And the breeze blew our hair as we held each other on a pebbled beach with our family, a bunch of vampires and werewolves, and we watched Snake burn.
Chapter Fourteen
Awesome
Abel
Abel and Delilah walked into the breakfast room the first fucking thing the next fucking morning. They’d been summoned there by a loud knock on the door an hour ago, one of Gregor’s minions calling to them that this was what Gregor was expecting.
Regardless of this, Abel was in a mellow mood.
This had a lot to with last night, feeling the centuries of pain inside him swept away with Delilah’s quiet understanding.
And her love.
Christ.
He’d never forget it.
It got better after their moment, which was whacked because they were at a funeral.
But after the sun had set and the flames died, they all wandered to the bonfire and sat around it. Gregor’s minions had brought bottles of whiskey, chilled vodka, premium tequila, bags of marshmallows, bars of chocolate, and boxes of graham crackers, and some good-looking human guy came to sit with Lucien’s friend, Stephanie.
Poncho, Moose, Hook, and Jabber told stories of Snake. Conversation flowed, shifted, turned, and did it naturally. The melancholy stole out and goodness drifted in on a wave of memories, booze, sweets, and good people sharing time.
They drank. They made s’mores. They smiled. They even laughed.
And Stephanie turned out to be one seriously hilarious bitch.
She also was the first who started making out with her guy.
This prompted Moose to grumble, “We shoulda ordered bitches,” which made Delilah, Leah, and Sonia giggle and the men exchange smiles.
Things got heavy with Stephanie and her human around the time Sonia and Callum started going at it. Stephanie left with her man. Wei and Xun took Chen back up, Jian-Li following them. Sonia and Callum left not long after. Gregor and Yuri drifted away. So did Ryon, Caleb, and Calder. Leah and Lucien started whispering and kissing, then they took off. And finally, with Moose carrying his friend, Jabber bitching about it, Hook lugging up the wheelchair, and Poncho handing Jabber shit, they went up.
Leaving Abel and Delilah on the beach with a roaring bonfire and blankets.
So he’d made love to her there with Snake’s ashes floating up the pebbles at the edge of the sea.
He’d never forget it, not a second of it, not in his life. Even the part with Snake being there when he sank his cock in Delilah for the first time after she’d shared her love.
Snake belonged there. He’d died so they could have that and Abel thought it was fitting.
So he was good the next morning when he pulled Delilah in the bright breakfast room, which was one of several conservatories at the compound, this one jutting from the end of the south wing.
And he was good with who was there: Gregor, Leah, Lucien, Sonia, and Callum.
That was it.
The Three.
And, of course, Gregor.
“Sit. Let’s get you some coffee,” Gregor greeted expansively as they hit the room, throwing out an arm to two empty chairs to his left.
More greetings were exchanged and Abel sat only after he’d shoved Delilah’s chair with her in it under the table.
Delilah looked at Gregor. “Last night was exactly what we needed, Gregor, so I need to thank you again.”
“No thanks necessary, Delilah,” Gregor replied.
“Lilah,” she corrected.
He smiled.
Abel looked to Lucien and Callum, who were both grinning at him.
“Right.” Delilah shook off the mood and reached for the coffeepot. “Saving the world.”
“We’ll get to that, Delilah—” Callum started.
“Lilah to you too,” she cut him off to say.
Callum’s glance darted to Abel, his lips twitched, then he said, “Lilah. But first we need to understand something.”
“That is…?” Abel asked.
“Your scar,” Lucien stated.
He felt Delilah tense at his side, but he looked to Lucien. “What about it?”
“We don’t scar,” Lucien informed him. “We’re wondering if you do because you’re the only known hybrid in the world. So we’d—”
He stopped speaking when he sensed Abel’s and Delilah’s moods swing, that being to complete fucking shock.
“Uh…what?” Abel forced out.
“Fuck. He didn’t know,” Callum muttered.
“Of course he didn’t know,” Sonia whispered with more than mild irritation.
“Know…what, exactly? The only known hybrid? What the fuck does that mean?” Abel demanded.
“Werewolves and vampires can’t procreate, Abel,” Gregor shared, and Abel swung his gaze to the vampire. “Not until…well, you.”
“Oh my God,” Delilah breathed.
“Are you kidding me?” Abel asked.
“I’m afraid not,” Gregor said carefully. “You had no idea?”
“No fuckin’ clue,” Abel grunted.
“Your parents didn’t share that with you?” Gregor went on.
“My parents didn’t share dick,” Abel told him.
“Do you know where they are?” Gregor asked.
“I know they left me in an alley two hundred years ago. Other than that, like I said, I don’t know dick. Don’t remember dick about them either,” Abel answered.
“Interesting,” Gregor murmured.
“Not interesting. Abusive,” Delilah suddenly snapped, her back shooting straight. “He was left in an alley as a pup. It’s a miracle Hui found him, took him in, and kept him, even after he transformed. Others might have done him harm, or worse.”