I wanted to tell him to go to hell, but couldn’t. What if he was telling the truth? What if I could use him for my own gain?
“Do you know where my father is?” I asked.
“No, but I have people looking for him. Jerome has been quite adept at eluding us.”
Yeah, I knew all about that.
“If you find him do you promise to tell me and let me be the one to kill him?” At this point, I’d give Yerik almost anything he wanted for the chance to take down my father. That duel wouldn’t have happened if not for Jerome, and Felisha would still be alive.
“I do,” he agreed. “Does this mean you’ll join me?”
“Not until you tell me all this again in person.”
“Very well, though it may be a while,” he cautioned.
“You’re the one in a hurry to get my answer, not me.”
“Keep checking your phone. I’ll contact you soon.” He hung up.
Stuffing the phone in my pocket, I headed back toward Nik’s—or soon to be Derrick’s. I didn’t know how I was going to handle facing the pain and misery that would swamp me once I got there.
Epilogue
I held Charlie’s letter in my hand—envelope still unopened. It had been a week since he’d died and five days since I’d lost Felisha. Nik and Josslyn were gone. No one had any idea where they’d went after they packed their personal belongings and left in one of his SUVs.
Derrick had taken over and everyone swore fealty to him—except me. I’d told him I accepted his new position, but that I had to remain my own person. If for no other reason than Lucas was the only one I really owed any loyalty. He hadn’t argued the point.
Taking a deep breath, I tore the envelope open and pulled Charlie’s letter out. It wasn’t long, but once again he’d managed to get the last word—
Melena,
If you are reading this, then I am gone. I’ve known for some time my demise would come soon, though I knew not the method. Only that it was my fate. It is up to each of us to let go of what is past and accept what is inevitable. For you, this is most especially true.
Do not allow your fears and misgivings to cloud the truth that lies before you. And when the darkness begins to overwhelm, use the light in your heart to push it back. I have full confidence that you will do what is best. This is not the end, but a new beginning. Embrace the opportunities that come with it.
May the wisdom of the ancestors guide you.
~Charlie
P.S.- Please do not give my successor the same difficult time you gave me. He is young and must find his own way.
I set the letter down on the dining room table. Somehow it gave me closure, knowing he was at peace with his death. I didn’t have a letter from Felisha. She’d made the decision to give her life at the last moment when she knew Nik’s was hanging in the balance. I didn’t know how long I’d continue to lay awake in bed at night reliving her death. The look in her eyes—I’d never forget.
The herb shop was closed now. I’d only been able to go once in the last few days and even then just for two hours. Bambi had helped. She’d promised she’d keep working on it whether I returned or not. I suspected she was sad, too, but used the shop as her place of mourning.
Lucas flashed into the living room. He made his way toward me and wrapped his arms around my body. I let him infuse me with a dose of his strength before pulling away.
“Any luck in New York?” I asked.
Talking about anything other than the problems in Fairbanks seemed like the best idea.
“No.” He shook his head. “But that’s not why I’m here.”
My brows creased. “Then why are you?”
“Get your keys and that fool guardian. I have something I want you to see.”
I gave him a skeptical look, but did as he requested. Kerbasi was in his shack reading a book on gardening. He’d been quieter over the last few days and less quick to make his snarky comments. If I hadn’t known better I might have thought he was giving me space to mourn the losses of my friends—or maybe he just had indigestion from all the food he continued to eat.
We headed out for the Jeep and settled inside. I started the engine and looked at Lucas.
“Get on the highway,” he said, giving no sign of what he planned. “I’ll direct you from there.”
I pulled the Jeep out onto the road. “I don’t suppose you can give me a hint?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Twenty minutes later we pulled in front of a house east of where we’d started. It looked new. A two-story home with pale yellow siding and a set of four steps leading to a covered porch that stretched across the front. There was a two-car garage on the right side and what would likely be bedrooms above it.
I sat in the vehicle staring at it. “Who lives here?”
“We will,” Lucas replied.
“What?” I swung my head toward him.
“Shortly after I returned from Purgatory, construction began on this house. It was no easy task getting it built quickly, even with a little supernatural help, but I’ve now got it finished.”
“You’re serious.” I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
“I am.” His golden eyes danced with anticipation.
Getting out of the Jeep slowly, I walked toward the place. It didn’t seem real. He’d had a place built just for us and kept it simple. Nothing ostentatious that would annoy me, but something nice and practical. This would be our first house as a couple. I could look forward to us making it into a home we could enjoy together.
He came up behind me. “There are four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Emily helped choose the furniture. It will be delivered tomorrow.”
“How long has she known?” I asked, looking up at him.
“Almost since I started, actually.”
“I’m impressed that she kept it from me.” It wasn’t to say Emily couldn’t keep a secret, but this was a huge one to hold back.
Lucas gave me an amused look. “She loves you, Melena. No matter her recent behavior, she wants to see you happy.”
“I’m surprised she isn’t here now,” I said, walking around the side of the house to find an open backyard with the tree line starting about a hundred feet back. Sable was going to love this place with the dense woods and fewer neighbors.
“Hunter took her grocery shopping. She was too excited to wait, but they should be here shortly.”
I shook my head. “The poor guy hasn’t had much time to see her lately.”
