“Still have the urge to murder them all?” Ridley questions.
“Only the one who tortured me.”
“He’s dead,” Rainey assures me. “Walked right into my bullet.” Her smile is wide, proud, and I return it, relieved that the man who tortured me into giving over to the shadow is gone.
“Thanks for that.”
“Anytime.”
We fall into companionable silence for just a moment before Ridley clears his throat. “Now that she’s back, I’ll just be going. Unless you lot need something else?”
Fearghas chuckles. “You’re becoming just as enthralled by these bastards as I am, aren’t you? Don’t feel too bad; happens to the best of us.”
Ridley rolls his eyes and disappears, dematerializing from the room without another response.
“Thank you, guys, for saving me.” I swallow hard as I glance around the room at people I threatened more than once over the past few months.
“Now we’re even,” Rainey says. “Given that, at one point or another, you’ve saved each and every one of us.”
“And helped bring some of us back from the dead,” Cole winks.
Their affection for me, it’s not something I ever thought I would experience, and my heart swells as my throat constricts beneath the weight of my unshed tears. “I seriously don’t know what I did to gain such friendship. Thank you.”
Everyone smiles and nods, and Tarnley strokes my back. “What now?”
“Now we sleep,” Rainey says with a stretch. “I’ll let Walker and Paloma know we have one less dark witch on the streets.”
“I’ll call Drex and Mags,” Delaney offers. “They took over watching the council building so we could be here.”
I wince, remembering what I’d convinced the young witch to do. “I owe her an apology.”
“Yeah, we know all about your little spy,” Rainey says, wiggling her finger at me.
Turning toward her in surprise, I catch the half-grin on her face. “You do? Of course, you do,” I chuckle. “You have a psychic on your side.” I can’t believe I didn’t make that connection before, but honestly, I’m glad they knew. Makes one less thing I have to fill them in on.
As if he knows exactly what I’m thinking, Tarnley presses his palm to my lower back. “I have something else I need to tell you both.”
“Is it life or death?” Delaney asks.
“No.”
“Impending doom?” Rainey questions.
I chuckle. “No, nothing like that.”
“An apocalyptic event that needs immediate attention?” Cole adds.
“No.” Bronywyn smiles. “It can wait until tomorrow. I could use a good shower, anyway.” I glance down at the hospital gown I’m wearing and try not to focus too intently on the fact that I’ve been out for who knows how long.
“Let’s get you upstairs,” Tarnley offers. “Your butler is already here. Winnie is giving him the rundown.”
I grin, pleased that they contacted him so he wouldn’t worry, and also looking forward to sleeping inmybed, and not the one in the foreclosure I purchased. Especially because, for the first time in more years than I care to count, I won’t be alone.
“See you tomorrow,” Rainey offers as she and Elijah slip out the door. Delaney and Cole follow, and Tarnley wraps an arm around my waist, guiding me toward the door and into the hall. Each step we take, I consider how far we’ve come.
First, the bond, then the war, then the shadow…now here. We’ve more than earned the right to celebrate. Yet, even as the shadow magic is gone, eliminating that threat, there is still the council to deal with.
And I have a sneaking suspicion our fight with them is only just beginning.