Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

ORION

G iven the state of Lance's face, he shouldn't be standing on top of a lorry, let alone pointing a rifle at us.

What happened to him?

His eyes were pink.

"The bullet won't get through," Tilda said, cold fury in her tone.

Dawn-as-Lance fired the gun. The bullet bounced off the ring of water, shattering glass somewhere behind us.

Tilda checked her watch. "Not sure how much longer this will hold. The little hand is wobbly."

Curse Lance.

Curse Dawn.

Curse every stupid twist blocking my reunion with Miko.

"Cherry fae must die! Devour him!" Dawn screamed, reloading the rifle.

The pink smoke of Dawn burst to life around every corpse, every skeleton. One by one, they began to move. Some crawling, some on their feet. But the vibrancy seemed dull, not as strong.

The gun fired again, but Tilda's reflexes were on point. The bullet missed again, hitting a zombie in the head. I heard the impact rather than saw it, ninety percent sure it was the sound of a head popping.

"There will be no escape!" Dawn shrieked, taking Lance's voice to squeakier heights. "There is no hope! There is no hope! There is no?—"

Lance's body exploded, making me yelp.

What in the name of the stars…

"Grim," Tilda mumbled.

The zombies collapsed, the skeletons crumbling. Every set of pink eyes diminished, the smoke dissipating. Everything fell into a silence only tempered by the rain and the rumble of distant thunder.

Tilda slowed to a stop. "I wonder what happened."

"Consuming too much fae blood back in Faery," I answered, gagging on my suggestion.

It was a real possibility, though. A case of Dawn spreading itself too thin, of being too arrogant along with the sting of our blood.

I pray to the stars for the safety of my parents, for the destruction to ? —

I stopped. I'd begged for miracles too many times.

Shaking rainwater from my hair, which was a useless exercise, I reached out for Miko again.

"Are you there?" I asked, trembling in the cold wind.

"We shouldn't stay out in the open too long," Tilda warned.

"I'm trying to connect to him…"

She tapped the left handlebar, leaning forward. "Wish I could be in my ex's head. Might have solved a lot of problems."

Hmmm. This wasn't a spying ability, but never mind.

"Miko?"

Rustling to my left, the sound of running. An animal? A speedie?

"Miko?"

"There's something in the field," Tilda seethed, sitting up.

The black wolf leaped from the overgrown greenery, landing by the side of a small car. Miko shifted into his naked human form, straightening to his full height.

I stared as rainwater cascaded down his perfectly sculpted muscles, the wonder of him snaring my senses in rapture.

"Miko…" I breathed, swimming in a dream river, the world around me melting away.

My mate.

My mate.

My man.

He was right there, dark eyes on mine, breathing the same air. Existing in the same space and time, his arms folded, those lovely lips curling into a tiny smile.

We moved at the same time, me almost losing my footing as I climbed off the bike.

"Careful!" Tilda snapped. "Don't scratch the paint."

Miko and I collided like two atoms, his skin on mine an explosive chemical reaction. The waterworks immediately kicked in, hot tears streaming down my cheeks to rival the rain.

"You're here…" I clung to him, holding him as tightly as he held me. Fighting my weakening knees to stay upright.

"I'm here. You're here."

His whispered baritone almost floored me. Hearing it out loud in the real world held so much power, a force to set my pulse on fire, to break into a million weeping pieces.

Thump, thump.

Thump, thump.

Our hearts beat together in fully synced happiness, finally reunited.

He broke the hug, cupping my face, locking those magnificent eyes to mine. He stroked me under the eyes with the pads of his callused thumbs, his hot breath washing my lips.

Tears ran down his cheeks too.

"You're crying," I said, mirroring his stance, catching the warm rivulets with my thumbs.

"I love you." He brought his lips to mine.

At first, the joining of our flesh was soft and warm and tender. A first kiss from a romance story. Tentative. Beautiful. My tears continued to fall, our lips pressing harder.

