.” Kaiser bumps my arm with his. I drag my eyes away from Elodie.
No one else can read Kaiser’s stone expression, but I can. No one else would be able to hear the longing in his voice, but I do.
I know him as well as myself. He wants someone like my bunny. All the power and wealth mean nothing if there’s no one to share midnights with.
That’s why I forgave him so quickly for his betrayal. For a long time, he was all I had. It’ll always be him and me, even though now it’s him and me and her.
“St. James was looking for you,” I say. “Maybe he has something for you.” Or someone.
Kaiser grunts and glances back inside. I steal his drink and grin at him over the rim of the glass.
“Asshole,” he says, but now even his lips are smiling.
“Hey, tomorrow night. Movie at our place. There’s a new holiday rom-com.”
“They’re still playing those? It’s not even Christmas.”
“I bought them all for Elodie.”
He snorts. “For Elodie. Sure.”
“The long-lost prince has a brother.” I waggle my brows.
“I’ll bring the popcorn.” He walks away, back inside, pausing to hold the door open for Elodie.
And then, it’s just the two of us on the deck.
“There you are.” Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are bright. She’s found her footing in Fraternitas. Her ankle has long since healed, and she takes a few shifts at Inferno each week, waitressing while I sit at the bar to keep watch. And now, she knows almost everyone by name.
Today, she’s luminous in a simple white dress and ballet flats. Her outfit reminds me of the first time we were at the Lodge together. I wonder if she wore white today on purpose.
I hold out my arm, and she comes to my side. I squeeze her close. There’s a slight twinge in my gut near the scar of my bullet wound, but it’s worth it. She leans into me, and I marvel at how right it feels.
She tilts her head, her collar flashing. “What are you doing out here?”
“It’s nice out.” I turn her so she’s facing the forest.
“You like it out here. Would you ever want to move here?”
“Live on Billionaire Island?” It’s not a leap of logic. All the Seven have homes here, plus St. James as well Damien, although few people know where his hidden mansion is. Unless you’ve done guard duty out there, which I have. “Naw. I like the penthouse.”
“Me, too.”
For a moment, we’re still, watching the forest together. Listening to the trill of the songbirds and the rustle of the leaves. Drinking in the peace.
She puts a hand on my chest and murmurs, “I have a gift for you.”
“It’s not my birthday.”
“I know. It’s mine.” She slips something into my pocket and backs away, smiling. “If I run, will you chase me?”
“Always.”
She kicks off her ballet flats, and my heartbeat shifts into a higher gear. My muscles tighten, but I force myself to be calm. To wait.
She pulls the pins out of her hair, and her curls come tumbling around her face.
“Give me a ten-minute head start, okay?”
I nod, unable to speak. There’s a roaring waterfall in my head as my blood rushes, readying me for the hunt.
Elodie disappears down the stairs to the lawn. She walks to the treeline and stops to pull off her dress. The fading sunlight cups her curves, outlining her in gold. She’s no longer human but otherworldly. A goddess of the forest.
Then she steps into the shadows and becomes real. She hangs the dress on the tree, smiles back at me, and slips into the woods.
I pull out the item she put in my pocket. It’s a black hood with a skull painted on the front. Suddenly, I’m too hot.
But I wait. She gave me a fancy watch and a black turtleneck for Christmas after Kaiser and I had made fun of the big city fiancé’s watch and clothes in one of the movies. I don’t wear the turtleneck, but I like the watch. I half expected her to put “Big City Fiancé” on the back, but instead, she put “Big Bad Wolf” with a little heart, followed by “Bunny.”
It’s my second favorite gift, and I’ll treasure it forever.
After ten minutes, I pull off the watch and put it on the railing. Kaiser will see it and make sure it gets back to me. If I wear it, it might get broken. I’m going to be careful and watch out for Elodie’s ankle, and she’ll hold back because of my gunshot wound, but still, things are going to get rough.
I pull off my shirt. The cool air hits my skin, but I’m still too hot. I wait until I’m about to enter the forest to pull on the hood. Before I do, I sniff the breeze. The scent of Elodie’s arousal hangs in the air. I grab her dress and bring it to my face, inhaling it. So sweet. So excited and ready for me.
I drop the dress and pull on the hood. My world grows dark, my vision narrowing to the trail ahead. Finally, I lope into the forest to hunt, find, and claim my perfect prey.
Kaiser
A glint of silver brings me out onto the deck again. Jaeger left his watch on the railing. I pick it up and pocket it. The woods are silent, betraying no secrets, but I know Jaeger’s out there, hunting his elita .
I could stand out here and wish for things I don’t have, or I can go inside and drink. So I head back inside. I walk right behind the bar and grab a whole bottle. The bartender only smiles at me. I almost wish he’d start something.
I need a good fight. I need to shed some blood and feel some pain. To know I’m alive.
The liquor burns, but it’s not enough. If pain is going to be the only pleasure I have, I want more. A lot more.
But out here at the Lodge, I’m surrounded by Fraternitas. My found family. I don’t want to fuck up anyone’s happiness more than I already have. The last time I did that, Jaeger almost died.
I’m done with that.
I’ve always been the angry twin. I’ve had to be, to make sure my brother and I survived.
Jaeger doesn’t hold onto things. He never has. He lets life roll off his back and finds his happiness where he can. He’s like a hero in one of those fucking movies.
I’m glad he found happiness with her. But on days like today, it only serves to remind me there’s no happiness to be had for someone like me.
“Kaiser.” St. James is at my side. He’s such a quiet fucker. Always has been. He was smaller than the rest of us as a boy. We protected him because some people are giants, even though they’re small. And his intellect has saved us all.
“St. James.” I lift the bottle in a mock toast. We have him to thank for all of this—the Lodge, the wealth, the power. But I’m not feeling grateful.
“Come with me to the library. I have something to show you.”
“What?” I grunt, but I follow him to the room lined floor to ceiling with old books. I never come in here, but it’s nice. I don’t read, but I like the smell of leather and paper.
I set the bottle down on a side table. St. James drifts over and repositions the bottle on a coaster because he’s civilized like that.
“I have something for you.” He takes a square piece of paper out of his pocket and sets it on the table.
“What’s this?” I ask without looking at it.
“A job.”
I need a job. I need something to take my mind off everything.
The piece of paper is a photograph of a girl with a backpack, smiling shyly at the camera. Her hands are tight on the backpack straps like she’s nervous, but there’s a wistful light in her eyes.
Her face stops my heart. I’ve never seen her before, but I feel like I’ve known her forever.
Behind her is a sign that reads ‘Unitas University.’
“What’s the job?”
“Her.”
Her. Her.
I stare at her face, barely hearing what St. James is saying.
“It’ll be complicated, but that’s why I need you. You can pull it off.” He taps the photo, making sure I hear the next part. And I do. I hear it loud and clear.
“And when the job is done, there will be a reward.”
Thank you for reading Elodie & Jaeger’s story!