Epilogue Vae
Epilogue
PAST
I’m half asleep on the couch when they come in. Deacon goes straight to his bedroom, and, within seconds, there’s a mattress in the lounge room being covered in blankets.
“Go get dressed, Vae,” Mal urges.
I go to my bedroom and get into my pajamas. When I come back, the food has been dropped off, and there’s a movie just about to load.
I’m caught around the thighs by Raynor, who pulls me down into his lap.
Mal lays with his head in my lap, and Deacon lies on his side, his hand on my lower leg.
These are the moments that kill me. All the potential for us to be the most perfect pack that ever existed.
No one talks. We eat and just relax together, watching the movie.
They’re never going to see me.
I need to leave.
But not tonight; well, tonight, I’m going to spend one more day pretending this is forever.
PRESENT
I don’t need to pretend this is forever anymore.
“Are you sure we should be doing this?” I hiss at Deacon.
He kisses me hard and fast, stopping my protests before I can voice them.
Malcolm looks around before inserting the key and opening the door. He’s quick as he moves in and turns off the alarm.
It’s weird being in here alone, but I can’t help but laugh.
Raynor takes my hand. Together, we run through the hallway and down into the empty arena.
“It’s so empty. It feels weird!”
It’s also very dark, but wherever Deacon disappeared to, he creates magic, and the lights turn on. Five minutes later, the music comes on.
Raynor grabs my hand and drags me down to the ice.
Malcolm comes out with three pairs of skates.
“Are you sure about this?” I ask.
“We never taught you how to play,” Malcolm says with a wink. “Time to rectify that problem.”
He gets me laced into the skates; I stare at the top of his head, my heart thumping.
“I love you.”
Mal looks up and gives me that golden smile that could light up the world.
“I love you, too, Vae. Now get your ass on the ice and let me see some drills.”
“I am not doing drills.”
Mal kisses my forehead. “But you want to be a pro-hockey player.”
I snarl at him, then let out a squeak when Raynor picks me up and carries me down to the ice.
I grip the barrier and glare at him as he glides out into the middle, not quite as elegant on the ice as Mal and Deacon, but still with some skill.
“Come on, Vae.”
“Bastards,” I mutter.
I take a deep breath and then push off, gliding out onto the ice. I don’t remember the last time I was on the ice. It was forever ago, but time clearly warped my memory of my skills. I am far worse than I remembered.
Mal skates in a circle around me, moving easily and smiling so wide I can’t help but laugh back at him.
Deacon arrives in a streak of colour. He skids to a stop in front of me, showering me with ice.
I let out a shriek.
He drops five pucks on the ice and hands out three sticks. One to Mal and Raynor and one to me.
He circles around behind me and shows me how to hold it. Coffee surrounds me, and I peer at him through my lashes.
“You and me against them, right, Hook?”
I shiver as he nips my earlobe. “Sure, Pan.”
Raynor comes and stands opposite me. He slaps his stick on the ice.
“Prepare to lose, Vae, baby.”
“You’re going to be the one eating our dust.”
“Want to bet on it?”
“Sure, bring it.”
Raynor shifts closer until I’m sandwiched between him and Deacon, staring up at him, trying to remember what we’re arguing about.
“If you lose, I want to fuck you anywhere I want.”
My mouth goes dry. “And where’s that?”
He bites his bottom lip. “It’s going to be a surprise.”
“And if I win?” I challenge.
“You can fuck me anywhere you want?”
I pause, staring at him. “No deal. I want you to send your song to those people who requested the rights to it. You don’t have to sell it, but I want you to listen to them.”
“Vae, I’m happy with this and us.”
“Yes, but your music is too beautiful not to be heard.”
He leans down and kisses me. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Back off, Hadthrop, she’s mine now,” Deacon barks. “Come on, Vae. Let’s kick his ass.”
Deacon uses my hands to suddenly hit the puck; he sends us both zooming across the ice. I throw my head back and laugh as I realise he’s going to literally push me around to win.
While Mal might be good, Raynor is terrible. We’re actually evenly matched.
Deacon spins me around in a circle and shoves off, sending us into a smooth glide around the net.
I laugh as Mal shoots past us on a hunt for the puck that Raynor sends in the wrong direction. Deacon huffs a laugh in my ear and kisses the back of my neck.
“Win for me?” I purr.
He grips my hair and kisses me hard, then takes the stick and chases Malcolm down.
“Hey! That’s cheating!” Mal shouts, but Deacon sends the puck sailing into the net.
“Woo!” I throw my freezing fingers of one hand up as I cling to the net with the other. “Go team!”
Raynor puts his hands on his waist and shakes his head. “You are a cruel mistress, Vae.”
“Get that email ready, Hadthrop.”
He snarls, but it’s half hearted, and then, all of a sudden, he loses his balance and goes down hard. He lies on the ice and doesn’t move. My heart explodes in my chest!
“Raynor!”
I race to him as quickly as I can, but when I get there, he just turns his head in my direction and smiles.
He grabs me and wrestles me down. I shriek. The ice is freezing, but he throws a thigh over mine and kisses me.
“This isn’t sportsman like,” Mal whines.
“Not at all,” Deacon says.
Raynor lets me go and is instantly wrestled onto his stomach. He howls, but Deacon licks the side of his face before he’s up and gone so quickly I barely have time to even get my balance.
Raynor struggles up and then groans. “I ache in places I didn’t know I could ache.”
“That’s what she said,” Deacon shouts with a chortle.
“HEY!” I shout.
“Come on, Raynor! We can still win!” Mal shouts.
“No, I’m done. I’m cold, and it’s clear my talents are better served seducing omegas with my dulcet tones.”
He skates over to me and starts singing, and, just like he predicted, I forget about the game and focus on him with my mouth open in a large O.
Deacon slams into his back and puts a hand over his mouth. “None of that now, cheater, cheater.”
“Just for that, I’m giving Deacon the win,” Mal says in disgust.
I snort a laugh and then shriek when Deacon whisks me up and glides me around the ice, going so fast my hair whips past my face. I let out a laughing scream as Mal races past us, and then he stops beside Raynor.
I turn in his arms as Mal circles back, skids to a stop on my other side, sending a cloud of ice into the air.
I glance up, and sitting on a chair in the arena watching is Marilyn. She stands up, smiles, nods her head, and turns and walks away. My throat tightens. It seemed so long ago I went to her for help. I never imagined…never dreamed life could be this good.
That one last unanswered question makes everything perfect. We saved their careers.
Deacon, Mal, and Raynor watch her go, too.
“What was she doing here?” Mal murmurs.
I turn back, unable to hide the happiness pouring out of me. “Two out of three,” I challenge Mal. “If you win, I’ll-”
Deacon grabs my hair, tugging it back. “You’ll what, Vae?”
“I’ll love you forever.”
His hard expression softens. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the necklace I left behind this morning. The one that means so much to me, my stars.
He puts it on.
“We’ve already won,” Deacon murmurs huskily. “Where do you want to go now?”
I reach up and touch the star. “Anywhere, so long as we’re together.”
“One more game,” Mal whines.
He grabs me and skates away.
“Hey!” Raynor snarls.
Deacon comes racing after us, laughing.
And we’re flying over the ice. I stretch out my arms, feeling my hair whip back behind me.
I’m finally flying.
And we’ll fly forever.