Page 14 of Hybrid Heroics

There had been no other choice, though.

Only death.

I wasn’t willing to hand over my life without a fight, so they died following orders or seeking the bounty on my head.

All of that was over now.

And this new chapter that we’d embarked on with Sloane was coming to a close, too.

We’d still have her, but all these trips to chase Alric would be done soon. It was only a matter of time before we found him. He’d grown desperate recently, which led me to believe this was the end.

The end of what? I didn’t know…

None of us did.

The prophecy would be fulfilled, but what came next?

Going back to work at CBP and running the factory floor had sounded nice a couple of weeks ago. Truth be told, it sounded safe while I was weak.

I wasn’t that fae anymore, though.

So, where could I go from here?

Nowhere alone. Not that I would even entertain that thought.

The better question was: What chaos would Sloane find for us once everything settled down?

Would we train for the next worldwide catastrophe?

Would we retire and live a peaceful life without wars and constant bloodshed?

That thought made me grin. It was absolutely asinine.

Our mate would find trouble, even if it actively avoided her.

Sloane King was many things, but idle wasn’t in her repertoire.

No.

She schemed and plotted without effort, as if she simply breathed her chaos into existence as she blinked through a tiresome conversation. As if there were multiple thought processes happening inside her head at once, like a team of Sloanes whose sole purpose was to stock her with creative mischief.

When this battle was over, and she’d defeated her foe with her gang of merry men, she’d find another war to wage.

After all, boredom was her number one enemy.

Tuesday, June 23rd

Late Morning

I couldn’t keep my gaze off Sloane. She was so delicate in my arms, with her cheek resting against my chest. Her expression was peaceful, relaxed. I could only recall seeing her like this when we were in Hell, when Dolyn’s potion had knocked her out.

I kept trying to tell myself that she was sleeping.

It was a struggle to believe that lie.

I was worried. We all were, but there wasn’t anything we could do to change this... Outcome? I wasn’t even sure what to call it anymore.

Pissed didn’t cover how I felt about her closing our bond. I was lost in an unfamiliar forest with no scent around to bring me home. My nose was useless. My wolf had howled until only whimpers were left.