Epilogue

Mia

“ I still think we should make a run for it,” Aiden growled as we pulled into the parking lot of FFF headquarters.

“And Evangeline and I both told you that running was futile,” I replied.

I was fucking terrified, but it was time to face the music and accept the punishment for my actions. I was hoping that it wouldn’t be death, but if it was, I had my mates by my side. We got out of the car, and I rolled my eyes when I saw Evangeline, Rylan, Kase, and Jett standing outside the building.

“I told you guys not to come,” I sighed as we joined them.

“After everything we’ve gone through together, there is no way we were going to let you face the Guild on your own,” Kase replied.

“It’s best to present a united front,” Evangeline said, looping her arm through mine and towing me inside. “Is it wrong that I’m a little excited to be in the belly of the beast and see what headquarters looks like?”

“Under normal circumstances, I would say no,” I replied as I mashed the button to call the elevator. “Under these circumstances, yeah, it’s a little fucking weird. I might be walking to my death, and you’re wondering what the breakroom looks like.”

“You’re not going to die,” Evangeline assured me. “What does the breakroom look like?” she asked after a few seconds.

“Like a fucking breakroom, you goober,” I replied.

We piled onto the elevator, and I pressed the button on the top floor, where I assumed the meeting would occur. There was hardly any room to breathe, and seeing the doors open again was a relief.

“Hi, Mia! Oh! And Mia’s mates and friends! Are you Evangeline? I’m a big fan of yours.

What you did with Zabiza was some top-notch work.”

“Oh God,” Theo muttered. “I’d recognize that annoying voice anywhere. I assume that’s

Teri?”

“Yup,” I replied.

“I love how you all showed up to support Mia, but I’m afraid you’ll have to return to the lobby. I’m only permitted to allow Mia past this point.

“Who’s going to stop us?” Rylan growled as he and Hollis stood over her. “Certainly not me,” she laughed, never losing her cheery disposition. “Follow me.”

“Why are you here, Teri?” I asked. “What does my meeting have to do with other analysts?”

“Oh, I’m not an analyst, silly,” she laughed. “It’s my job to monitor you crazy kids and make sure everyone stays on task and does their job. Your sudden disappearance was concerning, but it didn’t become suspicious until you returned and left again.”

“I told you it was a bad idea,” Rome whispered.

“Between you and me, I think what you did was very commendable,” Teri said. “Ok, here we are.” Teri stopped in front of a set of black double doors. “I would say that only Mia is allowed inside, but I get the feeling that you all will do as you wish anyway so that I won’t waste my breath. Good luck!”

We stepped into the dark room, and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust. Three throne-like chairs sat on an elevated platform at the end of the room, shrouded in darkness.

“You were meant to come alone,” a voice said.

“Technically, you didn’t say to come alone,” I replied, inwardly groaning. Now was not the time to wear my sassy pants.

The silence stretched and I thought for sure I was toast when I heard one of them chuckle. “I appreciate how spunky she is.”

“Spunky or not, she broke the rules,” another one snapped.

“You and I both know she didn’t,” the person in the middle spoke up. “That’s why it took so long to have this meeting. You’ve gone over every rule we’ve put in place, and we never made one for sending yourself an invitation.”

“So I’m not in trouble?” I asked hopefully.

“We didn’t say that,” the angry one responded. “You still need to be punished.”

“Oh, come off it,” the one who found me amusing said. “Mia, we commend you for your tenacity and recognize that perhaps we were wrong in denying your entry into the Guild. You’ve impressed us.”

The angry one snorted but didn’t speak.

“We’ve also decided that any punishment we might mete out wouldn’t be any worse than the emotional toll you’re experiencing as you locate the families of Parote’s victims,” the one in the middle said. “We charge you to continue to finish this work until all families have been notified.”

“That’s it?” I asked hopefully.

“That’s it,” they replied.

“But we’ll be watching you closely,” the angry one said, “so I suggest you don’t try any more tricks. Your credentials to enter headquarters have been revoked, so you aren’t tempted to manipulate the system again.”

“Understood,” I replied.

I could feel the relief pouring off of the others in waves. I wanted to jump up and down and scream, but I held my composure. I could celebrate later.

“Good luck, Mia,” the kind one said before I heard a pop, and the shadowy figure on the throne disappeared.

The angry one left as well without a word.

“Well, that was a little anticlimactic, wasn’t it?” the one in the middle chuckled, her voice taking on a more feminine ring now that we were alone.

I heard Rylan, Jett, and Kase start to murmur to each other behind me.

“Let’s see if we can make this meeting worth your trip.” She clapped twice, and a spotlight illuminated the most stunning woman I had ever seen.

“LILITH!?” Evangeline exclaimed.

The Lilith?

“Hello, pets,” she grinned.