Their relationship might have had a rocky start, and they might have made a crap-ton of mistakes, but through it all, Bjorn had been a source of comfort, strength, amusement, and lust. He would forever be a source of comfort, strength, amusement and lust.
With the Elite at her side, the future would be a wild ride, and she looked forward to every moment.
Epilogue
“Welcome, welcome.” Fox stepped back, moving out of the open doorway of her cabin. The one she now shared with Bjorn. Their home. She’d officially moved in, with the full approval of Clerici, Zacharel, Thane and Xerxes. “You’re only an hour late.”
“We’re five minutes late,” Galen said.
“No. If you’re not ten minutes early, you’re five minutes late. But, if you’re more than a minute late, you’re an hour late. The math checks.” Fox batted her lashes, all sugar and spice.
The Sent Ones behind her laughed. They kind of loved her now. She’d sparred with Lucifer, and won, after all, and she’d warned others of his tricks. Was he defeated for good? No. But their chances for success were better now.
Galen and Legion strode inside the cabin, hugged her and focused on Bjorn, who remained at her side. He liked to keep her within his sights. Apparently, when the big guy loved, he loved. He guarded her with his life, just as she guarded his.
There were Lords and Ladies of the Underworld here, Pandora, Baden, and his wife Katarina, as well as a multitude of Sent Ones and a handful of Kings. They were mingling like old friends, and Fox loved every second of it.
Look at me. Some kind of glamorous Underworld hostess. “Hey, you,” she called, pointing at William the Ever Randy. The real William. “Put down the motorized axe I’m building. It’s for Bjorn.”
“I accept, thank you,” William said unabashed, sliding the axe under his suit jacket.
“You,” Galen spat at Bjorn, forcing her attention back to the entryway.
“Yes. Me,” Bjorn said with a nod, simply stating a fact.
Fox smothered a smile with her hand. “Bjorn has more than made up for abducting me.” She patted her man’s muscled chest. “I invited you guys into our home because I’d like you to bury the hatchet, just not in each other.”
Legion elbowed Galen and moved in front of him to offer her hand to Bjorn. When he accepted, she flipped him to his back, dropping him to the floor. Then she rubbed her hands together in a job well done and walked deeper into the cabin. “Are there whore-derves? I’m starved.”
Fox couldn’t hide her smile this time. “My hors d’oeuvres consist of ambrosia-laced whiskey with decadent notes of take it or leave it.” She helped Bjorn to his feet.
“Knew she was going to do that,” he muttered, wrapping an arm around Fox’s waist, and she laughed outright.
“Sure you did, baby.” She patted his bulging biceps, maybe gave it a little squeeze, and nibbled on her bottom lip. Could they sneak off for a quickie?
The two men faced off once again.
No. No quickie.
“Thank you for taking care of Fox as a child,” Bjorn said next, clearly shocking her mentor. “She told me everything you’ve done for her over the years, and I am in your debt.”
What!?
Galen narrowed his eyes. “Don’t think thanking me will save you from my wrath. You made me worry, and for that—”
Fox swiped out her arm and flipped Galen over her head, just as Legion had done to Bjorn. She peered down at the closest thing to a father she’d ever had. “You made me worry over Legion. Bjorn made you worry over me. You’re even. Now, let’s all kiss and make up and get this welcome-to-the-family party started.”
To her surprise, Bjorn helped Galen stand and Galen let him. Neither protested.
“You didn’t let me finish. Now, then. As I was saying,” Galen continued with a grumble in his tone, “for that, you’ll have to deal with Fox for the rest of your life, you poor sucker.”
She rolled her eyes, and Bjorn grinned. Actually grinned.
“I do not have to,” her man said. “I get to.”
And that, right there, was one of the reasons she loved him so much. She rose on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek and whisper, “We are going to have the best life, baby.”
“This, I know. With you, I can have nothing less.” He kissed her then, swift and sure, and she forgot their audience. Until said audience cheered.
As she and Bjorn stopped kissing and started laughing, her heart swelled with contentment. “The party has been fun,” she called, “but it’s over now. Everyone go. Bjorn and I have things to do.”
Everyone else laughed, too, and continued conversing with each other. Fox and Bjorn stood in place, watching their friends interact. Two groups who never should have been friends, now working together to take down the world’s greatest evil.
She rested her head on Bjorn’s shoulder. “Thank you for gifting me with this.” A family of her own.
“My pleasure, love. With you, it’s always my pleasure.”
THE END
* * * *
Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Gena Showalter, discover The Darkest Captive.
Sign up for the 1001 Dark Nights Newsletter
and be entered to win a Tiffany Key necklace.
There's a contest every month!
Click here to subscribe.
As a bonus, all subscribers can download FIVE FREE exclusive books!
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Seven
Click here for more information.
THE BISHOP by Skye Warren
A Tanglewood Novella
TAKEN WITH YOU by Carrie Ann Ryan
A Fractured Connections Novella
DRAGON LOST by Donna Grant
A Dark Kings Novella
SEXY LOVE by Carly Phillips
A Sexy Series Novella
PROVOKE by Rachel Van Dyken
A Seaside Pictures Novella
RAFE by Sawyer Bennett
An Arizona Vengeance Novella
THE NAUGHTY PRINCESS by Claire Contreras
A Sexy Royals Novella
THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT by Darynda Jones
A Charley Davidson Novella
CHARMED by Lexi Blake
A Masters and Mercenaries Novella
SACRIFICE OF DARKNESS by Alexandra Ivy
A Guardians of Eternity Novella
THE QUEEN by Jen Armentrout
A Wicked Novella
BEGIN AGAIN by Jennifer Probst
A Stay Novella
VIXEN by Rebecca Zanetti
A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella
SLASH by Laurelin Paige
A Slay Series Novella
THE DEAD HEAT OF SUMMER by Heather Graham
A Krewe of Hunters Novella
WILD FIRE by Kristen Ashley
A Chaos Novella
MORE THAN PROTECT YOU by Shayla Black
A More Than Words Novella
LOVE SONG by Kylie Scott