41. CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 41
Noa
I sat on the end of the dock outside my Azul house. Spring warmed the air. Soon, I’d hear the mating croak from the frogs hiding in the reeds. See the fireflies at dusk, flickering through the shrubs. I swung my bare feet, skimming my toes inches above the clear lake water. Beneath the surface, watergrass waved. Minnows darted. Sunlight raced across the ripples with diamond-bright sparkles.
To my left, Burn snored in his sleep, a low, comforting sound. My fingers stroked his warm pelt. The velvet of his ears. When I sensed movement, I turned my head to stare at my mom. She was sitting on the dock beside me, young, radiant. The way I pictured her on those lonely nights, when all I had were the old photographs from when I’d been five.
The first time I sensed her presence, I told myself it was a hallucination. A relapse from when I’d burned myself out. It had taken some convincing on her part before I accepted it as real.
In my mind, I said, You look happy.
I am. She swung her feet, kicking water that didn’t move. This was an illusion, or something magical, a gift on a different level of existence. Where I saw her, talked to her, felt her presence. But she was not substantial enough to affect this world. To kick water and send it splashing.
I kicked extra hard, splashing both of us, and smiled when she arched an eyebrow.
I’m glad I can talk to you like this, mom.
It is nice, isn’t it?
Where you are… is it nice?
She turned her head to study the shoreline, the pine trees marching up a hill. Her hair was black and luxurious. It’s beautiful, peaceful, like this place.
Is Bron with you?
He was waiting when I crossed.
A bird dove from high above the lake, skimming the clear water and rising with a fish in its talons. Will he ever come visit me?
When you’re ready.
Tell him I forgive him for dying.
A soft laugh. Angel hasn’t.
I wish she had a way to talk to him. She still grieves.
He talks to her, my mother said. And she answers back. But she’s not ready to believe he’s actually there and not a fever dream. Belief is everything, my darling.
I stared at my kicking feet, the beads of water that caught the sunlight. Do you have a wolf… where you are?
Yes.
What does it feel like?
Like something huge gets stuffed up inside you.
I choked at the image. Gods, mom. Aren’t you mixing it up with sex?
That, too. I felt her cup my cheek. I’ve missed your laugh.
I hadn’t laughed in a long time.
Do you remember that book? I asked. The one you hid? You asked me to read it with you and then slammed it closed and told me never to touch it.
You want to know what it said.
It must seem pointless now.
Amal inscribed a message on the first page. It said, “The daughter who finds this, reads and understands the words, opens the door for the daughter’s daughter. And the daughter’s daughter will destroy me.”
What did you think?
The sentence had too many daughters.
A laugh bubbled up. Is that why you hid it?
I didn’t want to believe, my mother said. But in case it was true, I needed you to find her book. No one else. She detailed how you’d kill her and said she’d be insane by that time. Death would be a blessing.
She foresaw her future?
Or a witch foresaw it for her.
I curled my fingers around the dock rim, holding on. So much has happened. I can’t get it right in my head.
Love inspires devotion, my darling. The price you pay to live a full life. To give up everything safe and reach for heroic passion. No matter the outcome.
The kind that burns forests down? The kind that fell in love with Bronson Dade, the Alpha of Blackfish, knowing what he was… what he had surely known he’d be facing.
My mother laughed softly, although a trace of sadness drifted with the humor. You were magnificent. A true catalyst.
I wish I’d never heard that word.
The world was on fire, my darling. Our world, and no one could save it but the two of you. She slid a strand of hair behind her ear, the streak of silver. When I’d asked, she said she’d had a choice, and kept the silver in place because… how would she recognize herself without it?
How is Levi? she asked after a moment. Did he ever catch that girl? Brin, if that was even her name.
She’s dead, I said. He didn’t kill her. She got caught in the middle of the fighting.
I’m glad, my mom said, reaching down to stroke her fingers over my hand—a touch more breeze than human. He’s too young for a burden like that.
I sighed, while the image of Levi’s pale, stark expression brought a fleeting grief. He’d been standing with that damn spear gripped in his hand and staring at her body. Mace had wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Said something through the pack bond that had Levi nodding.
How are you, darling girl?
I’m happy today.
She leaned in, wrapping an arm, enveloping me in her vanilla scent. Give it time. Give yourself love… love him and let him love you. How is he?
He’s slowly healing. His wolf ran with Mace’s wolf, Fallon’s. A day ago. The pack wolves joined them. It was a thing to see, the pure joy. The honor they gave the alphas.
You each need hope. Grab it with both hands. You have a precious gift, being true mates… cherish every moment. Every breath.
I’m glad you have that with Bron, mom. I wish you’d had it all along.
I did. She tipped her head to the side while a secretive smile curved her lips. He’s coming.
Bron?
No.
