Page 55 of The Witch Queen of Halloween (Immortals After Dark 20)

“Meneither.”Hercheeks were flushed, her eyes bright.Theirlovemaking had chased away her worries, leaving him with a merry witch.

Thestorm had ended, and moonlight streamed through the windows to bathe her skin as she rose.Watchingher don her clothes was nearly as sexy as her stripping them off.

Hewas about to kiss her again, but the stakes were too high.Herose to dress as well. “Maybewe should have made our way to the foyer and then attacked each other there.”

Sheglanced at her watch. “Moonset’sin two hours.Withoutthe visitors dogging our every step, we should be okay.”

Hedidn’t understand how she’d quelled her curse, but they would figure out everything together.Wehave time.

Strappingon her satchel, she added, “Besides, we were living in the moment!Wouldyou take back what just happened on that poor piece of furniture?Restin pieces, divan.”

Theyshared a grin.Fuck, he was going to love life with her.They’dtalked about having kids eventually, but for now, she wantedRökall to herself.Hefelt the same about her, so she would drink a tea upon their return, and he would use a contraceptive charm going forward. . . .

Handin hand, they left the ballroom with a last look.Thiswas the place where they’d becomePoppyandRök, the mated pair, yet they would never see it again in all their immortal lives.

Outside, they carefully threaded their way back through the maze, taking in the aftereffects ofRök’sbruising battle.

Enteringthe castle once more, they paused long enough to settle on a likely direction—they couldn’t exactly retrace their original path—then set off through the endless hallways, turn after turn.Rökstill hadn’t scented the other explorers, which meantRaven’sMurkwould keep that secret for now.HeandPoppysaw no signs of visitors, as expected, but loud knocks sounded from the direction of the lab.

Thecreature.

Poppyasked, “Youthink it knows the castle won’t open again for decades?”

“Maybe.ButIdon’t believe it can get loose.”

“Good.Ican’t imagine that thing out in the world.”

Asthey navigated their way through the labyrinthine halls, she checked her watch again, appearing stressed. “I’mreminded of all those horror movie characters who have sex, and it ends up coming back to haunt them.Maybeweshouldhave headed to the foyer first.Didwe make a fatal mistake?”

“We’llget there before moonset.”Givingit a second thought, he said, “Let’sleg it, just in case.”

Theydid.Witheach double back, they picked up the pace even more, until they were sprinting along corridors.Theirfinish line wasn’t just freedom from this place.Itwas the start of their existencetogether.

Theyran for that life . . . reaching the foyer where it’d all begun—with only a quarter of an hour to spare.

Headingto a front window, they gazed out. “Nosign of the ghouls,”Röksaid. “Doyou still have an ominous sense?”

Catchingher breath, she said, “WhatI’mfeeling for you kind of overwhelms everything, soIdon’t even know up from down.”Hisarm found its way around her at that. “Tobe fair,Ionce experienced foreboding just becauseClovehad a wicked case of heartburn.”

Hechuckled. “Fairenough.”HenoticedPoppylooked excited but also tired. “Youmust be exhausted.”Hekept forgetting she was only a hundred.Ather age, he’d required sleep every twenty-four hours.She’dfueled curses and fought for her life all night, so maybe he ought not to have ravished her so many times? “Myyoung mate.”

Shetilted her face up to him. “Whenyou look at me all tender like that,I’mdefenseless.”

Hepressed a lingering kiss to her lips. “Whydon’t you rest a bit?”Heled her over to a nearby settee. “I’llstand watch.”

Shesat, retrieving the journal from her bag. “Whata night.”Sheopened the book, skimming pages.

“Neverhad a stranger—or better—one.”Evenso, he was ready for it to end.Rökturned back to the window, hungering for dawn.

Ashe kept vigil, light effects and breezes made the terrain appear to shift.Howdifferently he viewed this place now that he better understood the tragic history.TheEndingofEverything.Overhis shoulder, he asked, “Anythingelse interesting in that journal?”

“Mostof the pages have blood on them.MysisterSagecan clean it up once we get loose.ButIdid read something strange:Nightsideis real.Ifound it!Allthe answers lie inNightside.Haveyou ever heard of that place?”

“Soundsfamiliar.”Hadn’this parents told him about a realm one did not ever want to visit?Theanswer was on the tip of his tongue when a different kind of light drew his attention to the cemetery.Insteadof the coming daybreak, he spied . . . a growing green blaze.

Ghoulshad amassed, and not just the wife and kids.Sevenmore had joined them.Atrue troop.

TheValkyrieskept their numbers in check in populated areas, but out here, nothing had tamped down the swell.Aslong as that troop stayed away, he andPoppywould be okay?—

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