Epilogue #2
She gives me a small smile. “You don’t need me anymore, and I am looking forward to eternal peace, but I guess, I’d gotten used to floating around these lands. I’m going to miss it.” She pauses before adding, “You ready?”
I frown, confused at first, but then the oracle forms in front of me. “Elgen and Tarlaz? What’s happening?”
“You didn’t tell her?” Alina accuses.
“We wanted to avoid the blubbering,” Elgen replies.
“Elgen’s blubbering, that is,” Tarlaz chimes in, and Elgen huffs, but she doesn’t correct him, even though it’s impossible for a soul to physically cry.
My throat tightens. “What? No, you can’t be transcending as well.” I give my mates an imploring look. I’ve let them hear everything in my mind, but they don’t seem surprised.
“Our part is done, child,” Tarlaz responds. “And our power was never meant to stay in this realm indefinitely. We will take it with us to the beyond. It is not safe to leave it here.”
“But can’t you send the power to the beyond, or whatever, but you guys stay?” I don’t care about the power. All I care about is my friends. And when Queen Krosia had stolen them from me, I had missed them terribly.
“That’s not how it works, girl,” Elgen replies.
I think of how quiet they’ve been all day, and now I realize why. Every time I’d brought up the celebration feast, they’d never once commented on looking forward to me describing the food. …Because they knew they wouldn’t be attending.
“But you can’t leave,” I say, my voice quavering. “The shadow realm needs you.”
“No, girl,” Elgen replies. “The shadow realm needs you. Someone to restore the balance. Someone who would act as a guardian, rather than a dictator, and who would finally bring peace. Our part is done, and it’s time we moved on.”
Tears prick my eyes, and Knox squeezes my hand, reminding me that he’s there. My mates are all there for me.
Sniffling, I reluctantly nod. If this is what they want, it would be selfish for me to keep asking them to stay here. “Will I see you again?”
“Perhaps,” Tarlaz says. “But not for a considerably long time.”
A tear escapes down my cheek, and Raith wraps me in his arms.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Elgen and Tarlaz until then,” Alina says with a wry grin. “I’m sure they’ll be great company. Though, is it normal for them to keep asking about food? They do realize we don’t need to eat, right?”
I choke on a laugh, more tears streaming down my cheeks.
“There’s nothing wrong with imagining scrumptious delights,” Tarlaz defends.
I keep laughing, and I cling to Raith’s arms.
“Take care of yourselves,” I tell Elgen, Tarlaz, and Alina. “I hope the beyond is incredible.”
“You too, Shay,” Alina replies, glancing at the foxret cubs one last time.
“We will, girl,” Elgen says.
“Be the goddess you were chosen to be, child,” Tarlaz tells me. “Even without our amplification power, the shadow realm has trusted its heart to you. I know you will protect it wisely, as will your mates.”
I nod and blink through my tears. “I will,” I rasp, hardly able to get the words out.
With one last look at me, I feel Elgen and Tarlaz’s souls disconnect from mine, their power fading until I can no longer sense it, and the three of them disappear at once.
I sob when they’re gone, my heart aching, but I try to remind myself that wherever they are, they’re happy.
My mates hold me for a long while, and I turn my attention to the cubs to distract myself. When my tears finally stop falling, I smile at the cute balls of fur that are jumping and tumbling with one another.
“Okay,” I say softly, pulling myself together. “I guess we should get going. Blake and the others are waiting for us.”
Raith turns me toward him, and he kisses me gently. Galen brushes his fingers against my cheek, Knox presses a kiss to my hand, and Thane’s shadows slide along my body.
“Only if you’re ready, tiny mate,” Raith’s monster growls as dark horns appear above Raith’s head.
I sniffle and lean into Raith’s hard chest. Turning my head, I peer back at the three cubs.
“Maybe just a little longer then,” I say, because staring at those cubs reminds me of my friends, Alina, Elgen, and Tarlaz.
I’m not quite ready to let them go, and the cubs remind me that this isn’t an ending. It’s simply another beginning.
“We’ll take care of the shadow realm,” I whisper out at the forest. “I promise.”
Thank you so much for reading A Bond So Deadly!