‘You see?’ I said quietly. ‘You’re not the predator you thought you were.’
Monroe’s arms tightened round me. ‘Oh, I am, I’m just more in control than I thought I was. I know who my targets are. In a way, Albert’s therapy worked. I know my limits and my boundaries, regardless of the magic.’ He pressed his lips to my cheek, the heat of his mouth searing into my skin. ‘I win.’
There was the sound of running feet. From beyond the lake and the woods, Anna appeared with at least a dozen bogles at her back. ‘We’re all here!’ she roared. ‘We’re all going to…’ Her voice faltered as she took us in. ‘Isn’t he here?’
I glanced out towards the now still water. ‘He was,’ I said. ‘But he’s not any more.’
Epilogue
Timmons had a knowing smile on his face as he pressed the key into my hands. ‘Your room is on the top floor,’ he said. ‘It’s out of the way of the others. You won’t be disturbed.’
‘Thank you.’
He handed me a plate covered by a silver dome. I frowned and lifted it. Underneath was a jam sandwich, cut into neat diagonal shapes. ‘In case you get peckish,’ he told me. He gave me a little nudge. ‘Off you go.’
The door to the hotel room was already ajar. I pushed it open with my free hand and walked in, carefully laying the sandwich on the side table where a television would once have stood.
I turned and regarded Monroe who was lying spread-eagled on the bed, surrounded by rose petals.
‘We have chocolates,’ he said, without taking his eyes off mine. ‘And wine. Clearly, the faery has been holding onto his own secret stash. I’ll have words with him about that later.’
‘No, you won’t,’ I said. ‘Besides, we’re all in this together.’
He smiled at me, a secret smile that I’d never seen him bestow on anyone else. ‘That we are.’ He licked his lips. ‘These trysts will be a lot easier to manage once you all move into the north.’
‘Everyone is pretty much packed up.’
‘Good. Has there been much argument?’
I shook my head. ‘Not as much as I expected. I think everyone gets it. Before it was about survival, about making it past the apocalypse and adapting. But now we’ve moved past merely surviving – we have to start living too.’
He stretched his arms behind his head. ‘I’m glad you came,’ he said softly.
I breathed in deeply. ‘So am I.’
‘If you don’t want to be here…’
I didn’t give him a chance to finish. ‘I do. This is all that I want.’ I squinted at him. ‘Do you want to be here?’
His answer was quiet. ‘Like you wouldn’t believe.’ He looked away as if he were suddenly nervous. ‘I’m sorting myself out properly, too. Albert’s not the only counsellor in town. It turns out that Theo the vampire is a also a fully-qualified therapist. In fact, hypnotherapy is one of his specialisms. I’ve signed up for a month.’
I smiled. ‘I think that’s a really good idea.’
Monroe seemed to relax. ‘I’m going to get over this. I’m going to be the person you deserve.’
His eyes flared, their blue light darkening to a stormier grey. ‘Not always.’ The corners of his lips curved slightly. ‘I like your plans for different clubs and societies. Julian was particularly enamoured by the thought of amateur dramatics.’
I blinked. ‘Really?’
Monroe laughed. ‘No. Although he would make a fabulous pantomime dame. He is keen on taking poker lessons, though.’
I rubbed my palms together. ‘Excellent. I could do with some easy targets. I’d have thought that Julie would be interested in some theatre but she’s decided to offer Pilates instead.’
Monroe raised an eyebrow. ‘It’s a strange new world.’
‘It is indeed.’ I sat on the edge of the bed. ‘Do you think we’ll manage?’
He sat up and tugged at my collar, drawing me towards him. ‘Yes,’ he breathed. ‘I do.’
Then his lips descended onto mine.
Thank you so much for reading Brittle Midnight! I really hope you enjoyed it. It would mean a huge amount if you could leave a review – any and all feedback is so very, very welcome and hugely important for independent authors like myself.
Find out more about me and my books at http://helenharper.co.uk
The third and final book in The City of Magic trilogy, Furtive Dawn, will be released on May 3rd 2019 and is available for pre-order here now.
mybook.to/FurtiveDawn
About the author
After teaching English literature in the UK, Japan and Malaysia, Helen Harper left behind the world of education following the worldwide success of her Blood Destiny series of books. She is a professional member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and writes full time, thanking her lucky stars every day that's she lucky enough to do so!
Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland.
She currently lives in Devon in the UK with far too many cats – not to mention the dragons, fairies, demons, wizards and vampires that seem to keep appearing from nowhere.
You can find out more by visiting Helen's website: http://helenharper.co.uk
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Other titles
The complete Blood Destiny series
Bloodfire
Bloodmagic
Blood Politics
Bloodlust
Blood Destiny Box Set (The complete series: Books 1 – 5)
Also
- Corrigan Fire
- Corrigan Magic
- Corrigan Rage
-Corrigan Politics
-Corrigan Lust
The complete Bo Blackman series
Dire Straits
New Order
High Stakes
Red Angel
Vigilante Vampire
Dark Tomorrow
The complete Highland Magic series
Gifted Thief
Honour Bound
Veiled Threat
Last Wish
The complete Dreamweaver series
Night Terrors
Night Lights
Olympiana stand - alone
Eros
The complete Lazy Girl’s Guide To Magic series
Slouch Witch
Star Witch
Spirit Witch
Sparkle Witch
Wraith stand-alone
The complete Fractured Faery series
Box of Frogs
Quiver of Cobras
Skulk of Foxes
The City Of Magic series
Shrill Dusk
Brittle Midnight
Furtive Dawn