His tongue probed, his hands moving to the back of my neck as mine slid to his waist. Our kiss intensified, my skin flushing with gorgeous heat, sparking with electricity. I pressed myself closer to him, my firming cock bumping his. Falling into him, ready to be naked in the rain, to kiss him forever.

His spicy, earthy scent enveloped me, prompting my balls to tighten, lust filling my veins with exquisite fire.

Take me, Miko…

Take me right ? —

"I hate to interrupt, but this really isn't the place to get your rocks off, is it?"

Tilda's voice killed the mood. Good. She was right. How inappropriate, how risky.

How wonderful to kiss him again…

I took a step back, touching my tingling lips, eyes still on my mate.

Miko folded his arms, his cock hard and winking at me.

I kept my eyes on his face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. You?" He closed the gap between us again, checking me over, lifting my jumper to check my stomach.

I quivered as he stroked my flesh.

"I'm…wound free."

Thump, thump.

Thump, thump.

"Oh, and I love you, too," I finally answered him.

He nodded, briefly touching my face with the back of his hand, then glanced at the honey balls before introducing himself to Tilda.

"Apologies for the nudity," he told her, his erection thankfully deflated. "I'm Miko Reyes." He didn't go over to shake her hand.

The fae stayed on the bike. "Nice to meet you."

Miko rummaged through several vehicles, finding a big suitcase in the back of a red car.

Poor Wendy being in my pocket while I sucked face with my mate. I checked on her, cradling her in my palm, sheltering her from the rain.

Still sleeping, still safe, still gorgeously golden.

"Sorry about that," I whispered to her.

I was so looking forward to her waking up to meet Miko as a bee.

Gently stroking her tiny body with my little finger, I returned her to my pocket.

"Perfect," Miko said, slipping on a pair of black jeans, a blue jumper, and some boots.

I approached him. "Lucky find."

"Yeah." He finished lacing the boots, then touched my face again. "My God it's so good to see you, Ori." He glanced at the honey again.

"And you, Mr. Robot."

He chuckled then went to Tilda. "Thanks for your help getting my mate out of Faery."

"Not a problem. We're all in this together."

He folded his arms. "Where's Lance?"

"A pile of goo back there," I responded, pointing at the lorry.

A growl rumbled in his chest, his nostrils flaring. "Prick."

"His face looked… Did something happen to him?"

He told me about their fight and killing him.

"Oh. Crap. How are you feeling?"

"Grateful for a world without him."

His tone was dark, laced with menace.

"Anyway, Orion tells me you're willing to offer your bike," he addressed Tilda.

"I am. Absolutely." She got off the bike. "Promise to take good care of her?"

Miko frowned. "We can't leave you here alone."

"Don't worry about me."

"I—" His head snapped round, every part of him alert. An image of him in wolf form flashed in my mind. He stood on a rock, examining the landscape around him, black fur rippling in the wind.

"James?" he said, head cocked.

I followed his stare, spotting the figures hurrying up the motorway. Three of them—James, Cate, and Paige.

His pack.

I clapped my hands together, mouth spread with joy.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

James, his beta, arrived first, his face like thunder. To punctuate his anger, lightning flashed across the sky, real thunder crashing seconds later.

"Why did you run?" James balled his hands into fists.

I couldn't read Miko's expression, his ability to hold his cards close to his chest a specialty.

"I'm—"

Cate arrived next, interjecting. "Apologies for the interruption, sir, but you can't go running off without us."

Paige ran her fingers through her soggy hair, the only one of the three without anger twisting her features. She smiled at me, coming over to give me a hug.

"I'm so happy to see you, sweetie." The pack medic patted my back. "So, so happy."

"Same here," I answered, elated, tapping my right foot as if listening to a happy beat.

James and Cate both waved at me in sync, the beta promising a hug in a moment. The weapons expert had a sports bag slung over her shoulder.

Tilda stood back and watched, another burst of lightning flashing above our heads.

