Page 399 of Evil Hearts

Elena looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “And us?” she asked softly. “What happens now?”

Aldric cupped her face in his hands, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. “Now,” he said, his voice rough with emotion, “we live. Together. As we apparently have always done.”

He lowered his lips to hers, sealing their promise with a kiss. Around them, the gargoyles stood watch, their stony faces etched with solemn joy. A new chapter was beginning, one where the guardians and the city they protected would face thefuture hand in hand, just as Aldric and Elena would face it, their love a beacon in the darkness.

Epilogue

Aldric stood besideElena on the cathedral rooftop, the city sprawling out before them. Spires and domes reached skyward, backlit by the smoldering sunset. A cool breeze stirred Elena’s fiery waves.

“Look at it all,” she murmured, her melodic voice filled with awe. “The history, the secrets in those streets...”

Aldric’s emerald eyes glinted. “Secrets we helped shape every night over the last decades.”

Elena turned to him, a smile tugging at her lips. “The legacy we built, stone by stone.”

“And defended, with blood and shadowfire.” His jaw tightened at the memories, centuries compressed into heartbeats.

She took his hand, squeezing gently. “I know you wished that you would return to the man you were, but I can assure you, I am quite fond of your wings and other monstrous bits.” She gave him a wink. “And a night-owl life is not as hard to manage as I thought in my early thirties.

Aldric bent to press a kiss into her hair, breathing in her honeysuckle scent. His heart swelled, no longer a prisoner in his chest.

Below, raucous laughter burst from the shadowed courtyard. Three figures moved between the ancient pillars.

“Is that—” Elena leaned forward.

“The boys.” Aldric couldn’t hold back a smile. “No doubt plotting some new adventure.”

Lysander’s voice carried on the night air, buoyant and carefree. “Remember when we convinced the archbishop that gargoyle was winking at him?”

“Which time?” Elias deadpanned. “I believe that happened on multiple occasions.”

“Well, there was the time with the pigeon...”

“Ah yes, the infamous pigeon incident,” Dorian chuckled. “I thought Father would turn us to stone himself.”

Their banter echoed off the weathered walls, a balm to Aldric’s once-weary soul. These boys—no, these men—were his greatest legacy. His second chance after an eternity of penance.

And Elena...his gaze trailed over her, drinking in her effortless beauty. She was his world. His salvation in every sense of the word. The journey that started on this very rooftop, when a lost human first glimpsed the man within the monster, had finally led them home.

He watched over his boys, a silent sentinel for the moment.

Elias unfurled an ancient map, its parchment crackling as he spread it across a stone bench. His brow furrowed, eyes sharp as cut emeralds scanning the city’s sprawling labyrinth. Fingers traced faded ink, connecting unseen threads.

“There.” He tapped a spot, nail scraping parchment. “Reports of strange auras near the old market.”

Dorian peered over his shoulder, firelight dancing across sculpted features. “Didn’t we clear out a vampire nest there last month?”

“Apparently they didn’t get the message.” Lysander cracked his knuckles. “Shall we remind them?”

A smile ghosted Elias’ lips. “With pleasure.”

Aldric watched, an unseen guardian as always. Pride bloomed in his chest, warming the spaces between old stone. His sons.The next generation of protectors, fierce and devoted. The city would be safe in their hands.

Dorian straightened, shoulders squared beneath the weight of his birthright. He met each brother’s gaze, blue eyes alight with purpose.

“Tonight, we hunt.” His voice rang with quiet authority. “But first, we plan. Elias’ research gives us an edge, but we can’t go in blind. Lysander, you take point. Your senses are sharpest.”

Lysander grinned, a flash of teeth. “Don’t worry, little brother. I’ll sniff out any trouble.”

---