Derrick had reluctantly accepted his return after Hunter’s father intervened, but the boy was stuck doing all sorts of odd jobs for the pack as punishment for defying his alpha. It had started as soon as we brought them back from Juneau four days ago. I might have made them stay there longer, but DHS had officially pulled out of town and Lucas had confirmed Zoe was suitably confined—though he wouldn’t say how. I’d get it out of him eventually.
Things were still transitioning since Derrick had taken over, but it was stable. Werewolves had most of the higher positions and Kariann’s duties were reduced to being on the night security team. I had full confidence she’d work her way back up.
Lucas pulled me into his embrace. “You know I must continue looking for my brother, but I want this to be our home. Do you think you can be happy here?
Happy was a relative term these days, but I knew what he meant. I had to quell the anger inside at having to watch him go—again—to search for a man that wasn’t really missing. Higher forces were keeping us apart, but they couldn’t do it forever. Someday we’d be able to settle down and truly begin our lives. This new house would be the first step.
“Yeah, I think I can.” I smiled at him.
Kerbasi walked up. “Where will I sleep?”
“I’ve ordered a large dog house…” Lucas began.
I punched him in the arm. “Don’t bait him right now. We can move his shed from the other house and bring it here.”
“You get a new house and I’m given the same?” Kerbasi crossed his arms.
“Hey, if you’re good I’ll let you sleep in one of the spare rooms on the really cold nights.”
He looked at me skeptically. “Define cold.”
“How about…” I tapped my chin, “when it gets to negative fifty? I think that’s fair.”
The guardian sputtered as Lucas laughed.
Author’s Note
Thanks to everyone who has stayed with the series this far. I hope you’ve enjoyed the novels and continue to do so. For those wondering, there will be two more novels in the main series with the next one (book five) releasing early 2015. After completion of the series there will be two spin-off paranormal romance books that will feature other known characters.
I’ve also agreed to write a short story (between 10-20k words) for a Christmas anthology with other UF authors that will be available this coming December (2014). It will center on Kerbasi and his first experience with the holiday, though other familiar characters will be in there, too.
For more details be sure to follow my blog at
www.darknesshaunts.com
to get the latest news on the anthology when the time gets closer. You can also subscribe to get book release alerts by emailing me at
[email protected]
and be sure to include which retailer you use so you’ll get the proper links. Your information will never be shared and I will not bother you with anything else.
About Susan Illene
Instead of making the traditional post high school move and attending college, Susan joined the U.S. Army. She spent her eighteenth birthday in the gas chamber — an experience she is sure is best left for criminals. For eleven years she served first as a human resources specialist and later as an Arabic linguist (mostly in Airborne units). Though all her duty assignments were stateside, she did make two deployments to Iraq where her language skills were put to regular use.
After leaving the service in 2009, Susan returned to school to study history with a focus on the Middle East at the University of Oklahoma. She no longer finds many opportunities to test her fighting abilities in real life, unless her husband is demanding she cook him a real meal (macaroni and cheese apparently doesn’t count), but she’s found a new outlet in writing urban fantasy heroines who can.
For more information visit:
You may also find her at:
Twitter-
@susan_illene
Facebook-
www.facebook.com/SusanIllene1
Goodreads-
www.goodreads.com/author/show/6889690.Susan_Illene
Acknowledgments
If I was a smarter person, I wouldn’t delay writing the acknowledgments until the very end when I’m exhausted and just want to get the book out. Sadly, I never learn so here I am in the early hours of the morning working on them this time around. With any luck I’ll do them justice and give everyone who has helped me along the way the credit they deserve.
The first folks I have to thank are Mary and Angela. I can’t imagine where I could have found two more hard-working and patient editors than them, especially Mary who pulls all-nighters with me close to release time (she deserves a medal for it). What baffles me the most is that they keep coming back for more! I don’t know what I’d do without these ladies.
Thanks also to Kristy, Rachel and Heather who spent many hours helping me come up with ideas for this cover, particularly the clothing the models are wearing. You ladies are awesome and I look forward to more projects with you.
Thanks to my family for their support. The exception being my husband who must stop interrupting me every five minutes for random questions and sending text messages to me asking why I’m so mean to him. He has no idea how distracting that is since it requires me to get up and throw something at him before returning to work. On the other hand, he does bring me food so I won’t starve while working on the aforementioned novel. He deserves credit for that.
My father and grandfather are invaluable to me. We discuss grammar/spelling, odd historical details, building materials, and any other helpful information I think I can glean from them. And they’re always ready to help no matter the time of day. Thanks, you two!
A huge thanks to my cover design team (who also handles the promo material). Claudia at Phat Puppy art does the best cover art ever I’ve ever seen with the help of Ashley at Bookish Brunette who handles the typography. Teresa Yeh, who conducts the model photo shoots, is the absolute best to work with and does a fantastic job. Thanks also to Haley and Steve for all their hard work posing for the covers and promo materials. I’m looking forward to working with you again next month!
To the many people I met in New Orleans during my trip in July from tour guides to the hotel staff at The Olivier House. I truly appreciate your taking the time to answer all my questions. A special mention must go to Francis Swigart who allowed me to tour her apartment building in the French Quarter and get a good look at the inside. She was especially accommodating and so happy to help. I can't thank her enough.