I turned. Grayson was walking across the grass. Raven-black hair lifted in the breeze, the strands gleaming in the sunlight. He looked strong, healthy. His skin once again was tanned and healed, and if I ripped off his shirt, the alpha tattoo would look as pristine and sensitive as something new.
Joy bloomed inside, filling me to overflowing.
Have you ever seen a man as stunning? I asked my mom. Other than Bron, of course.
No answer. She’d disappeared, leaving a faint trace of vanilla behind. I stood, pushed my feet into the waiting sandals. Burn roused and joined me, his tail wagging as we met my mate halfway along the dock.
I cupped Grayson’s face while the dog ambled on ahead.
“I am blessed,” I murmured, a swelling pressure making my throat tight.
He smiled, stroking the hair back from my face. “You’re late.”
“Late? And what plans have I somehow forgotten?”
He laced his fingers through mine. “Do you want to change first? Or go as you are?”
I peeked at him over my shoulder. “I bought a new dress.”
“What color?”
“Scandalously sexy.”
His mouth twitched. “That can’t be a real color.”
“I’ll help you out. It’s black, by some designer Fallon insisted I try, with a neckline and thigh slit guaranteed to ignite all your alpha-ness.”
His fingers tightened. “Am I’m being punished?”
“If you consider punishment having to stare at me throughout this surprise I have forgotten, then… yes.” I stared at my shorts and cropped tee, with the flip-flops that tap-tap-tapped. “Or I can dress like a slob.”
You’ll never dress like a slob, Bedisa. No matter what you wear.
Why not stay in? I offered, gliding my hand down his arm. I won’t wear anything.
“This is my gift to you,” he said with a mysterious little twitch to his smile. “Be a good girl and punish me.”
I dressed quickly. The dress was everything I’d described, slinky, sexy, with that can’t-wait-to-seduce-you vibe. I wore strappy sandals since Grayson warned me we’d be walking. I left my hair loose, with one side pulled back with a glossy clip.
When I walked from the bedroom, his eyes glittered. The indrawn breath he took was slow and hard. He was beautiful in slacks and a shirt. Black, of course, but we were mirrors, the perfect couple. The sleeveless design of the dress revealed the tattoos he’d inked on my skin. The dread lord sigil.
“Beautiful,” he said. We walked hand-in-hand toward the center of Azul. The town was lush with spring flowers. The sky was gorgeous, the evening breeze sweet and teasing.
“Do you remember what you wished for?” he asked before sending the image into my head, and I listened to the sound of my voice from months ago.
I’d like to see the sunset, someplace warm, where I can sit outside at a little café table with a red umbrella. There’d be flowers, and I’d have a glass of white wine, a view of the lake and the light on the water. Hear music playing. The last calls of the birds before they roost for the night. Children laughing.
He’d said, “That’s fairly specific.”
And I’d asked, “Will we ever have that again, Grayson?”
“I can’t guarantee the weather.”
But the weather… the weather was perfect. I didn’t stop smiling when he led me to the café, where the red umbrella caught the last rays of the sun. The view of the lake was breathtaking. A bottle of white wine waited in a bucket of ice. I nearly fainted when I saw the label and recognized the vintage.
“How much did that…” I strangled on the question. My pulse was pounding too rapidly.
Grayson deftly removed the cork. Poured a half inch into a stemmed glass, held it out.
Ambrosia was on my tongue as I sipped, swallowed, and managed a husky, “Is this the most expensive bottle in the world?”
His eyes brightened, grew secretive. “So rare, men are lined up ready to fight me for it. Antoine sent this bottle. A gift for you.”
My knees weakened. I slid into the chair he held out. My love, my mate, settled across from me, mystery and love drifting across his face. I reached across to grip his hand.
However you want me, I’ll meet you there.
However you need me, Bedisa. I’ll hold you there.
The sun shifted lower in the sky. The first vermillion spangles danced on the lake, spreading ribbons across the water. Birds cried overhead, the songs of evening. The breeze brushed tender fingers through my hair. I tightened my hand around Grayson’s and stroked his skin with my thumb.
“You forgot one thing,” I murmured, barely containing the tease.
And the Alpha of Sentinel Falls, the Dread Lord, smirked at me. “Did I?”
He tipped his head.
Clowns tumbled into the street, leading a parade of delighted, laughing children. Red balloons floated from strings. Clown-sized cars honked and circled. Dancing goats dressed up in flowers nudged at the planters, always hungry for more. Levi joined in the fun. Laura. Fallon and Mace. Leo. Hattie. Oscar. So many others.
The words he’d said so long ago floated through my head.
I’ll hire a clown to make sure the children laugh.
Make it a good clown, Grayson.
The clowns were more than good… and when the children laughed…
This, I thought.
This was heroic passion. Worth every price we’d had to pay. What Fate had always, always believed in, and promised us.
This was hope.
This was… us.
The end