Page 38 of Darkest Need

I can’t stop my scream as he drills into me, and my body flushes with heat, pleasure, and everything else all at once. He is mine. I am his. I dig my fingers into the mattress when he collapses against me and moves slower, like his fever dream is over, and only ecstasy remains as he holds me close.

Cradled in his arms.

I feel treasured.

He kisses my neck, my back, and sighs against me with tiny breaths that have goose bumps erupting all over my back.

“Mine.” I can barely hear him.

And then I feel it as he releases.

And I orgasm.

I feel it as I turn and see a tear running down his cheek. It’s silver, and I want to touch it. It’s so beautiful.

It’s solid, like ice. I shake my head. “So, you do hold the stars, don’t you, werewolf?”

He nods. “Prince of the Earth. And I kind of have a best friend who’s God of the Sky…but this isn’t for me.”

I frown. “What?”

Still connected, still inside me, he reaches his hand up and pulls the tear from his cheek, placing it on my lips. “It’s for my mate. May the Creator bond us forever. May the stars shine. And one day”—he smiles—“this star will grow, a final gift from the one who sacrificed.”

“A gift?”

He smiles and kisses me, then brushes his lips against my mouth. “A star chooses to fall and can be reborn. Did you think her sacrifice was for nothing? One day, we’ll have a star of our own. A child. A parting gift. Because blood must always be shed but must also be reborn, daughter of the Creator, Lilith, the first… And you will not be the last.”

Epilogue

Tarek

I stare at the tiny baby in my arms and try not to cry. Mason slaps me on the back. “So, you finally became a man. Good for you.”

“Hilarious, but why is she so small?” I ask.

He grins. “Well, as a Fallen Angel and half werewolf, I can honestly tell you, you know secrets from the stars, but when they choose to fall, it’s for a purpose. So, in your case, she knew.” He nods and pats me again. “She knew what you would do. And my guess? She’s been watching for thousands of years, just waiting.” A tear escapes his eye.

“Bro, are you crying?” Alex runs up. “Is the baby okay? Stupid hospital is being all like: ‘We don’t let the likes of you in here.’”

We both stare him down.

He’s literally half-naked.

“A shirt.” Timber runs up behind him. “People need them when in public places, dumbass.”

Cassius suddenly walks up, his cell to an ear. “Yeah, baby is fine. Everything is good. Apocalypse solved.”

Ethan follows him, furiously texting. “I swear if I have one more poopy diaper…” He stares at the baby, then at me, and grins. “Have fun, though. Really. I’m rooting for you. Fighting.”

Horus isn’t any better as he slowly walks in and yawns. “Life is so hard in the modern world. My air fryer sucks. Oh, hey, a baby.”

My child immediately starts to cry. But it’s the most beautiful wail I’ve ever heard. She’s gorgeous and looks like her mother with dark hair, light eyes, and a small scar that looks like a star on her chest.

“So, what’s her name?” Bannik walks up.

We haven’t seen him since that day with Danu. He’s in modern clothing, a black leather jacket, ripped jeans, and a T-shirt that says,Ain’t life grand?

And Medusa is hooded by his side. They’re holding hands. I feel so much joy coming from them that I almost can’t contain mine. “I don’t know.”

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