Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
On the wall in front of me, our shadows tangle and merge. My palms are sore, and my knees are bruised by the time Jaeger grunts and spills into me. His cock pulses, and he scrapes his teeth over my bare shoulder. I shudder in pleasure.
His weight sags into me, and it feels so good. But the moment passes, and I grow uncomfortable being crushed.
I sit up and knock into him. He grunts, and I remember his gut wound.
“Did I hurt you?” I reach out to him.
“No. It’s not my blood.” He gives me a feral smile, and for some reason, I think this is hilarious. My laughter bounces off the walls.
He pulls me to my feet, and my dress flops off my shoulder, baring my breast. He’s torn my gown, which makes me giggle again.
“I’ve got you,” he murmurs and pulls me close. He lifts me off my feet, and I struggle until he tells me to stop.
“I’ll hurt you.” He’s still recovering from getting shot, for godssakes.
“Elodie. Let me carry you.”
I go very still so I don’t hurt him. He hoists me against him, and I turn so I’m huddled against his chest, holding the scraps of my dress up so I’m not half topless.
“Now what?” The scent of smoke and incense is strong around us, making my head swim and think of rituals and vows uttered in Latin.
“Now we go home.”
He starts walking through the dark. And despite everything—killing a man, getting fucked on the floor until my sex is sore and cum is running out of me—I feel warm all the way through.
He enters an elevator and speaks the code. “Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch’entrate.” The door closes, and the elevator ascends. I’ll have to get him to teach me the code one day. But there’ll be time for that.
We have forever.
EPILOGUE
Jaeger
There’s nothing like springtime in the country. It wasn’t so bad spending a long winter inside, hibernating on the couch with my elita, but it’s nice to stand on the deck at the Lodge and breathe in the fresh air.
We came to Billionaire Island today, summoned by Damien. He likes to host what Lucy calls “family dinner.” We used to gather like this on Sundays when we were kids, and Father Francis lured us into church by promising us a good meal. Now, we break bread by feasting on five courses, followed by expensive booze and cigars in the lounge.
I’ve left the festivities for a moment outside alone. Elodie’s inside, hanging with a group of elitas. She’s made friends, and I’m glad.
“Brother.” Kaiser steps onto the deck. The forest scent hits him, and he inhales, tilting his head back. The fresh air washes the tension from his face. He sets his drink down on the railing and braces his hands on either side of it, gripping the wood and breathing deeply. His eyes are half-closed. I could tease him about communing with the trees or some shit, but I don’t.
I say, “Did you ever think we would have something like this?”
His eyes blink open. Blue, like mine. Like looking into a mirror. Sometimes, I think I can hear his thoughts. They often mirror mine, too.
“No. But we had each other.”
“We did. And now we have this.” I smile at him, and his eyes crinkle. He doesn’t smile, not like I do. But I’m looking past him into the Lodge, where Elodie sits in a cluster of women. She throws her head back, laughing.
“And you have her.” Kaiser bumps my arm with his. I drag my eyes away from Elodie.
No one else can read Kaiser’s stone expression, but I can. No one else would be able to hear the longing in his voice, but I do.
I know him as well as myself. He wants someone like my bunny. All the power and wealth mean nothing if there’s no one to share midnights with.
That’s why I forgave him so quickly for his betrayal. For a long time, he was all I had. It’ll always be him and me, even though now it’s him and me and her.
“St. James was looking for you,” I say. “Maybe he has something for you.” Or someone.
Kaiser grunts and glances back inside. I steal his drink and grin at him over the rim of the glass.
“Asshole,” he says, but now even his lips are smiling.
“Hey, tomorrow night. Movie at our place. There’s a new holiday rom-com.”
“They’re still playing those? It’s not even Christmas.”
“I bought them all for Elodie.”
He snorts. “For Elodie. Sure.”
“The long-lost prince has a brother.” I waggle my brows.
“I’ll bring the popcorn.” He walks away, back inside, pausing to hold the door open for Elodie.
And then, it’s just the two of us on the deck.
“There you are.” Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are bright. She’s found her footing in Fraternitas. Her ankle has long since healed, and she takes a few shifts at Inferno each week, waitressing while I sit at the bar to keep watch. And now, she knows almost everyone by name.