The Darkest Whisper

EPILOGUE

Once they were home, their injuries healed, they were able to make love like wild animals. Afterward, Gwen had too much energy to sleep. She popped up and started jumping on the bed, daring Sabin to do something about it. He propped himself against the headboard, watching her through bright, amused eyes.

She tsked under her tongue. “Look at you. Just sitting there, unable to keep up with a little girl who—ahhhhhh.”

He’d kicked her legs out from under her, sending her tumbling to her back. Grinning, he dove on top of her. “Who’s the tired one now, huh?”

She was laughing as she rolled him over, her hair falling around them like a curtain. “Not me, that’s for sure.”

“Let me see what I can do about that.”

And he did.

A long while later, she found herself snuggled back into his side, having trouble catching her breath. “So what’s next, hmm?” she asked, happier than she’d ever been. Who would have thought Gwendolyn the Timid would hook up with the fiercest Lord of the Underworld, throw herself into the midst of a war, and like it? Not her, that was for sure.

For the moment, though, things were calm. All the couples were safe, secure and reunited. The women (and Legion) were finding new homes for the children, both the ones Gwen had captured during their Budapest battle and the ones they’d rescued from Hunter High. Anya even had a favorite, the one she called “Ghost Boy,” and Gwen suspected the goddess would place him with a loving family here in Buda, where she could keep an eye on him.

Torin was searching for the people on Cronus’s list, and the other warriors were plotting ways to find Galen—and Distrust. Gideon was still healing; that would take a while. Legion disappeared periodically, and both Paris and Aeron were acting strangely.

“What’s next with us?” Sabin asked. “Well, after my heart starts beating again, I’m going to crawl my way down your body and—”

“No,” she said with a laugh, batting his hand away as he tickled her stomach. “With the Hunters.”

He sank deeper into the mattress, his arms tightening around her. “Danika thinks Galen is going to try and pair Distrust with the woman in the painting with him. If he succeeds, it’s gonna be a free-for-all when it comes time for the next battle. They won’t merely try to injure us, they’ll go for our heads. They’ll want our demons free so they can pair them with new hosts of their choosing.”

She’d suspected that, but still shuddered. “Brilliant of my…Galen, to place a piece of your beloved friend inside the body of your enemy.”

“Yeah, but I wouldn’t have expected anything less from the man who fathered you. Your sisters wouldn’t happen to have come into their powers or whatever it is, would they? If so, maybe we can convince them to stay.” Sabin traced hearts along her spine. “I’ve heard that every Harpy develops some sort of ability after living a few centuries. An ability like time travel. It’d come in handy, that’s for sure.”

“Only Taliyah. She can shift into other forms, as her own father could.” Talking about her race was becoming easier. She wanted Sabin to know about her.

“Even better.” He sighed. “We’ve gotta find those artifacts before Galen does. If he hasn’t already found one. That snake-whip…the more I think of it, the more it reminds me of the creature that was guarding the Cage of Compulsion. The same kind of creature that supposedly guards each of the artifacts. As he’s the keeper of Hope, I don’t think he’d have any trouble convincing even a monster to help him.”

“If he has one, we’ll just steal it. I mean, you’ve got a Harpy and the goddess of Anarchy on your side. The odds are in your favor.”

He chuckled. “Maybe you and I can visit the Temple of the Unspoken Ones. Something there told us about Danika, the All-Seeing Eye. Maybe whoever—whatever—it was will help us find something else.”

Gwen traced her finger over his chest, loving the contrasting tones of their skin. “And if we find those people listed on the scrolls, we can convince them to help us. You don’t have to worry about Doubt causing trouble. He knows I’ll spank him.”

“That he does.” He kissed her temple. “But yes, I’ll do anything—within reason—to win this war, including convincing criminals I helped incarcerate to help me. And actually, that should be easy. After all, I convinced the fiercest Harpy of them all to give me her heart.”

“And would you do anything—within reason—to keep that Harpy happy?”

“Don’t you know it.”

“Do I?” She grinned up at him. “Prove it.”

“My pleasure.”

She was on her back in the next instant, giggling like a schoolgirl, her body and soul Sabin’s, just the way she liked it.