Page 98 of Lady of Darkness
“When do they… when does it…” I trail off, pulling my lower lip between my teeth.
“Six months. It gives them time to train. Time to learn everything we have to teach them.”
I nod, releasing another sigh. “I can’t believe… I’m just so happy.”
“Me too,” he murmurs, pulling me against him again as he hugs me. “You have no idea how fucking happy I am.”
* * *
Later that night,I turn over to face Sterling. He’s still awake, reading something on his phone with his glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. We all wear glasses now–it’s pretty hilarious in the morning when we’re all groping for five different pairs.
“Can’t sleep?” I ask him.
“I’m awake, too,” Gideon says from my other side.
“Be quiet,” Theo murmurs from the end of the bed.
“Shh.” Alaric sits up. “Go to sleep. Edith’s football match is at eight.”
“Bloody hell,” Gideon whines, placing a hand over his face. “Why the fuck do they start so fucking early?”
I smile. “To torture the parents.”
We’re all quiet for a few minutes. I know why. Today was monumental. Today, five people–three men, two women–signed contracts to take over for the Lords of Darkness. They won’t inherit the name, of course. That was my clause, that the ‘Lords of Darkness’ die with us. The bloodlines will return to normal–no more crime rings, no more syndicates, no more history. They will choose a new name, and form a new history.
And Edith would never be conscripted.
These people were all admirers of ours, too–theywantedto do this. That was Sterling’s clause. We had to find people who would enjoy the hell out of it.
Which meant that in six months’ time, we would be free of it.
And they would continue without us.
Alaric’s only clause was that we needed time to train them. He was right all those years ago. The world would fall apart without us. But who said it had to be us? Why not another group, under another name, with no dark history under their belts?
“It feels too good to be true,” I say quietly.
None of them answer right away. The moon shines through Theo’s bedroom window, casting pearly, luminescent light onto the wide mattress. After I joined the order officially, we all moved in with Theo and never left. It feels the most serene, the most likeourhome. We still have our respective homes–and Cecelia still has her cottage with Archie, though they’re here most days of the week.
Gemma is currently getting her master’s degree in Psychology, and she spends every Christmas in snowy England with us.
Edith is… she’s the fucking light of my life.
I’ve never loved so intensely before, and never been so in awe of the men in this bed. They’re such good fathers. We never did a DNA test, but we all know she’s Alaric’s.
Theo is still bitter, seeing as he’d doubled his chances the night we conceived.
In a year or two, I’d consider having another baby. I’ve already told them that once this all settles down, we can try for a couple more. I enjoy being a mom.
And I suppose I’ll need something to occupy all of my free time.
Gideon shifts next to me. “No. Not for me. We put in our time. We paid for it with blood, sweat, and tears. We’ve earned this. Don’t you agree?”
“I fucking agree,” Sterling interjects. “You know I love you guys, but I’m… excited for the future for the first time in my adult life.”
“Me too,” Alaric mumbles.
“Me three,” Theo adds.
