Epilogue

“Why do we have to be rabbits again?” Cade asked. “You could just make us invisible.”

“I could, but then you would all run into each other. This way is simpler, and more fun.” Lucas grinned, and Cade decided to let the druid have his fun. “Of course, we could call the whole thing off, and I could keep Taro under my control.”

“No,” Cade and Eva chorused. “He is too dangerous.”

“And we promised Zinan we would send his brother back” Tally said.

“And you plan to send Zinan back too?” Lucas asked.

“No. I gave him my word he could stay,” Tally said. They had already been over this several times on the journey to Stonehenge.

“But he is a degetty, and they do not belong in this world,” Lucas said. “Cade, as leader of the squad who has to put these things down, back me up here.”

“I am staying out of it,” Cade said. “I’m off duty. Just along for the ride.”

Octavia chuckled. “It seems druids are not as powerful as they thought.”

“Not when faced with a witch like Natalie Munroe,” Helena said, smiling proudly at her daughter. “I’m glad you learned to stand up for what you believe in.”

“I gave him my word,” Tally repeated to her mom.

“And he did protect me,” Helena said. “When Matthew tried to attack me.”

“I know, but I fear he may find a way of breaking free of you, Tally,” Lucas said, his voice deepening in concern.

Eva narrowed her gaze, looking closely at Lucas. “It’s good to see your compassion has returned.”

“Momentarily,” Lucas said, giving her a faint smile. “Now, where were we? Rabbits.”

Lucas cast the spell over Tally, Helena, Eva, Cade, and Octavia. They had all come to witness Lucas sending Taro back to the Underworld. Lucas had assured them he could do it alone, but they had insisted. Partly out of a need to see this through to the end, and partly because there was a small part of each of them that did not trust Lucas.

“Hop along, then. I’ll meet you in there,” Lucas said, and put the Druid Box, which contained Taro, in his pocket, and headed toward the visitors’ entrance of Stonehenge. It was after hours, the sun had long set, and the moon yet to rise. In this time of the witching hour, Lucas was going to open a portal to the Underworld and send Taro back home. He was more than willing to go, and would put up no fight.

Or so he said. But Octavia was not ready to trust a degetty.

She hopped along, side by side with the others, scampering across the grass and into the circle made up of great monoliths. The power of the circle emanated out of every blade of grass as her small feet hopped slowly across the ground.

They huddled together, in awe of the magic around them, and waited for Lucas.

It was ten minutes later when his shadowy figure appeared, entering the stone circle, his white robes blowing around his legs. He looked every inch a druid as he solemnly placed the Druid Box on the ground.

Then he walked over to the rabbits and returned them to their human forms.

“Ready to bear witness?” Lucas asked.

“We are,” Cade said, slipping his hand around Octavia’s. She leaned into him, a sense of unease filling her. This was a place of magic, and she still hadn’t got used to being a thing of magic. She was an Other now, but it would take some time for her to feel part of that world. But she did feel part of a family, and that was enough.

Lucas began to chant, his voice loud, bouncing off the stones, so that it resonated back into the circle. Beneath their feet, the ground began to tremble, and from the center of the circle a hole appeared, spiraling outwards. When it was approximately ten feet across, Lucas’s chant changed and he picked up the Druid Box and opened it. A green mist rose up, and then condensed into the shape of a man. A man with green eyes.

Taro hovered over the portal for a few seconds, before he was drawn into it, as though sucked into a swirling whirlpool. Lucas held out his hands, the words from his mouth slower, quieter, and the ground responded, the hole becoming increasingly smaller, until it was gone.

Lucas slumped forward, but remained on his feet, every inch the proud, aloof leader of the Council, until Cade, Octavia, Tally, Helena, and Eva crowded in on him.

“You did it,” Octavia said with relief.

“Of course he did it, he is the best druid,” Tally said. “Not that you have to do much to earn that honor.” She grinned at him, a pale shadow in the darkness.

“Thank you,” Cade said, slapping Lucas hard on the back.

