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I reach out, my fingers sinking into the creature’s shadowy fur, scratching gently behind its dark ears. The beast leans into my hand, completely docile and happy by my touch. Through the link, the three of us are entirely synced. No secrets, no walls, no fear.
As the morning golden rays cut through the fog outside, I look out over the redwoods of Wraith Harbor. The monster from my past is dead. I don’t have to run anymore.
I close my eyes, sinking deeper into Vesper’s strong arms and the comforting warm shadows of the cryptid.
Chapter twenty-four
Bellamy
For the first time in a long time, my chest doesn't feel tight with anxiety when I open my eyes. That sense of dread that used to settle behind my ribs, along with that silent terror of waiting for Gregory’s men to find me is gone. It’s replaced by a warmth that hums through the link. I won’t pretend to suddenly be healed, but I can’t help the small smile pulling at my lips.
The smell of hot espresso hits my senses, sharp and inviting in the quiet morning air. I roll over to find Vesper sitting up against the headboard, a cup of coffee in his hand. He’s dressed in nothing but a pair of sleep pants that ride low on his hips, his black hair falling in his face, slightly messy, and his crimson eyes sparkling with warmth.
"Good morning, Bell," Vesper murmurs, setting his cup on the nightstand and leaning down to press a soft kiss against the mark on my neck. His hair caresses my skin and tickles.
"Good morning.”
Vesper's thumb traces my cheekbone. "Killian left a few hours ago. He had fun ordering my staff around, making sure the manor was spotless for you today. Know one would ever guess a corrupt politician had his soul devoured by an ancient cryptid less than twelve hours ago."
I lean into his touch. "Good."
An hour later, I’m wrapped in my thickest knit sweater, sitting in the dining room as mist rolls across the valley below. The endless sea of redwoods stretching toward Wraith Harbor takes my breath away. Yet as I take in the cold pillars and overly formal furniture around us, a quiet idea starts to take root.
I love the manor’s raw aesthetic, and the safe haven Vesper built here over the years. But now that the threat is gone and we are equals, I want this house to feel less like a lonely fortress, and more like a living palace. I want warm fabrics, lush green plants, custom art, and vibrant colors to decorate our home.
When I mention it over breakfast, Vesper doesn't even hesitate, eager that I truly want to stay. He reaches into his coat pocket, pulls out a credit card, and slides it across the table toward me.
"Take this. Redecorate every room in this estate if it pleases you, Bellamy. I’m excited to see what you do with the place."
"Are you sure?" I ask, raising an eyebrow with a smirk. I stand, making my way around the table and sliding onto his lap. "I have very expensive tastes."
"And I have a shit ton of money just sitting there, waiting for my mate to spend it." Vesper purrs.
“And every time you say the words, your mate, it makes me feral.” I giggle as soon as I feel his cock begin to grow hard under me. I grind against his lap, teasing him until he growls, wrapping his hand around my throat, claws scraping just the way I like.
***
Twenty minutes later, Oakley’s car pulls up to the front steps. He’s flawlessly dressed as he steps out of the driver's side, adjusting his sunglasses. Killian glides down the front steps behind me, wearing a tailored dark coat, looking every bit the lethal, wraith in disguise. He was more than eager to accompany me into town, especially when he found out Oakley was joining.
"Alright, bestie," Oakley says with a grinning salute as I climb into the front passenger seat. "Killian tells me we're going on a very important shopping spree to celebrate something huge. Are you going to fill me in?"
"Celebrate is a fucking understatement," Killian chuckles from the back seat, leaning his head back against the leather headrest. He stretches his arms wide, looking entirely too satisfied with himself. "Let’s just say an old pest problem got permanently exterminated last night. Turns out all you need is a hound hungry enough to take care of the situation."
My heart slams against my ribs. I freeze with my hand halfway to my seatbelt, my throat instantly going dry. I shoot a sharp, wide-eyed look into the rearview mirror, but Killian just winks at me, completely unbothered. That fucker!
Through the link, Vesper’s amused words slide into my mind. ‘You’re projecting your thoughts too loudly, little bird.’
Oakley glances between us, raising a curious brow as he puts the car in drive. "Exterminated? A hound? What, did you guys hire bug eating dog?"
"Something like that," Killian says, tossing a playful shrug. "Relax, Bellamy. Oakley’s your best friend. Besides, he’s gonna find out eventually when the local news reports a sudden drop in local assholes."
Oakley bounces in his seat eagerly. “Oh god, please tell me Gregory died a horrible death. You mentioned bugs… was he tied to an anthill slowly eaten to death?”
Killian lets out a deep bark of laughter, shaking his head. "Far worse than ants, trust me. Think bigger, blacker, and a whole lot hungrier."
My breath catches in my chest as I stare at Oakley in disbelief. "You two are terrible."
"What? The guy was a absolute monster to you," Oakley says, casually checking his blind spot. "If your new boyfriend and his hot friend want to keep you safe, then I'm buying them lunch."
