My heart is full. But I would also serve you as you wish.” He stood and smiled at his goddess. “I can do both.”
“As can I,” Roric added, bowing before the Lady.
Marko and Leander echoed Roric’s vow. Then Phoenix and Stavros renewed their commitment to the Lady. Arand felt bad for them. Neither of them had been lucky enough to find love as he had. He didn’t know how he could have survived if Sabrina had died or lived her life without him. He admired the bravery and fortitude of his friends.
Mordecai was the only one who didn’t pledge himself. They all waited, but he didn’t speak.
“What of you, Mordecai?” the Lady asked.
“I am not worthy.”
The Lady shook her head. “No, my brave warrior. You are very worthy. You are changed by your experience, your soul dark and weary, but you never wavered in your intent. Your courage is great.” She smiled at him. “I would be a very lucky goddess indeed to count you in my service.”
“Then I am yours, my Lady.” Mordecai pledge his life and service to the goddess who had created him.
“That is good.” The Lady smiled and turned toward the door. “We have many years until Hades starts to make trouble again, and then he will be someone else’s problem. I plan to roam the world and visit my favorite places. I suggest you all enjoy your new lives.”
“My Lady?” It was Mordecai who asked the question. “What will I do?”
The goddess glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him. “Rediscover the world and the many wonders it has to offer. Find happiness. Live. You all have your full powers again and can be by my side with but a thought. You have your fellow warriors. You are not alone.” She put her hand on the doorknob but paused. “Mordecai, you and Stavros and Phoenix need not be alone. If someday down the road you find your mate, you may share your immortality with her as the others have done. That is my gift to all of you for your years of imprisonment.”
The Lady left them then, disappearing out the door. Arand felt the moment she was gone from the area, her power taking her to the other side of the country. He smiled, pleased to be able to feel his goddess once again. He concentrated for a moment and felt the connection he had to his fellow warriors as well. It was as it once had been, only better. He now appreciated what he had much more than before and would never take it for granted again.
Arand pulled Sabrina into his arms, holding her close to his heart. “Thank you.” He didn’t have to tell her for what. He knew she understood he was thanking her for her unwavering support of his decision to remain with his goddess.
“She’s part of you.” Sabrina patted his chest and then her own. “Of us.”
Arand knew he couldn’t wait any longer. He scooped Sabrina into his arms. “My woman needs her rest. Feel free to stay. There’s not a lot of food, but you’re welcome to it.”
“Arand.” Sabrina gasped and started to speak, but he cut off her admonishment with a kiss.
Roric snorted. “Thank you for your hospitality, but I think we’ll all head into the city and find a hotel. We’ll meet again in a couple of days.”
“Works for me,” Arand called over his shoulder as he carried Sabrina into the bedroom. Marko’s booming laugh followed them as Arand kicked the door shut behind them.
“How could you do that?” Sabrina wailed. “They’ll all know what we plan to do in here, and it doesn’t involve a nap.”
“Sure it does.” He tossed her onto the bed and pounced on top of her, careful not to crush her with his weight.
“It does?”
He caught the disappointment in her tone and smiled. “Yes, it does. After.”
“After,” she repeated.
He kissed her as he ripped her top open and dragged it off her body. “Much later.”
Sabrina laughed and the sound went through him like a physical caress, making his spine arch with pleasure. He willed his own clothing to disappear, freeing his engorged cock.
Her laughter died as she reached for him. “Much, much later,” she agreed, wrapping her fingers around his erection.
Arand sensed the others leaving the cabin and the swamp. They were finally alone. He yanked off her shoes and the rest of her clothes until she was naked. He paused, as always, taken by her beauty and the way she gave herself to him, holding nothing back.
Humbled, he leaned down and kissed her, the caress gentle and filled with love. Sabrina stroked his heavy erection and the kiss changed, becoming ravenous in a heartbeat. They were both breathless when he pulled back, but he still managed to laugh. Sabrina had changed his life, made him feel alive once again. Happy.
He threw back his head and howled his joy. Then he made love to his mate, again and again and again.
Epilogue
Sabrina started to wipe some powdered sugar from her lips, but Arand beat her to it and licked away the sweetness left behind by the beignet she’d just finished.
“Mmm, tasty.” He licked his lips and sat back in his chair, a roguish grin on his face.
She laughed at him and glanced around the room, half-listening to all the conversations flowing around her. Cafe Ledet was closed to the public tonight, but there was a private party going on. All of the warriors and their women were here, along with Tilly and Jessica.
She and Arand had returned to the city this morning, and the first thing she’d done was find her friends. They’d had so much to talk about and share. Jessica had apologized profusely for not telling them about her grandmother’s journal, but both she and Tilly had waved it away. They were all friends and understood. Jessica and Tilly had put themselves on the line for her and Arand, and Sabrina would never forget that.
Her only sadness came from the realization that her friends would age and grow old while she wouldn’t. It was weird to think of herself as immortal. She couldn’t quite wrap her head around that one. She guessed she would given time, which was something it seemed she now had plenty of.
Mordecai seemed to be paying particular attention to Jessica. The two of them had been talking all evening. The other warriors were still a bit tentative around him, and Sabrina knew he had to feel still somewhat like an outsider. Jessica would be good for him, plus they had a connection through her grandmother.
Phoenix, on the other hand, couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Tilly. Her friend threw back her head and laughed at something the self-contained warrior said to her, her dark-brown eyes twinkling with pleasure.
Sabrina toyed with the handle of her coffee mug and studied both couples. The more she watched them, the more convinced she was that she might not be alone in her immortality. Not that she really was. All the other women were really nice. Kellsie, Aimee and Araminta had all gone out of their way to speak with her. They all belonged to a very special group—they were all mated to immortal, shapeshifting warriors. And being with an alpha male brought its own set of special problems. They’d already exchanged phone numbers and email addresses.
She liked them all, but she really hoped her friends joined the select group down the road. A girl could only hope.
Then there was Stavros. He seemed content to simply be among them all, and she prayed that he’d find someone to love too. As if he sensed her watching him, Stavros swiveled his head in her direction and his black eyes pierced her, as though he was trying to read her thoughts. And maybe he could, because a second later he smiled before turning back to his conversation with Marko.
All the men were handsome, not always in the traditional sense, but they all possessed an animal magnetism that was undeniable.
“Are you tired?”
Her heart swelled at the concern in Arand’s voice. “I feel fabulous.” She took a sip of her rich, aromatic coffee before continuing. “But what are we all going to do now?” The other conversations around them died and she suddenly found herself the center of attention.
