Darius’s body collapsed. Julian stood. He looked around the rest of the group. His face was so savage, several council members took a step back.

“I just executed Darius for crimes of treason,” he growled. “Just like I executed Dominic and Justine earlier today. For the record, Justine tried to kill Xavier. She slaughtered her household, kidnapped the Light Fae heir and tried to kill me more than once over the last few days. Dominic tried to take Evenfall and murdered several innocent people in the process, and Darius colluded with them both. Now, do I need to execute anybody else today?”

The resulting silence was so profound, Melly swore she could have heard a pin drop from across the hall. Several council members looked at her, their expressions appalled. She gave them a grim nod, silently confirming the story.

Julian took a step forward. Death covered him in an invisible mantle, present in his aggressive posture and his transformed features.

To a person, all the council members took a step back.

“Now, this is also for the record,” snapped the King. “You are not here tonight to debate by committee. I am not your servant. I do not ask for your permission when I take action, and I do not owe you explanations. I am done with your petty shit. I’m done with working to hold this demesne together while you all indulge in self-serving attitudes. Do you hear me? I am done.”

Annis made a placating gesture with both hands. “Tempers are running hot right now,” she said. “Why don’t we all take a day? We can talk tomorrow night, when we’ve had a chance to cool down.”

“I won’t be here tomorrow,” Julian said. “Melly and I are leaving.”

“What?” said Marged. “You’ve been gone for several days already.” Julian hissed at her. Marged took another step back and muttered, “I recognize that wasn’t your fault.”

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” said Julian. “I’m taking a vacation. I’ll be gone for a year. Frankly, I don’t know if I’m coming back. Xavier will act as regent, and you will either finally commit to this demesne and work toward something bigger than yourselves, or you won’t. If you do, I might return. If you don’t, I’ll wash my hands of you, and you can each go to hell in your own way.”

The council erupted.

“You can’t just leave!”

“— an entire year? You’ve got to be kidding —”

“— some of us have businesses to run —”

Blah blah protest, blah blah, dismay, blah blah what about me?

Melly let it all wash over her while she watched Julian. Only Julian.

He turned to her and said telepathically, That’s our cue to leave.

Halle-fucking-lujah.

She wiggled out from behind Shane and kissed him on the cheek. Then she hugged Tess and Xavier quickly. She told Xavier, “Keep in touch.”

Wry amusement showed in Xavier’s gaze. “Oh, you know I will.”

Then she left them to walk to toward Julian, who held out his hand. The murderous fury in his expression had faded, to be replaced with a look that made her pulse pound and her heart sing.

The assembly hall fell silent as she reached him and took his hand. It remained silent as they walked out the door.

Julian set a fast pace. Melly passed down hallways without registering details, her mind in a daze. Part of her couldn’t believe what was happening.

But part of her could too.

Midnight had passed. They were starting a new day.

Outside, the night was crisp and clear, with a luminous canopy of stars overhead. A ghoul waited by the Harley. It was Herman. Giving them a mournful smile, he handed them jackets and a helmet. “We packed tings in dose saddlebags, just like you ordered, Mr. King.”

“You don’t have a helmet?” Melly asked Julian as she shrugged into her jacket and helmet.

“I don’t need one.” He zipped his jacket. His gaze met hers. “You don’t either. Yours is just to keep your hair from getting so tangled. I won’t let you crash.”

He wouldn’t either. Smiling, she buckled her helmet into place.

He straddled the Harley and started it. She climbed on behind and snuggled close, wrapping her arms around his waist. The growl of the machine vibrated between her legs as he pulled away. As they left the lights of Evenfall, the night wrapped them in its embrace.

Julian took the winding roads at a leisurely pace. Laying her head on his shoulder, Melly watched the countryside pass.

Are you tired? he asked.

No, she told him. She felt glorious. She never wanted this ride to end.

His head turned sideways. She caught a glimpse of his hard, sexy profile. So, we can ride for a while.

Yes, please. She laid a hand over his heart.

They came to the winding entrance that would take them onto the interstate. She asked, Where are we going first?

I don’t know. Are you okay with that?

Oh, hell yeah.

Briefly he covered her hand with his.

Then he punched the gas.

The Harley shot forward, like a thoroughbred bursting out of a gate.

Nineteen

J

ulian came indoors after spending a couple of hours fishing in the cold, quiet predawn. It felt delicious to relax in front of a roaring fire. Lazily, he watched the leaping flames in the fireplace while he listened to Melly move around in the kitchen.

A metallic clang ruptured the peace in the cabin, and she swore so colorfully, he had to chuckle.

“What happened?” he called out.

“I dropped the flour canister, and now there’s flour everywhere.” She appeared by the sofa and grumpily nudged him. He shifted so she could lie down and curl against his side. “Yes, I’m running away from the problem. I put the trout in the fridge. I can always cook it later.”

“I’ll help you clean it up in a bit.” Stretching, he wrapped his arms around her, and she laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled into him.

A month had passed since he had killed Dominic, Darius, and Justine and walked away from the Nightkind council. Every day, he felt like he was going to wake up from a dream. Even though Melly felt solid and real when he held her, he couldn’t internalize the beauty of her smile, or the peace he saw all around him when he took the boat out onto the lake.

It was going to take some time, she kept telling him. One month could not wipe out years of isolation or stress. He was okay with that. The one thing he had learned over his long life was that worthwhile things could take time.