Jackson shook his head again. “Hellhounds on earth. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Alex smiled at Lilly. “Not a clue. But we’ll figure it out. I’m where I need to be. So are they.”
A taut silence fell after those words and Lilly felt her chest tighten from the tension that moved between Alex and Jackson.
“You’re going to try to stay,” Jackson said after a long moment.
“Yes.”
“Even though it’s forbidden.”
“Yes.”
Jackson’s gaze lingered on the hellhounds sprawled at Lilly’s feet before shifting to Lilly’s face. She could see the questions in his eyes. He didn’t understand how she’d convinced Alex to stay. He couldn’t imagine why he’d be willing to risk everything for her.
“I won’t lie for you,” Jackson warned with a gruff sigh. “But I won’t volunteer any information either. I’ll tell them I saw you in battle. I’ll tell them I presume you dead—which I do, just so we’re clear. They may be able to track you from the Beyond, though. You know that.”
“I know they’ve claimed they have that power. But I’ve learned a lot since I came here. I’ve learned they lie.”
Jackson seemed unsettled by this comment, but in the end, he didn’t argue the point.
The two men embraced and Alex said something to Jackson that Lilly couldn’t hear. Jackson pulled back with a stunned laugh. He was still laughing as he walked away, disappearing into the trees. Leaving Alex behind. With her.
He’d chosen Lilly.
Alex took her hand and led her up to the cabin. The hellhounds spread out and flopped down on the porch, clearly exhausted and no longer on watch. They felt safe. Against all odds, so did Lilly.
Blue-Eyes followed them inside and joined his mate in the enclosure. Lilly watched as he licked his pups before settling down beside Belle. He let out a loud and contented sigh and closed his eyes. Seeing that his work was done, Harley jumped out of the enclosure and went to snuggle with the other dogs on their beds by the fire.
“What did you say to Jackson?” Lilly asked.
“I told him that evolution had its perks.”
“Meaning?”
“He knew what I meant.”
Alex’s smile warmed her from the top of her head right down to the soles of her feet.
“So, Lilly Winslow. Now that you’ve got me, what are you going to do with me?”
Lilly grinned back. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to fall in love with you, for starters.”
“I like that plan,” he said, lifting her off her feet and carrying her into the bedroom. “I’m pretty sure you won’t be alone in it.”
As Alex kissed her to prove his point, Lilly decided that she was very much going to enjoy this forbidden life of Alex Moore.
The End