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Hunter exchanged a glance with Mercy, and though neither of them spoke, the same thought passed between them. Elyria had been more than just a companion in their fight—she had been a reminder of the vast, strange world that existed beyondtheir understanding. And now, she was gone, taking with her the secrets of the fae and the mystery of her exile.
Brie gave them a small nod, her hand resting briefly on Mercy’s shoulder. “You two have your own path to walk now. Elyria’s story was always separate from yours.”
Mercy exhaled slowly, the tension easing from her body as she nodded in agreement. “I guess so.”
Hunter rested a hand on the small of Mercy’s back, offering silent support as they turned toward the door. As they stepped outside, the wind picked up again, carrying the faint scent of the sea. The storm was already moving on, dissipating into the distance.
They had their own battles ahead, their own journey to complete. But for now, as they walked away from the abbey, Hunter couldn’t shake the feeling that they had just witnessed something ancient and powerful, a glimpse of the magic that existed beyond their realm.
And somewhere, far beyond the horizon, Elyria was free.
Their journey to the vampire’s lair did not take long; they reached it just as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape. The cave where the vampire had hidden was eerily quiet, the silence broken only by the distant crash of waves against the cliffs.
Hunter moved cautiously; his senses heightened as he scanned the area for any sign of danger. The lair appeared to have been swept clean, as though whoever had been here had made a hasty exit. But as they ventured deeper into the cave, they found something—or rather, someone.
A figure was bound to the wall, its body limp and half-dead. The person’s skin was pale, almost translucent, and its eyes were hollow with hunger and pain. Mercy gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she took in the sight.
Hunter stepped forward; his gaze hard as he knelt beside the figure. “It’s a female. She’s been turned,” he said grimly. “A new vampire.”
The woman stirred weakly, her lips parting as she tried to speak. “They… they will come for you,” she rasped, her voice barely a whisper. “You may have won… for now… but don’t get comfortable. They will come for all of you.”
Mercy’s gut twisted at the woman’s words, the ominous warning sending a chill down her spine. It wasn’t over—not by a long shot.
Hunter’s expression darkened as he studied the woman. She was barely alive, her body ravaged by the transformation. She had been left here to send a message—a cruel reminder that their enemies were far from defeated.
“She’s starving,” Mercy said quietly, her eyes filled with pity.
Hunter nodded; his jaw clenched. “She’s dying. There’s no saving her.”
Mercy looked at him, a kind of fearful dread at knowing what had to be. “We can’t leave her like this.”
Hunter’s gaze softened, and he reached for his blade, the silver gleaming in the fading light. “I’ll end her suffering.”
Mercy turned away; her chest tight as Hunter delivered the final blow. The woman let out a soft sigh, her body going still as the blade pierced her heart and she turned to dust.
They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of what they had done hanging in the air. Mercy swallowed hard, her mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead.
Hunter rose to his feet, his expression unreadable as he turned to her. “We need to get back to the abbey.”
Mercy nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that had settled in her chest. Whoever had sent the vampire and the witch was still out there, and now they knew there were more enemies lurking in the shadows.
As they made their way back to the abbey, Hunter’s voice broke the silence. “What happens next?”
Mercy hesitated, her emotions pained and heavy with the weight of everything that had happened. “We keep fighting,” she said softly. “We finish what we started.”
Hunter glanced at her, his gaze filled with a mix of admiration and concern. “And what about us?”
Mercy’s shook her head. It was no good. She had tried to push aside her feelings for him, to focus on the mission, but she couldn’t deny the connection between them. It was too strong, too undeniable.
She met his gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t ask for this,” she admitted, her throat tight with emotion. “But… I can’t deny that I care about you. I love you, even if I didn’t want to.”
Hunter’s eyes softened, a flicker of emotion passing across his face. He reached for her, his hand brushing against her cheek in a gentle caress. “I love you, too, Mercy,” he said quietly. “And I’ll stand by you, no matter what comes next.”
Mercy’s emotions swelled, but there was still a part of her that was afraid—afraid of what their future would hold, of the dangers that lay ahead. But she knew one thing for certain.
She didn’t want to face those dangers alone.
“Come home with me,” she said softly, her voice trembling with vulnerability. “Let’s make my home our home. Together.”