"We're in this together," James said, his eyes narrowed. "You don't get to run away. This is our fight, too. Dawn has its army, and we have ours. You're no lone ranger." He stepped closer to his alpha. "You know this."

For a few drawn out beats, we all held our breath in anticipation of Miko's response.

Miko pulled his beta into a bear hug. "I love you so much. All of you."

A massive group hug ensued. I kept back with Tilda, enjoying the show.

"Cute," she said.

"It is." As much as I longed to bask in this joy, I stopped my happy foot tapping, steeling myself against?—

I spotted a violet face, a fellow fae, and three other shifters coming up the motorway. I hopped from foot to foot, totally in joy's hold now.

Throwing Trev a hearty wave, I hurried to greet him.

"Mate!" he bellowed.

Trev and I would forever be bonded through our fight to survive, finding the werewolves that morning in south London after almost losing our lives.

We shared our own, careful hug, me going to tiptoes to embrace him.

Finished, he held me by the shoulders with his big hands, a beaming grin on his handsome face.

"You good?" he asked.

"I'm good. You?"

"Fucking awesome, mate. The gang is back together again. Didn't think we'd…you know."

"Survive?" Basil butted in, looking worse for wear.

Trev stepped aside, gently laying his arm across my shoulders so as not to push me onto my ass with his strength.

"I'm glad you're okay," I told my ex.

He cocked an eyebrow. "Do I get a hug?"

He did. After all, he'd been through a lot to save my life. It felt nice, friendly. A different kind of hug between two changed fae.

"I'm happy you are still breathing, Orion." Despite the choice of words, the sincerity practically dripped off every beat. He rubbed my spine and stepped back, his eyes glistening. "Very happy indeed."

"Likewise, Basil Tristan Angelwood." I threw him a cheeky smile.

His sorrowful expression changed, that eyebrow cocking again. "It feels like an age since I last heard that."

That age being a few days ago.

I shook hands with the Gilmore family, then introduced everyone to Tilda.

The rain fell in harder sheets, the thunder closing in, the lightning brighter. While those around me discussed the next steps, I half listened, the other part of me waiting for Dawn's next attack.

"What do you think?" Miko asked me.

I blinked at him, cheeks igniting with bashful heat. "About what?"

He stroked his palm across my hair, tracing his caress down to my chin. "You alright?"

I nodded, leaning into him.

"We're going ahead," he said. "The others will follow. Unless you don't?—"

I cut him off with, "Yes. Good idea." I locked my fingers with his.

He gave my hand a squeeze.

"One revelation for the road," James said, his eyes sparkling as he slid his arm around Cate's waist.

I glanced between them. "What is it?"

Cate smiled softly. "I'm pregnant."

Instantly, I sprang forward with open arms. "You are?"

"I am."

Goodness, what a nugget of elation to temper the impeding showdown. This was something else to fight for, my cheeks hurting from my smile.

"I'm so happy for you both. Congratulations."

James got in his promised hug, Cate next—the final hug until we came out the other side to bask in the sunshine of better days.

There has to be sunshine for their offspring, for everyone.

"We've spent enough time on this road," Miko said. "Let's go."

"What about the honey?" Andrew wondered.

"Once we reach our destination, it will make more of… me."

Six honey balls for six Mikos. Things would certainly be interesting with multiple Mr. Robots running around. Well, as long as the real Miko stayed away from Dawn's heart.

My stomach churned as I climbed onto the back of the bike, Miko already in position.

"The route to Dunstable Down is signposted," Tilda said.

Miko nodded, throwing me a smoldering glance. I wasn't sure if he intended it to heat my loins, but it did anyway.

Yum.

Save it for later…

I wrapped my arms around my mate, resting the side of my face against his back. I wriggled closer, being mindful of Wendy, my crotch pressing into the base of his spine. But no longer in a sexual way, my lusty thoughts diminished by the touch of reality.

This was it.

This was the end.

Please let this be the end…