Page 107 of Shadow's End

Maelle didn’t react. Perhaps didn’t even have time to do so before the bullet hit her forehead, smashed through her brain, and then exited through the back of her head, splattering brain matter through the air.

She fell, almost in slow motion, to the ground.

Perhaps in defeating Marie she’d drained herself so completely of magic she was unable to raise a protective barrier against the bullet, or perhaps a mix of disbelief and surprise had slowed her reactions for too many vital seconds. Either way, she was dead, as surely and completely as her maker.

My gaze returned to the woman in the shadows. For several minutes, she didn’t move, didn’t react, the gun pointed unswervingly at the unmoving body of her mother.

Then, slowly, her gaze came to mine, and in her eyes I saw death.

But not mine.

She pressed the end of the barrel under her chin and pulled the trigger. She was dead before she hit the ground.

I sucked in a deep, quivering breath, and then walked somewhat unsteadily back across the clearing. Katie pulled the dome protecting Aiden down, creating a waterfall of luminous threads that splashed all around me as I knelt beside Aiden.

He shifted shape and is no longer close to the edge,Katie said,but the silver wounds will still need attention.

Belle’s called the ambulance. I pressed a hand lightly against his cheek, and his eyes opened. Relief stirred through blue depths still washed with pain.

“Is it over?” he croaked.

I nodded. “All vampires are dead, and the only true casualty on our side is you.”

“Well, better me than you, given I still heal a little faster.” He caught my hand in his, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. “But sadly, I’m thinking my plans for a Christmas Eve wedding might have to be changed.”

I laughed. “You just wanted to save some money and buy a two-in-one gift.”

“No, I just need to make you all mine, and that was the earliest date the celebrant gave us.”

I laughed again, gently pressed my hands to either side of his face, and then kissed him. Slowly, gently, deeply.

The darkness had finally left the reservation, we’d all survived, and he and I could now start planning the rest of our lives together.

And the sooner, the better. A Christmas Eve wedding might be off the cards, but New Year’s Eve was definitely on.

Epilogue

Imarried my wolf on a warm summer evening six days after Christmas. Ashworth and Eli had created magic in their garden, somehow managing to keep the roses at their best despite the withering heat. Fairy lights twinkled like stars through the greenery, lining the path through the garden and ringing the half-circle seating area at the bottom.

Aiden waited in the middle of that circle, wearing suit pants and a deep blue shirt that matched the color of his eyes and the bridesmaids’ dresses. I only had two—Belle and Jaz. Aiden’s two brothers—Michael and Dillon—were the groomsmen.

We didn’t have many guests. Belle’s parents and siblings were all here, of course—they were my other family, closer to me than my real family, and I simply couldn’t imagine themnotbeing here. Mom was here, too, looking happy and relaxed, sitting next to Eli, the two of them chatting like old friends. Aiden’s entire family was here as well, even his mother. She’d recently thanked me for saving Aiden and had apologized for her attempts to turn the pack against our marriage, but had avoided any reference to actions beyond that. I guess I couldn’t expect miracles, and it was a step in the right direction. She and I wouldnever be friends, but at least I no longer had to worry about her causing future problems for me with the pack.

Katie was also here, her whole body radiating with happiness, luminous threads of wild magic dancing around her, signaling the connection between her and Gabe. He might not be able to leave their clearing, but she’d found a way for him to witness the wedding.

“Well, are we ready to go?” Ashworth asked. “Or are we planning to be fashionably late and make the lad sweat a bit longer?”

I glanced at him, laughing. He’d insisted on wearing a dress suit, shirt, and tie because it would be unseemly to give his adopted granddaughter away in anything else, apparently, and though he had to be hot, he seemed unfazed by the heat.

“If we make him wait too much longer,” Belle said, “he’s likely to race up here, sweep her off her feet, and carry her down to the celebrant.”

“Because that man was not made for waiting.” Jaz paused, amusement touching her lips. “Though I guess it depends on the situation, doesn’t it?”

“Indeed, it does.” I took a deep breath to settle the silly nerves fluttering in my stomach and then nodded. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

Dillon, who was now as tall as both Aiden and Michael, despite only being fourteen, offered his arm to Jaz, and the two of them walked out onto the patio and down the steps. He still limped, but finally seemed to be at peace with his disability.

Belle did a final check of my dress—a simple sheath style with a plunging neckline, made of a material that shimmered like the rainbow threads dancing through the garden—then caught my cheeks and dropped a featherlight kiss on my lips.

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