25. Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

N atalie

The Integration Zone looms before me, a pathetic conglomeration of worn buildings and narrow streets enclosed by towering fences topped with razor wire. My heart races as I approach the gate. I'm terrified to pass through the checkpoint guarded by the U.S. military, yet my fear is overpowered by the excitement of seeing Fury again.

Did I just imagine how handsome he is? How deep our connection? How this angry, walled-off guy with a hard shell around his heart opened himself to show me his beautiful soul? I guess I'll see in a few minutes.

This is it. Parts of Fury's world I've only glimpsed in snatches of conversation and haunted eyes will be laid bare to me.

The guard at the checkpoint eyes me warily, his hand resting on the butt of his gun. "State your business."

I lift my chin, meeting his gaze squarely. "I'm here to see Fury. Of the Wolven Warriors."

He checks his clipboard, nods, then opens the gate for me. I'm glad he didn't give me any grief; maybe they chose compassionate people for the job .

While I was waiting, I glimpsed Fury on the other side of the gate. He had no idea what kind of car I drive, but must have figured out this is me, because he's edged forward as the gate slid open.

Fury. My heart lurches at the sight of him, drinking in every beloved detail. The way his almost-white hair catches the sunlight, the breadth of his pelted shoulders, the coiled strength in his stance. And that smile, slow and warm and just for me.

"Tally." The word explodes from his mouth as though he's waited a lifetime to say it to me.

I pull to the side of the nearly empty streets. Somewhere I read that there are almost no cars in the Zone. It makes sense. Who would have the money—or need—for such a thing when most Others' income is below the poverty line?

I'm barely out of my car when Fury reaches me, his arms engulfing me in a hug that feels like coming home. I sink into his embrace, breathing him in, relishing his scent, the solid heat of him.

"Hi," I murmur into his chest, giddy and breathless. "Oh…" I have so much to say, so many words and thoughts and hopes and questions ready to spill from my lips. But there's time for that later. Right now, I just want to feel and smell and see this male I've fallen for.

His chuckle rumbles through me, a soothing bass note. Perhaps that chuckle was the precursor to a little joke he'd wanted to tell me, but what comes out is a heartfelt, "You have no idea how many moments in the last few days I've wondered if any of it was real. If you were real, if your feelings were real." Pulling back, he touches his forehead to mine, his quicksilver eyes bright with emotion. "I'm so glad you came."

"Nowhere else I'd rather be."

And it's true. Standing here, on the threshold of this strange, segregated world, I've never been more certain of anything. This is where I was meant to be. By his side, come what may .

"Where's your little black shadow?"

"The pack's taken him under their wing. He's with them. He'll go crazy when he sees you, though."

"And there's a question I've been burning to ask for days…"

"Yeah?"

"What does sur'nam mean?"

He lifts me by my waist and twirls me in a circle. Fury. My angry wolven is acting like a silly, lovesick fool. It's adorable.

"The literal translation is precious, but when I say it, you can take it however you want. Precious, beautiful, beloved…" He pauses on that one, I guess, so I can soak it up, which I do.

Bending, I manage to kiss the soft hair between his wolven ears, then wiggle until he sets me down. Twining my fingers with his, I tip my head toward the Zone, quirking a brow. "So? You gonna show me around or what?"

His grin is a flash of fang, playful and full of promise. "Your wish is my command." Tugging me forward, we leave my parked car, and he leads me into the bustling heart of the Integration Zone.

It's a riot of color and sound, a hodgepodge of ramshackle buildings and narrow alleys teeming with life. Others of every shape and size go about their business: loincloth-wearing minotaurs haggling over prices, orcs lounging on stoops, even a pair of nagas slithering by, their opalescent scales shimmering in the morning light.

I turn to Fury, my eyes wide with wonder. "It's amazing. Like stepping into another world."

Pride and something infinitely tender softens his features. "It is, isn't it? Not much to look at, maybe. But it's ours."

We walk for a while, his warm hand never leaving mine. He points out landmarks, shares stories of his life here: the park where he goes to escape his demons; the street vendor with the best naganese burritos called darendells ; the remodeled medical clinic. Each small detail, each precious glimpse into his world, into him , I tuck away like a treasure.

Raucous laughter draws my attention to a cluster of orcs playing something that looks like an Other game of horseshoes, though it's played with rocks the size of bowling balls. At the sight of Fury, they let out a chorus of hoots and hollers.

