Epilogue
Serenity
I spent the morning of New Year’s Day tangled up with the four loves of my life.
At some point I’d been passed by way of strong arms from the bedroom to the living room’s largest chaise-lounge, where I now lay gasping as Hunter helped me clean the remnants of our lovemaking striped across my skin.
I caught a drop on a fingertip. Salt with a hint of cinnamon.
I’d started last year shivering and starving on the streets, wandering in search of a warm corner to curl up in until I could earn a dollar.
This year, I woke in a lavish country estate, halfway between New Lincoln and New Omaha, surrounded by affection.
I had great new friends to share holidays with, too.
We’d spent Christmas with Beatrice—who was happily adopting me as a daughter and the other three guys as additional sons—and we’d rung in the New Year with Ceci and her guys at their place.
Ceci and I met up whenever we could, filling up a text thread in the interim.
I also had a great job at Midas that was still going strong, and despite the distance, it was only a twenty-minute commute to the news station.
By helicopter. Yep, my ride to work was a freakin’ helicopter, and I only had to commute half the week, which was lovely, but I had to admit to child-like excitement every time those whirring rotor blades could be heard across the farm’s swaying lakes of corn, pear and plum.
Not many people got the view Bryce, Seb, and I did on our journeys to the office.
Hunter kissed my stomach, and I caressed the spot where his lips had lain, right above our baby. I could still hardly believe it. Pregnant! I was pregnant!
Every dream I’d ever had was coming true all at once, and I could hardly keep up.
It left me dizzy sometimes. Or maybe that was the baby doing that.
I wasn’t sure. We’d only found out a week ago.
When Seb sensed a whole new set of emotions stirring in my womb.
The bond between him and our child was already forming.
We didn’t actually know the biological father, but it didn’t matter, and we didn’t plan to try and find out.
If we had our way, there would be several little ones running around the house.
That wasn’t all we had planned either. Bryce was organizing a ceremony and banquet for all our exchanges of vows, making our commitment to each other official. We’d declare our love on the farm, amidst the wholesome cradle of nature, surrounded by smiles and well-wishers.
But outside of our haven, things in New Nebraska weren’t quite as peachy.
Though illegal drug use had plummeted after Dagger’s precinct locked up the few surviving members of the Marchand coven, hate crimes against half-breeds and humans were rising in the cities.
Winterborn’s gubernatorial campaign was rapidly gathering steam, and his chief supporter, Clyde Blunton, was spewing even more hatred from the Temple’s pulpits than ever before.
Stupid fools playing their political games.
The deep divisions they wanted could only ever end in disaster…
I saw Bryce walk onto the rainy terrace stark naked and sat up, curious. He peered into the crowded, charcoal sky with his arms outstretched, as wisps of steam oozed and fluttered into the blustery breeze. I threw on a silk silver robe and padded up behind him into the brewing storm.
I circled my arms around his chiseled waist. “You realize you’re getting soaked out here in this freezing rain, don’t you?”
He placed his palms on top of mine and rubbed as lightning sliced through the clouds.
A roll of thunder sped the rain spatters into rattles.
We were both drenched already, but the water felt great against my flushed skin.
A romp with Bry always made the fire magic he’d passed to me bubble up.
It never felt dangerous because I was always so relaxed afterward, but cooling off after in a cold shower like this was always welcome.
Bryce’s voice was wistful. “Before you, I got into the habit of stripping off and coming out here on rainy days. I’d imagine the drops and gusts knocking my skin were kisses.
Or delicate fingers giving me the love I craved.
” He turned to face me and rejoined our embrace. “Sounds pretty pitiful, huh?”
I cupped his cheek, rubbing away the dripping liquid. Not sure if the tears were from the sky or his eyes. “No, I think it’s sweet.”
His handsome face reformed into a smile as he drew me in close. We didn’t talk. I just clung to him. Soaked, satisfied, and safe.
Opening my eyes, I looked back to see Dagger peeking his head out from between the terrace’s glass doors. “I hate to interrupt…” He circled his palm at us. “… whatever you’re up to, but that guy’s here to see you, Bryce. The governor candidate. Gerald has him waiting at the reception.”
“Excellent. He’s here right on time.”
“Want me to tell him you’re now conducting all meetings with your cock out, or you want this?” Dagger held up a fluffy cotton robe.
Bryce put it on, and we went back inside to the living room’s warmth and calm.
I changed into yoga pants and a loose sweater I found in the laundry room, and cuddled up with Hunter on the couch as Bryce, who’d quickly slipped into a business casual outfit with a sports coat, poured tea into a cup and sipped.
“I’ve heard good things about Jasper Goodman.
I really hope he’s got the metal to stand up to that sack of shit, Winterborn, in the special election. ”
Gerald soon came through with this Mr. Goodman. And oh my. This guy looked more like a fashion model than an aspiring politician.
