His lips met mine, and it felt like the first kiss all over again. Power and life and sex filled the energy, and I wanted him so badly, my legs trembled as my panties tried not to drown.

“Later.” I growled against his lips. “Torin has already had too long to sow the seeds of his destruction. It’s time to reap that fucking bastard.”

I think my words only worked to arouse the beast further, as his chest rumbled, and he deepened our kiss. When we managed to pull apart—with great difficulty—I turned to where Angel waited, looking somewhat amused.

“You’re going to Earth?” she said.

I nodded. “Yeah, I have a pack to deal with and friends to ensure are okay. Do you want to come with us?” I was having a Shadow possessive moment, not wanting to let her out of my sight.

She shook her head. “I think I should head to the Honor Meadows and finalize a few pieces of unfinished business.”

As much as it hurt me to let her go, Angel was a grown-ass warrior who definitely didn’t need a babysitter. “Okay, friend,” I said, wrapping my arms around her. “We’ll meet you back here for the big celebration dinner, right?”

She smiled, and it was more real and more content than any smile I’d ever seen from her. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” A secret twinkle hit her eye, but before I could press her to reveal her thoughts, the rest of our friends pushed closer.

“We’ll keep the system running until you get back,” Reece said, slapping his hand on Shadow’s shoulder in a manly gesture of friendship before he leaned down and kissed my cheek. Lucien, Alistair, and Galleli all did the same before each of them disappeared into the library.

When it was just Shadow and I, he led us through the bowing and cheering crowds. No one touched us, of course, as they still feared the beast in charge, so we had a clear—and noisy—run toward the hallway to Earth.

“Do you think Len and the mists are okay?” I asked, worried that they weren’t here waiting for us.

“They’re fine,” he assured me. “Inky got a message through saying they’re staying a little longer until all the securities were in place.”

“Oh, fuck,” I said quickly, the word “message” reminding me that I’d lost the parchment I was supposed to use to communicate with Simone. Not to mention the stone Len had given me to protect my mind.

When I told Shadow, he just laughed. “You died, Sunshine. You were lucky to keep your life. Don’t worry about the other parts.” He pressed lingering kisses to my cheeks and down my face, and I forgot everything but the taste of my mate.