Somehow when his lips hit mine, the world went silent and cool, and I knew we’d entered the white hallway. Finally alone after being surrounded for so long by others. “I missed you,” I said stupidly, since we’d never really been apart.

Outside of that dying thing.

“You’ll never need to miss me again,” he promised. “We’ve paved the path to our future, and it’s bright, Sunshine.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, I caught that cute play on words.”

Shadow grumbled before he dragged me along the hallway. “Just like old times,” I said with a sigh.

He didn’t bother to reply, but he did throw me over his shoulder, sending my heart into a racing pace. He was recreating our first memory together. The moment my life had changed.

Through Shadow, I had found a true mate, and a true pack in Angel, Simone, and the rest of our merry band of assholes.

“I almost feel bad that I’m heading into Torma to strip the pack away from their lands,” I said to Shadow, resting against him and enjoying the sensation of my body jolting against his. “Torin’s rejection is what set this all in motion, giving me the best fucking life, while he’s still a sad sack of dog balls.”

“My vote is to kill him,” Shadow said with a shrug, lifting me higher. “But out of respect to you, and your right to enact punishment over them, I’ll accept whatever decision you make.”

Leaning back, I wrapped my arms around his neck in an awkward hug. “You’re so sweet, mate. And while some of them deserve death, it just feels so limited. They’d suffer for a minute, maybe less. What a waste.”

Shadow’s shoulder lifted again as he chuckled. “Oh, sweet Mera. I can show you ways to drag their suffering out for as long as you need to.”

I joined him in laughter, wondering if we might not both be a little psychotic these days. In truth, when had either of us ever been normal? Normal was overrated, and while I might not hold the same bloodthirsty streak as Shadow, I also wasn’t letting Torma get away with their sins any longer.

“I think I’ve decided,” I said softly, and like a true mate, he didn’t ask me what it was, just accepted that when the time came, he’d be at my side to inflict this punishment.

59

Torma looked exactly the same as the last time I’d been there, but somehow, it was also vastly different. Maybe it was that I had changed and now looked at it with a different perspective, turned what had once been a beautiful and strong mountain community, into one that was rather tired and outdated.