Heath, Enzo, and I shared a glance before we focused on the task at hand. Together, we carried Anna through the front door of the mansion, not wanting to go in through the back. The proximity to the graveyard and the dungeon held too many bad memories for us all.
Gently, we laid Anna down on a sofa in the main living area. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow, but she seemed otherwise unharmed. As we stepped back, I could see the worry etched on both Torin’s and Enzo’s faces.
“Let’s give her some space,” Heath suggested, leading us out of the room and into the hall. We huddled together, speaking in hushed tones. “What do you think we should do now?”
I looked around the familiar hallway, the dark wood paneling and ornate fixtures serving as a stark reminder of the twisted legacy that had shaped our lives. My breath felt tight in my lungs as I remembered the battles we’d fought and the enemies we’d faced within these walls.
“First things first,” I said firmly, trying to focus on the present. “We need to make sure Anna is okay. Then, we need to figure out what our next steps are.”
“Agreed,” Enzo said, his dark eyes like flint. “We’ll do whatever it takes to keep all of us safe.”
I knew he meant it – and so did Heath. Despite the darkness that had threatened to consume us all, we had found a way to come together. It was still awkward and new, but we were still standing, and still trying to find a way forward though so much had changed.
“Sierra, about the estate,” Heath began, his voice heavy with emotion. “Since it’s yours now, you can bring your family here to live, and I’ll give you the money to rebuild it however you like.”
“Wait, no,” I protested, shaking my head. “I don’t want to take this place away from you.”
Heath placed his hand on my shoulder. “Sierra, this place is rightfully yours. He said it with a tender smile, but a haunted look crossed his face. “Though honestly, I’d rather burn it to the ground to erase the darkness that’s tainted it. But I want you to have the comfort and security you deserve. You and your family deserve a safe place to live. And you can turn this place into a home, in a way that it never was.”
I shivered, trying to banish all the bad memories that had come from here. Yet, still … there had been some good as well. And Ethan deserved so much more than a run down trailer in a bad neighborhood.
“What if we sell it, and split the money?” I suggested, then braced myself as soon as his face fell.
“We can’t. It’s magically bound to the family.”
Of course it was. I sighed heavily, feeling the weight of it like a chain around my neck, until …
“Then let’s rebuild together,” I said. “With my Reaper powers, I can banish any lingering Dark Ones. The cemetery will only hold quiet remains, no more threats. And you, Enzo, Torin, Riley, and Anna – you are all family to me now.”
I took Riley and Enzo’s strong hands in mine, and gazed at the others. “Even though we handfasted for a year and a day, I’m willing to stay with you for as long as you want me.”
“You’re our mate, Sierra, for as long as you want us,” Riley assured me, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m certain Enzo and Torin feel the same way.”
Enzo nodded, his dark eyes filled with warmth, but the unspoken lay heavily in the middle of us.
Heath … no longer my mate. I speared him with a hard gaze. “And you are still family, no matter what. I’ll stand by you, always. And if that’s what you want, we’ll create a home together that will suit us all.”
A spark of hope surged in his eyes and in my heart. The Warner Estate, once a symbol of darkness and pain, would be transformed into a sanctuary for us all – a place where we could heal, grow, and forge a brighter future together.
Riley moved over to embrace Heath, while Enzo, Torin and I shared a tender embrace, seeking solace in one another after the ordeals we’d faced. Being between Tor and Enzo reminded me that I still had questions for them, but our moment was suddenly disrupted by the sound of Anna awakening nearby. We hurried to check on her.
She looked disoriented, eyes glazed with trauma, but otherwise unharmed.
“Anna,” I whispered softly, kneeling beside her and taking her hand. “You’re safe now.”
“Wh-what happened?” she stammered, her voice trembling. “Oh, god, what have I done?”
“Carlo’s gone,” Enzo confirmed, his voice gentle. “You don’t need to worry, Anna. You did nothing wrong.”
She didn’t appear entirely convinced. I gently stroked the hair back from her face. “Anna, you are safe now, and we are unharmed. You need to rest now, so you can heal completely.”
Her eyes closed and I turned to the others. “She’ll be out for maybe a day, but then she’ll be fine.”
“A day?” Enzo asked, frowning, and I nodded.
“Her system was disrupted and needs time to heal. I promise you, she will be good as new once she has had time to recover. Just be patient with her. And yourself.”
He nodded and helped me stand. We were safe for the time being, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that my work as a Reaper was far from over. Dark Ones still lurked in the shadows, Daniel might or might not still be alive, and Artemis and Apollo remained missing.
“Guys,” I began, my voice hesitant yet determined, “I need to find Artemis and Apollo. And there are still Dark Ones out there that need to be banished. I can’t just pretend they don’t exist.”
“We know,” Enzo said softly, his strong arms wrapping around me. “And we’ll be with you every step of the way. We’re all in this together, remember?”
“Of course,” Torin agreed, placing a hand on my shoulder. “We wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Count me in too,” Riley chimed in, wrapping an arm around Heath’s waist.
“Always,” Heath whispered.
Later, while Anna slept in another room, Enzo, Torin, and I stood awkwardly in one of the large dens after Riley and Heath had gone to bed. Whether they’d gone together or separately, I didn’t know, nor did I care. They were all mates before I came along, and I wasn’t going to stand in the way of that, even though circumstances had changed.
I glanced between Torin and Enzo. The atmosphere was charged with an electric intensity, our shared life-or-death experiences amplifying our emotions and connection. As Enzo pressed me against him, Tor closed in, his scent lingered in the air, musk and leather, making my mouth water. As Tor moved back and took a seat on the huge sectional sofa, I turned back to Enzo, wanting to touch him, to comfort him somehow. Without a word, he pulled me into his arms, holding me close as if he could feel the storm brewing inside me. His embrace was warm, protective, and it made me feel safe - and wanted.
Our lips met in a heated kiss that spoke volumes about our shared relief and lingering desire. His tongue danced with mine, tasting like whiskey and male. He pushed me gently against a wall, his hands roving over my body as if he couldn’t get enough of it. A low moan escaped my throat as I clutched at his hair, pulling him closer. I reveled in the rough texture of his skin against my palms. I felt him hard against me, his arousal evident through our thin clothes.
He whispered against my ear, “Beautiful.” It was the only word he needed to say for me to understand what he wanted. My body ached for it - for both of them, as if a madness possessed me now that we were in a safe place after the insanity we’d been through. I broke away from his mouth and pulled off my shirt as Torin sat watching us. Enzo followed slowly behind, eyes glued to every curve of my body. I’d heard about people getting horny after a life-threatening experience, and now I could attest to it that it was a fact.
As soon as I reached Tor, I straddled him, never breaking eye contact with his mesmerizing gaze. He pulled me closer, our chests touching as I ran my hands over his bare chest, feeling every ripple of muscle beneath my fingers. His scent mixed with Enzo’s filled the air, making me lightheaded with desire. I leaned in to kiss him again, savoring his lips before letting out a soft moan. “I love you two so much,” I breathed against his mouth.
