“You were always a naïve fool,” Gerard snarled. “So easy to fall in love. And the best part was, Kindra was so weak, she didn’t fight it. She fell in line and pretended I was you all that time.”
“I don’t give a shit what you did. I’ve moved on.” He circled Gerard, waiting for the bastard to make any mistake. Wherever they were, it didn’t matter. He knew Robert, Tremaine, and Preston could pull off some crazy shit. And magic seemed to surge through him like electricity through a live wire. He wasn’t used to the magic flowing through him, but he couldn’t complain.
Gerard surged forward, his body bursting apart into a wall of flame. Mark called upon ice and a chill worked through him. Gerard rushed past with a scream.
The cavern flickered, but they didn’t bust out of the dimension. And he knew they were in another dimension. Things were flipping through his head, someone else’s memories.
Gerard wound up on his knees across the cave. Steam rolled off him as he stared back. He looked pathetic with spittle hanging out of his mouth while he panted.
“Why won’t you die?” Gerard snarled.
“Because it’s your time to die.” Mark moved forward and caught Gerard’s throat with both hands. Pure energy flowed through him into Gerard. As Gerard aged and withered, the dimension faded away, leaving them in the field of grass.
“Your turn,” Mark hissed, flinging Gerard to the ground.
Badb appeared, crouched over Gerard. She slashed his throat and plunged a blade into his chest. His skin blacked then cracked. Black ooze seeped out of the shell that was Gerard as Badb moved away.
“The curse is broken.”
Just like that it was over. Mark turned to find Gina and ran to her. “Are you okay?” He caught her face, staring at the blood around her mouth. “You shifted?” he asked. That didn’t make sense. Her clothes were intact.
She nodded. “I took care of a couple of them. The woman let me. The man was stupid enough to open his mouth.
Morrigan lifted a shoulder. “I took care of the other two.”
Mark looked at Badb, who smirked.
“You killed Gerard, but I wanted to be sure he was beyond coming back. I owed him that much.”
Mark turned to Kindra, who stood there looking relieved, while Valen stared at Mark. “You’re truly you? And okay?”
He nodded. “Need me to shift to prove it?”
“But you were using magic.”
Badb smiled. “I may have been a little overzealous in mending Gina while I was inside her. And there was an abundance of magic between them. I managed to fuse his true magic with the wolf. He wasn’t just a witch, but part Sylvan. Now that was not something I expected.”
Mark shook his head. “Sylvan?”
“Druids descended from a type of caster who were similar to that, and Sylvan Fae. You’re mixed, but there was enough that I opened those paths for you. Even if you never use the magic, you’re already a wolf. You’re not going to grow old, but it may be nice to know how to use it.”
Robert walked toward him. “I know a werewolf who is also half Sylvan. I’m sure he’d be happy to help if you want to learn.”
“I may need to.”
“Gina, you’re something similar. You could learn from them too.”
“Sure, okay.”
Robert looked around. “Any chance you can take care of the others in the same way? Otherwise I’ll have to come back and figure out what to do with the bodies.”
Morrigan waved her hand and all five burst into flames that only burned seconds, but the bodies were gone.
Mark turned to Kindra. “I’m sure Druciela would allow you to stay with her. Cora too. You probably need someone who knows what it’s like to break from a coven. That is, unless you want to go back to them.”
She shook her head. “I can’t face them. The more I realize what I did, the less I want to face them. I can’t. I wish I could, but I can’t. They’ll hate me.”
“Then moving on is the right thing. Just don’t expect me to want to be there.”
“I know. I wish I could apologize, but there aren’t words.”
He blew out a breath. “You weren’t in control. I knew it then. But I’m over that, and I’m happy with Gina.”
“I can see that. Thank you for giving me more time with our son.”
He laughed sadly. “I wish I had known you were back, that you lived, that he was alive. I would have asked for help getting you away from there. Even if it wasn’t to be with me.”
Valen moved to Mark and hugged him. “We can’t go back to Brightwater, can we?”
He shook his head. “I doubt it.”
“Melanie’s parents live close to Edenton. At least a lot closer than Brightwater. I’ll come to visit, if you’d like. Both you and Mom, at different times.”
“Same time is even fine,” Gina offered, moving closer. She looked at Kindra and smiled. “You’re much clearer now than when I saw you after our abduction. Your aura had been a mess. Flowing with the same vile ick that was in Gerard’s. I’m glad you’re free.”
Kindra nodded. “Make him happy.”
“I will, each and every day,” Gina vowed.
Robert reached out and touched Kindra and Valen. They disappeared. When Robert came back he took Mark and Gina home, with Morrigan and Badb and Preston. From there he took Preston.
Badb touched Gina’s face. “You’re my blood. I’ll be seeing you.”
“You’ll have to teach me more about my bloodline.”
“You’ve got it.”
Morrigan smiled. “I will too. But we must go.” She opened a portal and Badb left with her sister.
Mark turned to Gina. “It’s over.”
She nodded. “And we’re starting our family. And it’s a little bigger with Valen.”
In fact, Valen pulled himself from his mother’s grasp to rush over to Mark. “You had me so worried when you disappeared.”
Mark hugged his boy. “I wasn’t letting that bastard win. He’s caused too much pain. And I want you to have a happy, healthy, long life with your wife. Who I want to meet soon.”
“And she’s going to want to meet you. Right after I explain everything to her.”
“Take your time. I’m sure we could spend a night with our loved ones before we have you over tomorrow, if that’s not too soon.”
“Not at all,” Valen answered.
Gina hugged Valen. “I’m excited. I have a real family finally.”
Valen squeezed her back. “You’re going to love Mel.”
“I’m sure I will.”
Robert joined them. “Ready to go home, Mark and Gina?”
“Please,” Gina answered. “I need to clean up.”
He gave her a long look. “I’d say.”
“Thank you,” Mark said.
“I wish we could have stopped them all those years ago,” Robert said.”
“Hey, we made it through. That’s all that matters,” Mark answered.