Wednesday, October 15th – 7:55 pm
Clover jumped up beside Avery, where she sat with her feet curled up on the sofa, with Luys by her side. Her head rested against the hollow of his shoulder while his raised arm lay on the headrest behind her. She winced as the kitten kneaded her leg, her claws stabbing and retracting into her flesh, before curling into a ball on her lap.
She slipped her fingers through Clover’s silken hair, the act soothing. Having Luys beside her was even more calming. “It’s hard to believe how our lives have changed. A month ago, I didn’t know if I was going to live or die, you hadn’t entered my life, and I had no clue the way my world was going to upend.”
“Everything could have ended far differently,” Luys murmured against her brow as he cupped her shoulder. “It worked out okay, for at least us.”
“Yeah.” She sank deeper into Luys’ body. “We were lucky. For a while there, I didn’t know how we were going to explain everything to the police.” The police had found the bullet from Stephen’s gun that had entered and exited Avery’s shoulder. Stephen’s death was blamed on Cristina. They’d eliminated Luys and Avery as suspects for both murders. Their DNA didn’t match, and neither of them had any markings to indicate they were the assailants.
As for Cristina, the coroner’s office had considered her death caused by an allergic reaction of some type but was later recorded as undetermined since they hadn’t been able to confirm the trigger. Neither one of them was going to explain how dangerous mercury was to a person like Cristina. The police wouldn’t believe them anyway, so they both remained silent. Somehow, with the grace of God or the Universe, they’d walked away from the police station.
They later found out the police had found correspondence between Stephen, Cristina, and Ben and tied them to the string of killings in the area. Detective Hatcher had explained that Avery and Luys had unwittingly associated with a group of cult members.
“Do you think there are others like you, Gabriel, Mayor, and myself?”
“I could pretend the likelihood was low, but I’m a realist. I’m sure there are. Mayor figured out a way to turn you. Cristina or Ben could have done the same. Mayor might try doing it again.”
“With Nicole?” She glanced up to catch his eyes darkening with unease.
“Yes, unless Mayor somehow changes, she’d do it. But that’s if she finds Nicole. And Gabriel and I are going to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
“I feel for Nicole: the anxiety of constantly looking over your shoulder and wondering when or how Mayor will show up.”
Avery rolled her shoulder where the bullet had entered and exited. It felt like nothing had happened. She placed a palm against her chest and thought back to that fateful day when she’d woken to find someone had operated on her. Who would have thought being subjected to Mayor’s ancient ceremony would heal her? Against her palm, her heart drummed, steady and strong. All her physical wounds had healed. She had survived, stronger, wiser, but there were still internal scars, ones that would eventually heal.
Both had survived and were edging into a relationship that felt new, exciting, and filled with possibilities. She’d persevered and made it to the other side, wholly alive.
She lifted her hand from Luys’ chest, twined her fingers between his, and squeezed, finding herself captivated by the heat and strength in his grip. Her chest tightened. She would never take for granted his incredible gift of love.
He gave her a questioning look.
“Loving you is incredible. And I’m just happy. Really happy. Actually, more than happy. I can’t remember a time when I’ve ever felt this overwhelming joy for the life I have. And the future. Hell, I didn’t think I had a future.”
Luys dipped his head and brushed his lips against hers in a slow, tender kiss. “This is only the beginning.”
The End
If you missed the first book in the Onyx & Mercury Series, A Kiss Before Dying, you can find it at hdthomson.com.
You also might love H. D. Thomson’s Smoke & Mirrors series, dark romantic suspense with strong paranormal elements. All books in the series are stand alone.
“There is mystery and suspense and underlying it all is a romance that will melt your heart.”
“Different tones keep us guessing in this suspense murder mystery/romance. ...I'll just say that this plot is incredible and unpredictable and I highly recommend it.”
