“Are you really going to kill me, Cypher, your own flesh and blood?” Reyaz asked.

“No, I’m not going to kill you.”

Reyaz sagged in relief.

“He is.” Cypher pointed to Vasile whose eyes were glowing and his canines had lengthened. He stalked towards his prey slowly, letting him feel what it was to be hunted and what it was to see your death coming for you.

“For the crimes against my people, for the death of my mate, our healer, and our friend, I sentence you to death. I would rather imprison you and let you rot, but then I would have to run the risk of you getting out. So instead I will just have to be satisfied that you will die by my hand.” Vasile grasped Reyaz’s head in his hands and gave a quick twist. The bones made a sick crunching noise as his neck broke. His body would have crumpled to the ground had the arrows not held him in place. Vasile stared at the broken man before him and it was then that everything flooded into him, every emotion crashing down on him, and he flung his head back and howled.

Chapter 25

“I will follow you wherever you lead. I will be your constant shadow, the voice that cheers you on, the arms that hold you up, and the heart that loves you unconditionally. Those are the promises I made to you, and I have failed you, for you have gone and I am still here. Why am I still here?” ~Costin

“What did Vasile mean when he said he took our healer, Decebel? Where is Sally?” Jen looked up at her mate’s face and though she asked the questions, she already knew the answers.

“I’m sorry baby. We failed her; we failed you all,” Decebel told her. Decebel pressed a kiss to her hair and stroked it gently with his hand. He hummed to her and their child as she wept over the loss of her best friend. He held her as her heart broke and her world was shattered all over again.

Vasile placed Cynthia’s body close to the cave entrance and then motioned for everyone to gather around Jen and Decebel. The group moved slowly as grief poured out of them. Each of them took a place on the ground making a circle. The mated males, whose mates were still here, each had their females as close to them as possible.

Crina sat wrapped in Adam’s arms and he held her, rocking her gently, whispering to her words that would bring comfort and stability.

Elle sat next to Sorin with her head on his shoulder and his arm wrapped securely around her. She too watched Jen and Decebel and their baby with a mixture of emotions passing over her face.

Fane sat with his knees pulled up and his arms resting over them. He stared out into the forest beyond the cave entrance, waiting.

Costin sat next to Fane and, though his body was present, his heart, soul, and mind were elsewhere.

Vasile walked over to the group and took a seat beside Jen and Decebel. He looked at each person that filled the small space. The troll king and pixie king were still with them, faithful ‘til the end. Thalion, prince ofthe elves, sat with them, having been willing to give whatever was needed in order to help their females. Cyn sat beside Thalion her hand was securely wrapped in his larger one and her side pressed close to his. Skender sat next to the Cyn, his jaw tight and his eyes narrowed as he continually swept the room with them. He had been willing to give his life without hesitation. Cypher, the warlock king who was finally free of his past, held his mate gently as she watched Jen with a mixture of joy and pain.  All of them wore that same expression, the joy of life battling with the sorrow of death.

“Our enemy has been defeated,” he began. He had to reach deep for the strength to sit there and speak when all he wanted to do was return to his mate, to join her. “It cost us much, but then the cost of freedom is always great. We will mourn the loss of those we love so dearly and we will honor their memories. The mate bonds have been broken and so Costin and I have lost our mates and not our own lives. Costin may make his own decision. But after we have buried and mourned, I will join my mate as is my right and my desire.” He looked over at Decebel and Jen and attempted to smile. “I hate that such a miracle as the birth of your child is tainted with death and sorrow, and I want you to know that I am overjoyed for you. We must honor Cynthia for her sacrifice.”

Decebel nodded and wiped a tear from Jen’s face. “We have decided to name our child Thia in honor of Cynthia. What she has done, and who she was, will not be forgotten.”

Vasile didn’t know what else to say. He wanted to offer them comfort, but he had none to give, not anymore.

“I need to convey my gratitude to you all,” Cypher said into the silence, “You all are here because of me, and I am forever indebted to you all for your help and willingness to bring my brother to justice.” Cypher bowed his head respectfully to them.

They sat in silence for a few minutes. The only sound was Jen speaking softly to Thia. She leaned into Decebel and choked back more tears as she rocked their child. She looked over at Costin and her heart broke all over as she saw the shell of a man that was left after losing his mate.

“What now?” she asked. “What do we do now Vasile?” She needed someone to tell her how to move forward, how to go on, especially now that she had a child who needed her.

Vasile stared at her, at a loss on how to answer. How do you tell someone to carry on when all you want to do is die?

“Now,” a bold voice filled the space around them, “we rejoice over new life,” the Great Luna said as she stepped into the cave. She walked towards the group and her heart hurt at the loss and pain she saw in them. “We mourn over sacrifice and we give thanks for second chances.” There was movement behind her and she stepped aside to reveal Alina, Sally, Jacque, and Lucian, all whole and alive.