“Mila!” I screamed, leaving Eli and attacking her. I missed her so much. In a way, I missed them all so much. Mila was forbidden to leave her room or attend my wedding and it got to me. I missed her face.

She hugged me tightly and I could feel her small bump pressing into me.

“How are you?” I asked, playing with her hair and stroking her arm. I wanted to know everything.

“I’m better now.” She smiled. “No more morning sickness.”

“You’re really going to go through with this?”

She nodded. “I have to. This was something that I did to myself and I always take responsibilities for my actions.”

“That’s very wise of you.” I giggled, rubbing her belly. “You’ll always have me to help,” I told her even though I’d never had any experience with babies.

“And me,.” Eli added.

“Me too,” said Mr. Aleksandrov.

I pulled them all in for a hug. I didn’t have a family outside of Aunt Jen and Camilla, but that was okay. I had these guys and these guys were my family. They defended me from the beginning. They risked their lives for me, forgave me when I wronged them and remained loyal to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better family. Now it was time for me to repay my debt. I would bend over backwards for them and give them anything they wanted any day. I loved them all and I owed them my life. I smiled. For the first time ever, my life was finally mine to give and although it was far from over, I finally had control over it.

Epilogue

ELI

I marched down the narrow corridor, determined to meet the necromancer that tormented us under Cesare’s orders. It has taken eleven weeks for us to locate him and the information Cesare provided on his location, right before he took his own life outside the courthouse, wasn’t entirely accurate. It affected Ruby the most to hear that Cesare had ended his life… she blames herself, of course, but that decision was solely his. Before he died, he screamed about how sorry he was, how he failed everyone, and I felt sorry for him, I really did, but what he did was inexcusable. We, and by we, I mean Lyric, Hunter, Xavier and I, traveled for twelve days in search of the necromancer, and we found him, eventually, hiding in a shack by the beach four hours from here.

The necromancer refused to tell us his name—he refused to tell us anything, actually. All he does is shout threats and promises to kill my friends, only to resurrect them just to kill them all over again. I’m not sure if it’s wide knowledge or not, but I don’t take kindly to threats.

I pushed open the heavy metal door at the end of the corridor and came face to face with the necromancer. I could see why Cesare chose him. He had a strange distaste for our way of life, but that isn’t entirely his fault, I suppose. Our ancestors did (or were meant to) wipe out his entire species. It irks me how similar he looks to Lucian.

“Back for more, guardian?”

I shook my head. I was only here to give orders. It occurred to me last night that I was never getting anything out of this man and I couldn’t let him go… he posed too much of a threat. At the end of the day, it all came down to Ruby and I’d protect her above all else for the rest of my life.

I looked to Tate, who leaned against the wall, bouncing a tennis ball. I’d kill the necromancer myself for all of the pain he’d inflicted on Ruby, but I didn’t want to get any blood on my suit and I’d never taint her body by touching her with hands that have recently killed.

“I want him dead.”

I adjusted the cuff at the base of my sleeve and tightened my tie.

Tate smiled. “Yes, sir. Now get out of here, Eli. A bride is always late, but the groom should never be.”

I smiled at Tate and nodded my head before turning around. I’d hate to be late to my own wedding.