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Mercy allowed herself a small smile, the tension in her body slowly unwinding. She felt a surge of satisfaction wash over her. She wasn’t just a falcon-shifter anymore. She wasn’t just eyes in the sky. She was a fae warrior. She was ready for whatever came next.
CHAPTER 20
HUNTER
Hunter and Mercy made their way through the dimly lit corridors of the abbey. The witch and the vampire were both dead. He’d destroyed the pile of ash from the vampire’s death so there was nothing anyone could use. The witch’s ashes needed to be disposed in a way that ensured no one would be able to resurrect her.
Colby was waiting for them. “I take it the vampire is dead?”
Hunter nodded. “What of the remains of the witch that was his partner?”
“We collected the ashes from where she fell. We were just going to bury them with the others in consecrated ground, but Elyria didn’t feel that was enough. What do you think?”
Hunter’s gaze was fixed on the lynx-shifter, his mind turning over the possibilities of what would be the best way to dispose of not only the witch’s body but her evil. “Cast her ashes into the wind to be swept out to sea,” he intoned solemnly.
Brie looked at him, her eyebrow raised. “Is that really necessary?”
Hunter’s gaze darkened as he met her eyes. “Probably not,” he admitted. “But it tends to impress those who might bethinking they can resurrect her. Let’s not give anyone cause to consider it.”
Brie nodded, understanding the unspoken warning. The witch’s magic had been powerful, and Hunter knew all too well that there were those who would seek to use it for their own gain.
Once the witch’s remains were dealt with, Hunter and Mercy prepared to leave the abbey. Their next task was to return to the vampire’s lair, hoping to find any clue about his allies or their whereabouts.
They walked side by side through the quiet corridors of the abbey, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the ancient stone walls. The air was thick with the weight of their thoughts, the lingering tension of battles fought and won, and the strange sense of finality that loomed over them. They were heading to bid farewell to Elyria, the enigmatic fae-shifter who had been at the center of so much of the turmoil that had brought them together.
Hunter glanced at Mercy as they climbed the narrow stairwell toward the ramparts. Her face was set, her eyes distant, as though she were already preparing herself for the goodbye. He could feel the bond between them growing stronger with every passing day, but Mercy had always been independent, even in moments like this. She was dealing with her own emotions, as was he.
When they reached the top, a gust of wind hit them, carrying with it the salty tang of the sea and the smell of an impending storm. The sky above was heavy with clouds—dark and churning—as though the heavens themselves were unsettled by all that had happened. Hunter scanned the ramparts and quickly spotted Elyria standing near the edge, her robed form silhouetted against the stormy backdrop.
She stood tall and still, her gaze locked on the horizon where the ocean met the sky. The wind whipped around her, tugging atthe folds of her robe, but she remained unmoved, as if she were one with the elements, a part of the storm itself.
Mercy’s steps faltered for a moment as they approached. Hunter could sense her hesitation, the unspoken emotions between them like the tempest that swirled all around. They both knew this was more than just a farewell. Elyria had been a catalyst, a figure whose presence had set so many events in motion, and now, she was most likely leaving them. It felt like the closing of a chapter, the end of something significant, even if they couldn’t quite put it into words.
Without speaking, Mercy stepped forward, her hand outstretched to touch Elyria’s shoulder, a simple gesture of connection and understanding. But the moment her fingers grazed the fabric of Elyria’s robe, something strange happened.
The robe fell away.
It crumpled to the stone floor in a heap of silken fabric, and Mercy’s hand hovered in the air, grasping at nothing. Elyria was gone. A cold wind swept across the ramparts, and Hunter’s sharp gaze shot upward toward the sky.
There, amidst the swirling storm clouds, a disturbance formed—a vortex, spinning slowly at first but then gaining speed. The dark clouds churned violently, and from the center of the vortex, a single silver slip of light appeared, shimmering with an otherworldly glow. It hung there for a brief moment, like a shooting star caught in the atmosphere, before it shot upward, disappearing into the depths of the vortex.
Hunter and Mercy watched in stunned silence as the vortex slowly closed, the sky returning to its natural state. The air around them felt charged, alive with residual energy, as though the very fabric of the world had been briefly torn open and then sewn shut again.
“She’s gone,” Mercy whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Hunter nodded, his throat tight. He had known this moment would come, but seeing it unfold like this—so sudden, so otherworldly—left him with a hollow feeling in his chest. Elyria had slipped away as only someone of fae blood could, gliding between realms like a wisp of light.
They stood there for a few more moments, letting the silence settle over them, before turning to make their way back down the stairs. Hunter’s mind was still racing with everything that had happened, but he could sense Mercy’s quiet resolve beside him. Elyria had chosen her own path, as fae often did, and they had to respect that.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs and made their way toward the entrance of the abbey, they found Brie waiting for them near the large oak doors. Her expression was calm, but there was a knowing look in her eyes, as though she had already guessed what had transpired.
“She’s gone,” Mercy said quietly, her voice still carrying the weight of the moment. “We went to say goodbye, but...”
Brie nodded, her lips curving into a soft, bittersweet smile. “It doesn’t come as a surprise,” she said, her tone gentle. “I had a feeling she wouldn’t stay long. Elyria was never meant to linger in this world.”
Hunter crossed his arms, the faint sting of loss still hanging over him. “Did you know she’d leave like this?”
Brie shook her head. “Not exactly. But I knew she would find her own way. The fae are... different, unpredictable. We couldn’t expect her to follow our rules, our timelines.” She glanced at the storm clouds still lingering on the horizon. “She’s where she needs to be for now.”