“You are welcome,” Lucas said. “And now I have one more gift for you, Cade, and you, Octavia.” He waved his hand and muttered a spell. “There.”

“They are invisible,” Eva said, reaching out and touching Cade’s arm to check that he was still there.

“They are.” Lucas grinned. “The moon will be full in an hour. This is when henge holds the most potent magic. Make use of it. No one will see you.”

“Make use of it?” Octavia asked, frowning. She felt the same, she could see everyone, except Cade. She gripped his hand harder, not wanting to let go in case she lost him.

“Yes. Procreate,” Lucas said. “Here.”

“It’s one way to put some magic into your sex life,” Tally said.

“Tally!” Helena said, shocked.

“Mom, I’m seventeen and I’m not a nun,” Tally said.

Helena’s face creased and she looked tearful, her hand going to her head. “There is so much I have forgotten. I still think of you as being a thirteen-year-old girl with a crush on Cade.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Tally said, putting her arms around her mom. “You haven’t forgotten how to embarrass me.”

“You still don’t know why Matthew wanted you? Or why Gareth put a bind on you?” Eva asked gently.

“No. I don’t even know if what they want is still in my head.” Helena put her hand to her temple and pressed. “What am I forgetting?”

“It will come back. Now that Gareth is dead, and the binding is broken, it will come back.”

“Are you so sure?” Helena asked.

“No, but even if it doesn’t, we are just glad to have you back,” Eva said.

“I’m surprised you druids haven’t made Matthew talk yet,” Cade said to Lucas. “If you want him to go ten rounds with a bear, it can be arranged.”

“Thanks for the offer, Cade. But I have my best druids working on him. We will break him.” Lucas looked up to where the moon was breaking out of the clouds. “Enough of this. You are wasting my gift to you.”

Octavia looked up at the moon, as it rose higher in the sky, its eerie rays shining on the close-cropped grass on which they stood. “I’m not sure I like this idea,” she said.

“I do,” Cade murmured in her ear, or at least he must have thought it was her ear, but his breath caressed her nose instead.

She giggled despite her reservations. “It will be interesting, for sure.”

“Good.” Lucas clapped his hands. “We are going to retire to a nice little pub I know.”

“Are we?” Helena asked.

“I’m sure there is a children’s room for Tally,” Lucas said.

“I’m seventeen, and look older,” Tally insisted as they walked away.

“Have fun, you two,” Eva said. “Wherever you are.” She waved her hands around.

“Right here, Mom,” Cade said, touching her arm.

“Make lots of lovely babies. I’d love a grandchild or five.”

“One at a time,” Cade said.

Eva walked away, running to join the others, as Lucas waved his hands, and the three women turned into rabbits.

“I swear that man has a bunny fetish,” Cade said.

“Let’s not think of him now,” Octavia said, and felt for Cade’s other hand, holding it in hers. She figured she was facing him, and stood on tiptoes to kiss his lips, hitting his chin on the first try.

“Come on. Let’s go make the most of this gift Lucas has given us,” Cade said, and led her to the altar stone, which lay on the ground, broken into two pieces.

“Here?” Octavia asked.

“Yes. Here.” He lifted her to sit on it, the stone cold and hard beneath her. “This is going to be easier if we undress ourselves.”

“I agree.” Octavia looked around. “We are sure no one can see us?”

“Positive.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. Somehow, he was right on target, unless he was aiming for her lips. “I want to make a child with you, Octavia. A family.”

She wanted that too, with all her heart. “Trust in fate.”

“Trust in fate,” Cade said. She heard him remove his belt, and then the sound of his zipper undoing, and decided to play along.

One piece of clothing at a time dropped to the ground. The spell must only cover their clothes while they were being worn, because as soon as they were discarded, they became visible. Octavia hoped no security guards would be walking around, and see them, and decide to investigate.

“I am naked,” Cade said triumphantly.

She giggled. “I would love to see you.”

“I would settle for you touching.” He moved closer, until she could feel his body heat close to her skin.