The first thing I noticed, apart from his obvious good looks, was that the storm seemed to have hardly affected this hunk.
His floppy blond bangs and fitted suit seemed all but dry.
In fact, as he passed me on the way to Bryce, I saw not even a speck had touched his tousled locks or high cheekbones, nor the faint stubble of his square jaw.
The same went for the slacks that were pressed tight against his wiry physique. Bone dry.
But how? It was bucketing outside and the car park didn’t back right up to the main entrance. Even with an umbrella, you’d have thought at least some rain would have made contact.
Bryce’s hands were bare, so he didn’t offer a handshake. “Mr. Goodman, glad to finally meet you. Seb here’ll shake your hand for me,” he said smiling and brushing the drips from his hair.
The intriguing Mr. Goodman returned the smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all. And call me Jasper, please.”
“Likewise. And call me Bryce. You want some water, Jasper? Tea?”
“Tea would be great, thanks. Anything herbal.” He had a crisp voice, well-enunciated, and the most captivating eyes too. When he’d passed me, they’d looked oaky brown, but now, when he took Bryce’s invitation to sit across from Hunter and I, they’d changed to grass green.
He gave me a kind smile. “You must be, Serenity. Mr. Hard—Bryce’s lovely human partner.”
“Yes, that’s me…” I paused a second and looked down at my palms. They’d jetted fire and devoured my kidnappers. My veins had spilled lava to save my life. Was I still even human?
Jasper thanked Gerald for his steeped tea. He took a couple of sips, clinking the cup on its saucer. “Ginger. Perfect for a day like today.”
Bryce sat in an armchair near the terrace, keeping a sensible distance as he sipped his own drink. “So, Jasper, how goes the fine fight so far?”
He sucked air hard through his teeth. “Challenging. Extremely challenging. But I’m just getting started, and I’m seeing this through to the end.”
Bryce leaned forward. “I’ll do everything I can to help.”
Jasper nodded. “I can’t express how grateful I am for your support. Alexander Winterborn seems to have a money faucet on full flow. I’m guessing I can thank his sponsor, the esteemed overseer, for that.”
“More than likely. Forget them for the moment though, because I have a few resources of my own. First of all, I’ll clear all Midas’s prime-time advertising slots until the election and get young Seb here to work on some more campaigning ideas. Anything we can do to bring voter eyes to you.”
“That is unbelievably generous of you, sir. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. Seb, you ready to—”
Bryce’s phone pinged. He dipped a hand into his sports coat, swiped and tapped. He smirked at the message. “Actually, Seb, how would you like to have Monique’s anchor position?”
Pushing his glasses back toward bulging eyes, Seb gulped. “Uh, for real? Won’t she be mad?”
Bryce shook his head and gestured to his still open phone as he read out part of the message in a mock bitchy tone. “Nope. Cause she’s just resigned to, ‘Work for someone who appreciates my full potential, and actually do some good for New Nebraska.’”
“Then hell yes. And I’m glad she’s gone. The office is going to be much warmer without all that ice.”
“Amen,” I added. She’d been headed for a sacking anyway, working Bryce’s last raw nerve in the past few weeks.
His only concern had been about the stink she would raise if he fired her; it was so much better that she’d resigned.
“I’ll of course help Seb with Jasper’s campaign designs and so on.
Anything to stop that horrible Winterborn getting into power. ”
Still on his phone, Bryce talked and typed. “I’m sending a message to a campaign consultant I know out in the United States. She’s human, of course. But comes from a family of paranormal rights advocates. Her dad fought against the Agreement from the beginning. She’ll be our secret weapon.”
“She’s good?” Jasper asked.
Bryce nodded. “The best. Consider her fees and expenses covered. I’ve copied you into the email so get in touch with her asap.”
“Thanks so much again.” He gulped from his tea and stood. As he adjusted his suit jacket, an earthen scent, like grass after the rain, wafted off him. “I’d better get back to it then.”
We said goodbye to the charming Jasper Goodman.
Pursing his lips, Bryce said somberly, “I hope he truly knows what’s at stake in this fight.”
Standing, I reached across to caress his shoulder. “Seemed to me he did. Try not to worry.” I swept my contented gaze across the room. “And anyway, whatever’s out there, I know what I’ve got in here.”
I peered out at the darkening sky. The storm was still in full swing. But I was starting to feel hot again…
Stretching and yawning theatrically, I said, “The sound of that rainfall’s making me sleepy. I think I’ll take a cat nap. Anyone want to join me?”
I held out a hand for an escort, and instead, I was lifted into the air by three pairs of strong arms, with Bryce directing the others, carried off like a princess on a palisade, my laughter echoing through our home.
As we made our way upstairs, to the largest bed you’ve ever seen, my heart swelled, knowing that whenever I needed them, my guys would always be there to lift me up.
Thank you so much for reading the next installment in my RH romance world!