Page 87 of Kat Bethel

Epilogue: One Year Later

Iwalkedaroundthecottage, lighting lemon balm on each altar lining the house as the sun set. The dark malice that filled the air settled into a restless hum. I turned and found the hat man standing in the garden with that strange stillness that he has. After a long minute, he sat down on the bench I kept out there just for him.

That’s when I knew he was under control, for now.

I walked the stone path winding through the garden to the dandelion field. I’d done a lot of work to the property since I bought it from Myrtle, but I never touched that. I laid down under the bright stars.

I may have had to drive two hours in any direction to go to the store, but this abandoned corner of the world was perfect for me.

And him.

My monster came into view, blocking the sky behind him. I smiled at him. “Move. You’re ruining the view.”

“I’m looking at the view.” Even after everything, the reverence in his voice hadn’t changed. I could feel the sear of his gaze on me. I pulled my sundress I wore up teasingly, knowing Iwasn’t wearing underwear, so I could bait him into doing what I wanted.

He went down to all fours, nudging my knees apart. His broad shoulders pushed my thighs back out of his way. His tongue had me panting in seconds. Desire consumed us the same way it always had.

The shadows around him thickened, killing the crab grass that had managed to sprout since the last night he lost control out here. It didn’t take long for the dandelions to be sprinkled in soot. They stood loud and proud in the middle of his destruction.

But here with me, there was nothing for us to corrode.

My eyes went down to where he was between my thighs. I met the sear of his gaze and made him roar with need against me. My orgasm snapped without warning. Screams of pleasure tore from me, filling the crisp night air.

No one could make me quiver like him.

Claws ripped my dress in half, turning it to ash within a second. Claws grabbed my side as he gripped me too tightly. The points of his claws piercing my skin, so blood oozed from them. As if to remind us that we were toxic to each other.

That was fine. He left the most delicious bruises.

When I was full of him was the only time the voices went quiet. That was the only time I wasn’t the failed hunter that shamed the family name.

I closed my eyes, sinking into the feel of him against me.

He roared his orgasm to the sky, as if daring it to ever banish him again. The vibrations pushed me over the edge again.

This was where I was free to be me. Fuck up and all.

I laid on his chest as we recovered. The crickets' songs filled the air. After a long time, he spoke up, “Do you miss hunting?”

“No,” I answered easily. “Not even a little.”

Once I sat down to think about what I wanted in life it became clear. I’d never wanted to be a hunter.

I just wanted to get my mother’s attention by being the best.

And it cost me more than I ever gained.

Now, I weaved my witch ladders and consulted hunters who needed help from someone who’d been there and done that.

“Willow hasn’t called me in a couple days.” A soft worry filled my voice. Something deep in my gut said something was wrong.

“Sometimes she gets lost in those books of hers.” Abiel chuckled with endearment.

Before I could tell him that there was this nervousness I couldn’t shake a familiar male voice echoed down the hill, “Sasha.”

A growl vibrated in Abiel’s voice, growing louder as I slid off of him. I walked in the direction of the voice. Abiel’s heat at my heel, like he said he always would be.

A flashlight came around the house, burning my retinas for a moment. When my eyes adjusted, I found William’s eyes roving over my naked body with a hunger that would never get fed.