Chapter 202 – Epilogue

Chapter 202 – Epilogue
“He has returned,” Tobias rumbled.

“Hmmm,” Misha droned.

Christmas celebration this year at Bloodrayne was nowhere near as rambunctious as it had been the year before.

The atmosphere was muted, and the attendees were much fewer.

They were in the same hall, the same location, as they had always used.

No prisoners or fights were on display.

No omegas were being pushed around.

Bloodrayne had lost much more than they could replace in the one year since the attack by the Alpha King’s minions.

Plus, Alpha Tobias could not take his father’s warning lightly, so had kept a much tighter leash on his people’s excesses. And his own.

Tobias was at the center of the table, Misha was in his usual place, three spaces down from his father’s right.

“Shall we send a gift?” Tobias called out casually.

“Of what shall we make it, Father?” Misha called back, not really paying attention as he sipped his spiced wine.

“You have always pined for the girl, why not go to her?” Tobias stated evenly.

Misha turned lazily to his father.

“You jest!” It was not a question.

Misha knew how his father felt about him being any kind of tool for any type of reason.

He had sensed his father’s agitation at the negotiation.

It had been half of the reason he had left with his people that day.

His father would not have endured without him.

It had been a year, almost to the date.

Must be the alcohol, Misha mused distractedly.

Tobias smiled wryly.

“They won’t let me in anyway,” he continued, almost disheartened.

“Your cousin has returned. Tell them it is to greet the Lycan King. With him there, even the red wolf will let you in,” Tobias said placatingly.

“And, if you cousin is back, the other must have returned with him,” he continued in the same tone, holding his son’s gaze.

Misha chuckled and sat forward, his blue eyes on his father’s.

He knew whom his father was talking about – the Lightmoon pack Gamma with the dreamy eyes.

Even though his father had said nothing at the time, Misha knew Tobias Drakin had noticed the shifter with the eyes.

It was impossible not to.

“You want us to stir up trouble with Lightmoon? Now? On the anniversary of how many tragedies?” he tossed back incredulously.

“Please!” Tobias droned taking a deep swig from his giant beer mug.

“We are wolf. Tragedy is our breakfast, lunch and dinner! It runs in our veins!” he declared.

Misha laughed.

“Father!” he chided lightly as his eyes danced.

“Six hours, and you will arrive. Take Jorak with you as part of the homage to the Lycan. Others will flood the place in the coming days. Should we not greet family specially?” the Bloodrayne Alpha continued, his voice clear, steady, conversational, but a fire had entered into it.

Misha’s expression grew thoughtful.

“You’re serious,” the Bloodrayne Successor droned.

“Of course.”

“Why? Why now?”

“My son has been moping about for a year. I, personally, have grown weary of it.”

“Speak plainly dear Father,” Misha rumbled, all lightness gone.

Tobias leaned toward his son.

“The potion from our spellcasters is complete. We should test it. No?” he stated conspiratorially.

Misha stared hard at his father.

“Stay with them, get her to run with you. once she is comfortable, use it,” he continued in the same low tone.

Misha nodded slowly.

“My sweet cousin is a Lycan father…,” Misha replied thoughtfully.

“Since the potion is for a red wolf…there are two of them in Lightmoon. Her father would be a much easier target.”

He stood and glided to his father’s side.

He squatted as the noise in the hall faded. All ears were on the conversation at the table.

Even some Bloodrayne wolves had stopped breathing.

“If we get the father…,” Misha droned.

“The girl will be easier to control, Tobias rumbled.

“And the Lycan, Misha continued, eyes bright.

“Will come to us on his own,” Tobias stated wryly.

“And we know how to deal with Lycans,” Misha concluded darkly as he and his father spoke as one, finishing each other sentences.

“Indeed,” Tobias rumbled. “Lycans are rare…for a reason…”

Misha smiled. Tobias smiled. The noise in the hall tripled.

Misha returned to his seat and stared out at his people – what was left of them.

My princess Marian, he mused.

How I’ve missed you!

\==========

Back at Lightmoon, Marian lay in Reyland’s arms.

The Christmas party was still ongoing, but the leaders of Lightmoon had other personal matters to attend and had left earlier.

Reyland’s grey eyes shone in the darkness of his room.

Lycan and red wolf were in Reyland’s home, where Marian had made her base. She had decided to leave everything, and everyone, as they were.

The Alpha mansion was in use by Alpha Dax’s family.

Her former dorm had become Alpha Corien’s place.

Reyland’s duplex, outside of the pack compound, had become Marian’s.

As the Lightmoon Alpha stroked her Lycan’s firm chest and powerful shoulders, he traced the curve of her back and thighs.

The Lycan King chuckled.

“What?” Marian asked softly.

“Hmmm? Nothing. I just…heard a very funny joke,” he rumbled.

“Where?” she whispered, raising herself up on her elbow, using his arm as support.

"Hmmm?” he murmured, his chest vibrating, the sound and movement pulling a smile from Marian’s lips.

His gaze was clear. There was no glazing as would have occurred in a normal shifter’s link.

Marian stared at the yellow in his eyes. No longer lines, now much wider and fuller.

His beautiful irises shifted to her.

“Andy!” she gasped, eyes widening.

Reyland smiled gently at her, stroking her lower lip.

“Who are you seeing right now?” Marian rasped, speaking at a volume only she and Reyland could hear.

“My Mary, of course,” Reyland droned, a wry smile on his face.

Marian raised herself higher, using her own arms, her palm now flat on the bed, her face above his.

Reyland shifted his head against the pillow, letting her stare down at him.

“You…you can watch others? Right now? When we are…doing this?” she asked inquiringly, equal parts impressed and upset, a dull sensation filling her stomach as her eyes searched his face.

Reyland blinked.

His grey eyes changed to their regular sparkling blue.

Marian rushed forward, tracing the lower part of his eyes, holding his face in her hands.

“How?” she breathed, her fingers trembling.

“Tomorrow. I’ll tell you everything tomorrow,” he whispered, stroking her chin.

Then, he kissed her, and she climbed on top of him for a third round.

It was the early hours of the twenty-sixth.