“So, what you are saying is that they were all easily swayed to his cause probably because they hate the curse. So, wouldn’t it stand to reason then that they could be easily swayed to get rid of it?” I asked, feeling my point stood for itself, but just to drive it home I continued, “As I see it, you have two choices, cured or prisoner. Which will it be? You don’t seem that stupid.”
“Wake them up. Then, as a show of faith, give us some time alone to talk. Keep us tied, guard the door, but give us time alone to discuss our options. Trust us.”
“Fine. Done,” I said, then looked to Lex and to Nira behind him for confirmation that was okay.
Both nodded, and we began the process of waking each up. By the time we’d left the room, it was still packed, wall to wall, only with naked, angry men I was more than happy to shut the door on and walk away. At least I didn’t have to be part of the verbal battle in there.
“So, looks like we have some time,” I said as we walked to an empty store front. “We have to wait for them to talk, and we have to wait for the Royals to arrive. I’m going to use it to go talk to Chloe, see if I can’t make some headway there too.”
“Good luck, babe. I can’t wait to get you home, back to the castle.”
“I think I’m going to stay,” Josh said.
“Stay?” I asked.
“Yes, these guys can’t train themselves. The Royals will need volunteers to stay here and train, to stay here and guard. They will also need someone to go back and stay in the house, keep it up and running. I think you two deserve that job. Christina has had quite the trail by fire this year. She deserves some downtime, not training, not fighting. You should have some time to just be newlyweds.”
“That would be amazing. Guess I hadn’t thought through who would do the training, or when we would return to the castle. I like that idea, and I’m willing, if Catherine and Edward agree, to take you up on the offer.”
I gave Josh a kiss on the cheek before whispering in his ear, “Enjoy getting to know Nira, too. She’s one hell of a lady.”
“I will,” he said with a wink.
“Hey,” I said, turning to the group of them, “do you think it would be okay if I had Zeke take Chloe and me back to her place? I think her waking up there would help. It would give her a sense of the familiar, a place where she can remember who I was as she learns more about who I am. I will have Zeke as protection, not that I should need any with that group tied up in there, literally and figuratively.”
“I think that would be fine,” Josh said, though all the other heads there nodded. “In fact, I think it is a great idea. You have more than put in your time with this group. We can take it from here.”
“Thank you,” I said, walking to Lex to throw my arms around his neck. “It’s all okay with you?”
“Absolutely. I love you. Come back soon.”
“I will. I may be awhile, but I will always come back to you. You are my life, the other half of my heart. I couldn’t have made it through any of this without you.”
“It is because of me that you went through any of it at all.”
“A price I would be willing to pay if asked. Being alive in this life, loving you, is far greater than the half-life I was muddling through before.”
Epilogue
I woke beside Lex with the warm sun bathing my face and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. We had camped out last night, sleeping in an elaborate, open air tent on the beach set up by the castles’ servants. With the flowers reminiscent of our wedding scenting the salty air, and the white drapes fluttering, framing my view of the water, the whole setting couldn’t have been more picturesque.
We’d been back on the island a month now, having not only the castle, but the entire island to ourselves except for the help. All of the others were busy training the true werewolves. Our plan to help them had not gone smoothly, according to weekly reports. They had been a hard bunch to work with even after being convinced to be helped. But, at least, our enemies were down to none now.
A team of Royals were being setup to continue to help true werewolves worldwide after this first test batch. Catherine and Edward had actually made us feel like we had a job to do here on the island, keeping the house running that already ran like a well-oiled machine. I knew it was an excuse to give us some time alone like a normal couple, and I’d ever be grateful for it. In a few short weeks, Catherine and Edward would be home, and they were bringing Chloe with them for a visit.