Page 144 of Bones

“The stolen ones will be sent to their rightful afterlife,” he said. “The bartered ones, given freely for greed and clout, will be disposed of.”

“What I’d like to know…” Levi turned to point out the door. “Which one of you brought a dog to a magicks battle?”

Aurora’s head snapped to look. “A dog?”

“Yes. Short legs, big bark, fluffy ass. Nearly bit my ankles off.” He flicked his wrist, and a door opened to let Victoria come bounding in. “I’m surprised she didn’t scratch through the concrete to get to you.”

“She must’ve already done that to our door to get to Aurora,” I said, releasing my mate just long enough for her to scoop thedog up. I ran my fingers through her fur and apologized. “Sorry for calling you Demon Dog all this time.”

“My demons do pant and hump things a lot,” Levi said with a head tilt.

Aurora buried her face in her fur before looking at Levi and Michael. “Do I have a gift with animals or something?”

“Yes,” Michael answered. “But not a magicks one. Animals are intelligent?—”

“Far more than people,” Levi muttered.

“They’re drawn to light. Your pure soul.” Michael scanned the room. “We will be in touch soon.”

Then they were gone, too.

“Angels,” Aurora whispered. “Those were actual archangels. And Levi’s magicks matches theirs because he really isn’t resentful evil incarnate. And one called me beautiful. Not a sinner. Not a heathen. Not an abomination.” She squeezed her body into mine and looked up, sharing her joy with me. “Other than when you tell me you love me or want me or call me your one or… Basically, outside of anything with you, that was the nicest compliment I’ve ever gotten.”

“I’m glad, my one.”

“Yup, that’s still better.”

“Is it actually over?” Denny asked, her body plastered to Nate’s in a similar way. “It doesn’t seem possible.”

He cupped her cheek and tilted her head. “It’s over with Absolve and those fallen angels. But there will always be evil who try to use black magicks to gain power.”

“Oh. That’s depressing.”

“But we will fight it together.”

“That’s less depressing.”

“And for now, I am taking you home.”

“That’s the least depressing.”

“Good because I intend…” The rest of Nate’s words went too quiet to hear before he teleported her out.

Lilith and Lennon left with barely a goodbye.

I heard Stellan say, “Poof us home, pixie, or I’m dragging you out of here in handcuffs.”

“Promises, promises, Detective,” Juno whispered as they disappeared.

Aurora tilted her head. “Take me home.”

“Anything, my love.”

When I did, it wasn’t to the apartment. It was to the entryway of our little cabin in the woods.

“I missed it here,” she breathed, that small smile on her face. The one that said she was at peace.

Content.

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