"Well, well, well! If it isn't the wolven of the hour! We heard you're a hero. You made the news with that mountain rescue." The largest of them, his green skin covered in intricate tattoos, claps Fury on the shoulder. "And who's this pretty little thing?"

Fury's arm snakes around my waist, a clear signal of our relationship. "This is Tally, Grash. My Tally."

My heart flips at the possessive note in his voice, the ease with which he claims me as his own.

"Oh ho! So this is the female who finally got our boy to crack a smile!" Grash's grin is all teeth and thick ivory tusks, his amber eyes glinting with mischief. "Never thought I'd see the day."

"You and me both," Fury mutters as he tucks me even tighter.

My eyes dance between them, curiosity piqued. "Oh? Do tell."

Grash roars with laughter. "Stick around, sweetheart. I've got stories that would curl your hair."

"And that's our cue to leave," Fury cuts in, already steering me away. "Don't believe a word the big lug says," he shouts over his shoulder, "he's full of it."

Their good-natured ribbing follows us down the street, a glimpse into a camaraderie, a brotherhood, I'm only just beginning to understand.

A strange heaviness settles in my chest. The easy way Fury walks these streets, the warmth and respect that greets him at every turn… it throws into stark relief just how much I still have to learn about this male who's captured my heart .

For a moment, a flicker of fear curls in my gut. If all these Others knew the truth about me, about my father and the role he played in their suffering, would they still welcome me?

Almost as if he can sense my dark turn of thoughts, Fury's fingers tighten around mine. "Hey. You okay? Are my people too much for you?"

Letting my gaze linger on the wretched beauty around me, I nuzzle closer to Fury's pelt, soaking in his wild scent that somehow still smells of pine and snow.

"Not too much. Just wondering what they'd think if they knew who I really am." I didn't want to admit that, but am so glad I feel close enough to Fury to say what's on my mind, even the hard stuff.

"I've told them what they need to know about you, and soon they'll learn who you are by your words and deeds. You're an amazing human who's dedicated her life to helping the planet and the animals who live here. Why wouldn't they like you?"

I square my shoulders and flash him a smile. "Right." He gets it, really gets on a soul-deep level that I am not my father.

His quicksilver eyes search mine, probing, then he nods, letting it go for now. "Well, come on then. It gets even better."

With a tug, he pulls me down a narrow side street to a door with the stylized black WW logo of Wolven Warriors Security proudly on display beside a number pad. He punches in several numbers, the door unlocks, and he hurries me through what looks like a biker hangout filled with couches in various stages of disrepair before he leads me up a few flights of stairs.

"Welcome to Casa de Fury," he declares as he opens a door to what must be his apartment. He throws his arms wide and gestures me through the door. "Don't expect much. Been a while since I had guests."

With a deep breath, I step inside… and freeze, blinking in surprise. The small space is tidy, if a bit sparse. A threadbare couch, an ancient table with mismatched chairs. But there are touches of care, of effort. A vase of wildflowers on the counter. A throw blanket neatly folded over the couch. Even a framed photo of Fury and his squad grinning in their matching polos.

It's not much. But it's his, and that makes it perfect.

"Fury…" I turn to him, tears pricking my eyes. "This is wonderful."

He ducks his head, uncharacteristically bashful. "It's not much, I know. The guys helped me clean up a bit. Wanted it to be, you know. Nice. For you."

After crossing to him, my arms wind around his neck, pulling him close. "It is nice. It's real, and it's you. And I love every bit of it. Every bit of you."

He lets out a shaky exhale, forehead falling to rest against mine. "Goddess, Tally. The things you do to me."

We stand here for a timeless moment, wrapped up in each other, in this little slice of hard-won peace. The shadows of the past and the uncertainty of the future fall away, leaving only this. Only us. Only now.

"I love you," I breathe into the scant space between us. "No matter what comes, that won't change."

His eyes change from silver to the color of the hottest blue of a butane flame, his arms tightening around me until it feels as though he's trying to fuse us together. His lips find mine, fierce and desperate, a searing promise. The kiss deepens, a wild thing, and I know he tastes my conviction, my truth, on my tongue.

Everything else can wait. The Zone, my father's sins, the barriers that still stretch between his world and mine.

For now, there is only this. Only the sweet ache of coming together, the bone-deep knowledge that we've found something precious, something real.

Something worth fighting for.