20. Olivia

Iwouldn't deny that I had been searching for the portal every chance I got. I peered through trees, down paths, and even between stone ruins, hoping to see this tell-tale shimmer. But now that I'd found it and I could see home, I found myself oddly reticent to take that last step that would bring me closer to safety, indoor plumbing, and normality. I could make all those changes I had thought about. A new job, new boyfriend, new life. I wouldn't be chased through forests by goblins. I would eat food I recognized. I would have a bathroom in the house!

But then I looked at the giant minotaur and scarred orc, two creatures I only thought existed in video games or books, and realized how much I would be losing too. They cared for me, even loved me, I believed. More than anyone else had in my entire life. They were willing to sacrifice themselves for me, something I knew no one else would have done for me, ever. They consistently put me first, and I knew that would continue for my entire life.

Was my previous life worth giving that up? Sure, right now things looked bleak, but my life could be good here, once we dispatched the goblins. If we survived.

I looked at the portal again, seeing a car driving down the lane, a car that looked like my ex-boyfriend's beat-up sedan. Could he be looking for me? After all this time?

I turned to Jarrus and saw a goblin behind him with a sword raised about to strike. Without thinking, I lunged and stabbed the creepy bastard in the chest, the long knife sliding in much easier than I expected.

Jarrus whirled around, while Kharag grabbed me before I fell, off-balance from my movement. "You saved me, Olivia."

"Someone had to save my mate," I quipped, a little shaky from actually killing something.

Kharag held me close while Jarrus pulled the knife out and cleaned it on the goblin's tunic. Then he handed it to me. Kharag pulled me to the portal that was closing rapidly. "You have to go now."

I shook my head. "No, my decision is made. I'm staying. We'll face this together."

With those words, the portal closed. Oddly, I didn't feel any regret. The decision felt right, as if this was where I was supposed to be. My mates, however, looked sad and regretful. "You may have sealed your fate, lass. That was your chance for freedom."

I tugged Kharag's face to mine and kissed him. "I'd rather die here than live without you both there." I pulled Jarrus to me and kissed him, also. "Now, let's kill these goblins and get on with living."

We arrayed ourselves together, me between them, Kharag facing the forest and Jarrus looking behind us, and waiting for the onslaught.

Silence dragged on and Kharag cursed. "Where are they? Sneaking around us?"

A horn sounded and Jarrus jerked, his head turning in the direction the horse had fled. "The herd!"

Hooves pounded like thunder and a large group of minotaurs swept out from the forest, a panicked group of goblins in front of them, squealing and fleeing for their lives. It took no time for them to be cut down, including their foul leader Azad who was dragged from the forest and beheaded.

I winced at that and buried my head against Kharag, who rubbed his hand up and down my back. "It had to be done, lass, or he would have dogged our steps forever."

I nodded, but didn't want to watch. I didn't need to. We were safe and now we had the rest of our lives together. Whatever that meant.