Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Epilogue

Aubrey

A few months later

The sun dips low in the sky, painting the horizon in soft hues of orange and pink as I lean against the balcony railing. The castle grounds stretch out before me. The gardens are in full bloom, and I can hear the faint sound of Max’s laughter in the distance as he runs away from one of the maids and darts behind the fountain. The sound of his laughter makes me smile. I finally feel like I can breathe again, which makes me excited. Excited because I see a future I never could have imagined for myself. One where I don’t have to question if I belong, I finally found a home.

“Max!” shrieks Mary as she tries to catch him. He reaches`in, flicking water from the fountain at her.

“Oh, you little brat! Don’t make me get your uncle,” she tells him, and Max cheekily sticks his tongue out at her before splashing her again.

“That’s it, young man, you’re in for it now.” I chuckle at his antics, and despite Mary’s firm tone, I can see she is trying not to laugh at Max herself.

Warm, strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back against the broad chest of my husband. Soren rests his chin lightly on my shoulder, his breath tickling my ear as he presses a kiss just below it. “You’re smiling,” he murmurs, his voice low and content. “It looks good on you, my queen.”

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I tilt my head back to look up at him, meeting those piercing blue eyes that have seen so much, endured so much, and yet still hold a softness reserved only for me. “I’m smiling because, for once, everything feels. right,” I whisper, and his arms tighten around me.

After everything we’ve been through–the lies, the betrayals, the bloodshed–it feels almost surreal to have this moment of peace. Something I didn’t think was possible, especially after all the drama of Rhett, the family secrets, Alaric and Clyde. It just makes all these quiet moments more important, more valued.

The days following the wedding were utter chaos. The trap Soren set for King Alaric during the reception worked, and his crimes were laid bare for all to see in every paper the next day. While Alaric thought he was sipping champagne and enjoying the celebration, Soren’s men were dismantling his entire kingdom.

The raids Soren organized were swift, and every one of Alaric’s compounds were targeted simultaneously, leaving his people no time to warn him until it was too late. His army barracks were stormed and shut down with the help of the supernatural council and the human governments. The trafficking victims Alaric had hidden away were rescued, many of them trembling and broken but alive.

cleanup, ensuring that Alaric’s human collaborators were arrested and prosecuted

but ashes of the empire he’d built on blood and suffering. The vampire civilians, those who had

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Epilogue

they were scattered, divided between the hybrid kingdoms to be watched over. They wouldn’t be

council also underwent a massive overhaul. After Alaric’s crimes came to light, it was clear that the council needed to be restructured from the ground up. Trust in its leadership had been

watchful eye, the remaining seats on the council were filled. No one

relieved that Elder Magnus would stay on but only long enough to see the council regain the public’s trust. After that, he planned to step back

Soren’s chest and lean into him as I watch Mary give up trying to force Max inside for his bath. Max whoops excitedly, thinking he won, until Damian comes up behind him and upends him, making him shriek. Damian dangles him like a tea bag by one leg, holding him up in the air while Max swings wildly at him, his

Damian demands, looking at his nephew, who is still upside down

I think it’s all those chocolate chip

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for dessert tonight that should

growls, his tiny arms flailing

over his shoulder and marching back toward the

beneath us.

one day, I am going to

kid who is about to have their head dunked in one since he favors them more than

Max freezes, turning stiff like a plank

that as his toothbrush for his

with soap for talking to your future king like that!” Max states as Damian starts climbing the

out with soap?” she

refusing-” Mary starts, but Max cuts her off.

to