Octavia reached out, and touched his chest, feeling the sprinkling of hair that led down his abdomen. She followed the trail, her hand encountering his cock. “I found something.”

His breath hissed through his teeth. “You sure did.”

She moved her hand up and down, while Cade stroked her skin, starting at her shoulder, feeling his way along her collar bone, before sliding his fingers across her skin to her breasts. He pressed his weight forward, and she lay down beneath him, her back against the hard stone. Cade used his hand to guide her breast toward his mouth, his lips closing over her taut nipple and sucking it in. It was Octavia’s turn to gasp, and writhe beneath him.

She didn’t need to see him to fully experience the sensations he evoked in her body. Easing her thighs apart, he nestled his body between them, and leaned forward, as she guided the head of his cock toward her heated sex.

Cade thrust forward, and she gasped as he filled her, in one fluid motion. He pulled back, and then thrust forward once more, stretching her aching sex. She was so wet, aching for him to make love to her, here under the ancient stones, with the moon shining her magic down upon them.

Octavia’s invisible lover lunged in and out of her, filling her to the hilt. Her arousal grew as he touched her body, never knowing where his lips might kiss, or his fingers might stroke. In return, Octavia touched Cade, soft sensual touches, feeling, exploring, every part of him. With her eyes blind to him, she let her other senses learn to recognize his reactions.

Tweaking his nipples made him jerk forward, stroking his arms made him shiver, and kissing his lips made him groan. She read his needs by the sound of his breath, the excitement of an inhale, the easing of tension on an exhale.

His thrusts became harder, faster, and his body tensed. He was going to come, and she wanted to join him in a climax, here in this magical place. She adjusted her body, until he brushed her clit with each thrust. Higher and higher she climbed, up into the clouds above their heads, until finally she reached the stars and the world shattered into pieces,

She came, arching her back, offering herself to him on this ancient altar, and he filled her with his seed, worshiping her body with his. Their bodies were bound together as one in this sacred place, just as the mating bond bound their souls.

Her voice rang out, bouncing off the stones, filling the circle with her ecstasy as wave after wave of pleasure hit her. Until her orgasm waned, and she clung to Cade, listening to the sound of his heart, beating for her, just as her heart beat for him. Now and forever.

He chuckled. “I wonder if someone thinks the place haunted.”

Octavia sat up, and looked around. “There’s no one here.” She sounded relieved.

“Only us, and the ghosts of the past.”

Octavia shivered. “I can feel the power, it resonates through the stones.” She placed her hand flat on the altar stone.

“That is because we gave a sacrifice,” Cade said.

She frowned. “What kind of sacrifice?”

“A part of us. A part of our love. It will always be here, our energy, added to the magic of the stones.”

“Aren’t you an old romantic?” she said, reaching for her clothes.

He did the same, a weird thing to witness; as he picked up one item of clothing after another, they disappeared. “You bring out the romantic in me, the protector in me, and the man in me.”

“And you bring out the woman in me,” she said. “The incredibly happy woman.”

“That is enough for me,” Cade said. “Your happiness, and your safety, are what I crave.”

“Do you think we will ever find out what Matthew knows?” Octavia asked. After the attack, it had taken her a few nights to feel safe again in the enclave.

“I don’t know,” Cade said, and his thigh brushed against hers as he sat down on the large stone. “But whether he does or not, we just have to continue with our lives. Zinan will protect Tally and her family. While we work, we hunt, we make love.”

“In that order?” she asked, pushing into him with her body.

“Maybe making love should come first.”

She sighed, and looked up at the moon, which was high in the sky, so far out of reach. Just as she thought love was out of reach before she went to the fortuneteller. The chain of events that decision had set in place might have been difficult, scary, and downright life-changing, but she wouldn’t alter a thing.

“I love you, Cade. And I always will.”

“I love you too, Octavia. Forever. And ever, and then some more.”

They sat on the altar stone, in a place of ancient magic, and Octavia could believe his words. They were bound, through time and space. And no one could tear them apart. Ever.

***