My foot slipped off the rung of the stool, and I fell against the countertop. Was she serious? I tilted my head, unable to form words. I had wanted nothing more than to be part of the Table of Seven years ago, but once they banished me, I hadn't wanted any part of them. Now? I could have the best of both words.
“What of you?” I asked. “Will you stay here to watch your grandchild grow?”
“Not just yet. It's not my time to return.” Her voice stammered.
“I'm part of Liam's pack. I'm their enforcer. Can I be both?”
“I don't see why not as long as there is no conflict of interest.”
“Then, you have yourself a deal.” We shook, sealing our deal. I was now part of the Table again.
It felt great.
“Oh, I must go now.” Cassiel vanished.
“Hey, honey, is that steak I smell?” Connor waltzed into the kitchen, his shirt stained with a day's worth of sweat and grime.
“Oh, you smell.” I slapped his shirt as he leaned in for a kiss. “And your shirt looks like you rolled around in the mud.”
“If my dirty shirt bugs you that much, I can fix it real quick.” He winked and lifted it over his head. His muscles bunched, and I had a perfect view of his chiseled six pack.
I licked my lips and wrapped my arms around his neck. “So, I had a visitor today. Cassiel showed up and hinted around about some shit changing and how they want me to be the enforcer of the Table.”
Connor nuzzled my neck. “That sounds dangerous, babe.”
I playfully slapped his shoulder. “It's no different from what I do for Liam's pack.”
“And you're okay with this?”
“You know, I am.” I ran a hand down his chest, low on his stomach, stopping just before my hand reached the button of his jeans. “And I'm okay with this.” I pulled himin for a kiss.
“Hmm...then I'm okay with it, too.” He deepened the kiss, and I was lost in him. In our forever.
Epilogue
Luna
The eyes haunted me. Evil glared from the darkness, making me uneasy, but everyone else wanted to celebrate. I held onto my necklace. Power pulsated from the moonstones. The bright silver magic flowed through the mineral and brightened my spirits. The pack deserved to rejoice in their victory. I only hoped they finished celebrating before it attacked.
In the darkness, the eyes preyed upon me like a predator, but I refused to succumb. Not anymore. Iwasn't as weak as I once was. Helping Aylin and being part of the Lowell pack had shown me what strong womenwere made of and I wanted to be one of them. Apotent, independent woman.
Drew looked over at me, his smile wavering.
Maybe I wanted to be a different type of woman. I lowered my eyelids and peeked at him. He watched with interest, curiosity; his gaze was so different from the haunting eyes. Although Drew's stare wasn't warming, it wasn't evil either. I glanced over my shoulder. The creature in the woods lurked near the forest line.
Connor froze. His stiff stance suggested he felt the same haunting eyes peering from the trees. A chill ran through my body.
“C'mon, honey. I want a drink. A really strong one.” Aylin's voice filtered through darkness as she tugged on his arm.
He didn't seem like he wanted to celebrate, but he grabbed her hand and followed her.
I held back, waiting for the group to distance themselves from me. The moonstone necklace's power flickered as I walked across Aylin's front yard. The ley line that encircled her yard charged my power. The moonlight and crisscrossing points of magic beneath the ground called to my soul. As I became centered, I forgot the evil eyes.
Closing mine, I let the moon's power sweep through me. I felt as if I stood in the middle of a magical compass where each directional point intersected the center and encircled me. Instead of being the geographical points of a compass, these represented the elements of the world. The moon's light allowed me to absorb earth, air, fire, and water into my body.
The land called to me like a gentle lover. Its touch whispered across my body. I shivered and held on tight. Home.
The moonstones in my hand darkened. I was a fool to think I would ever be free from the powers that bound me. Toxic magic consumed the silvery power.
I sighed. My moment lost. My peace gone.
“Wow, would you look at that!” Drew pointed to where darkness eclipsed the moon's light.
Author Note
Thank you so much for reading Aylin and Connor’s story. I fell in love with the philosophy of a soulbond — a connection so strong that nothing can break it. I'm hoping you'll continue the journey with me through Luna and Drew’s story.
Coming Soon — The Full Moon.
About the Author
I'm an aspiring paranormal romance writer who loves to write about shape shifters, magic, and love. I'm a homebody who loves curling up on the couch with my Chihuahua snoring beside me. I live in the mountains along the east coast and enjoy the colorful, cold, warm and spontaneous seasons that are prominent in my area.
If you'd like to learn more, please check out my website or connect with me on Facebook.
Website: www.bellacdevine.com
And finally... If you enjoyed my book, and even if you didn’t, please complete a review.
