her, meeting her regard. We weren’t done, not by any sense, and I realized that in the days leading up to my own wedding, I’d have to be crafty as hell, because the Fae Queens were treacherous, and I had become a threat to the stability of their traditions.
Looking away, I focused on my uncle, hoping that he and Neallanthra would be happy. And who knew? Sometimes, arranged marriages worked.
“I’m so glad that’s over,” I said, turning to Herne. I was still wearing the massive dress—it was mine, as a gift from Saílle—and we were in his SUV, heading home after the wedding. Rafé and Angel were driving together.
“You want to spend the night at my house?” Herne asked.
I nodded. “I’m hungry for you. And I want out of this fucking cupcake of a dress.” I paused, then let out a long, slow breath. “It’s all changing. Everything is moving so fast I feel like I’m on a roller coaster.”
“I know, but love, life is like that sometimes. And then some years, it seems like time barely moves. It’s all cyclical, you know. We’ll take care of Typhon, hopefully with as little collateral damage as possible, and then…move on to the next phase.” He pulled into his driveway. “I watched you up there tonight, and all I could think about was our wedding, and how I will be by your side.”
He sounded so optimistic, I had to push away my negative thoughts.
As we headed inside his house, I paused, turning back to look at the park that buttressed against his home. It was beautiful, and it occurred to me that living here wouldn’t be so bad—it would have its perks. I had given up the fantasy that Rafé and Angel and Herne and I could all share a house. I knew that Angel didn’t want that, and when I really thought about it, it made sense. Angel and I were best friends, but even friends had to live their own lives.
I was just grateful she was healing up, and that Viktor was back, and that we were all alive. Typhon was out there, and Echidna was preparing to call him out in challenge. We had fought off more skeletal warriors, and more vrykos, and a few zombies had shown up, and I knew that Gyell was keeping his eyes open for any opportunity to strike at us. But all that was on hold for tonight. Tonight…was for Herne and me.
As I turned to go inside, a noise alerted me and I glanced at the park. There, sitting in the grass, was a little red fox. She watched me, unafraid, then turned and dashed back into the woods. I raised my hand as she left, feeling hope swell within me. Something about her had brought peace to my heart. Giving her a silent thank-you, I turned to go inside, to where my love was waiting for me.
If you enjoyed this book and haven’t read the first twelve books of The Wild Hunt Series, check out The Silver Stag, Oak & Thorns, Iron Bones, A Shadow of Crows, The Hallowed Hunt, The Silver Mist, Witching Hour, Witching Bones, A Sacred Magic, The Eternal Return, Sun Broken, and Witching Moon. Book 14—Witching Time— is available for preorder now. There will be more to come after that.
I will be starting a new series this autumn (November 2020)—the Blood Queen Series. A darker Fae/Vampire series, this will be a six-book series to start. You can preorder the first three books: Blood Roses, Blood Ashes, and Blood Dreams.
Return with me to Whisper Hollow, where spirits walk among the living, and the lake never gives up her dead. I’ve re-released Autumn Thorns and Shadow Silence, as well as a new—the third—Whisper Hollow Book, The Phantom Queen! Come join the darkly seductive world of Kerris Fellwater, a spirit shaman in the small lakeside community of Whisper Hollow.
I invite you to visit Fury’s world. Bound to Hecate, Fury is a minor goddess, taking care of the Abominations who come off the World Tree. Books 1-5 are available now in the Fury Unbound Series: Fury Rising, Fury’s Magic, Fury Awakened, Fury Calling, and Fury’s Mantle.
If you prefer a lighter-hearted paranormal romance, meet the wild and magical residents of Bedlam in my Bewitching Bedlam Series. Fun-loving witch Maddy Gallowglass, her smoking-hot vampire lover Aegis, and their crazed cjinn Bubba (part djinn, all cat) rock it out in Bedlam, a magical town on a mystical island. Bewitching Bedlam, Maudlin’s Mayhem, Siren’s Song,