Time sure flies when there is quite a bit going on. As I look back, I wonder what might have changed if this or that had not gone exactly the way it had. If Linda had not chosen to feed me her blood would I have had the power to take on some of the challenges down the road? Probably not.
While I didn’t have much time to mull over these thoughts or scenarios when everything was going on, sitting here, surrounded by everyone as this year came to an end, I found my mind doing just that. As I looked over each person I found myself mentally thanking them for what they did for me. Barti for how much he pushed me to grow stronger. Mindi and Tindi for helping him as well as getting me started on my path to power.
Then there were the alchemists that I had grown close to during the exploration of Timmy. I mean Intemerra. Fucking corporations hate the nicknames everyone kept giving the place. While they were not able to do all that much to us lest they lose their access, that didn’t mean they didn’t try time and time again.
Speaking of corporations, Ytri and his aide looked cozy on the other side of the fire. Turns out the Russian had some powerful ties. Powerful and rich. That money and those connections had helped him grow into a corporate executive I didn’t mind working under.
A hand softly brushed against my ears causing them to flick as I turned to the culprit. Sitting there, acting like he had done nothing, was Xander. My eyes narrowed yet the guy refused to look in my direction. Finally, I manipulated one of my tails around his body and poked at his arm.
The fucker knew that I was the culprit yet he turned toward my tail. “Who poked me?” His voice shook as he stared into the darkness that surrounded us. To me, the sliver of moonlight lit the place up enough that I could make out the shape of everything in the area. Seeing as the darkness was his natural element, I doubted he was hindered by the darkness in any way.
With a roll of my eyes, I tapped his arm with my tail a second time. His face tilted down to look at the appendage. “Well hello there.” With his face so close, it made too tempting a target. My tail flicked up and wiggled the hairs in his face.
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Quite a few laughs filled the air as Xander spluttered. I whipped my tail back just as he reached down for it. Still, I ended up caught but not by Xander. As I sat there, distracted with attempts to annoy the man, a hand managed to snake around my waist until, just as I flung my tail out of Xander’s reach, it yanked me toward its owner.
Between one moment and the next, I went from sitting on the grass next to the man I had known for years and trusted with my life, to the lap of the man I could not live without. His breath brushed against the nape of my neck, sending shivers down my spine as he spoke. “Don’t you think you should let the guy have some peace once in a while?”
I didn’t pause to think about my answer. “Only when I am asleep.” While this typically meant that he was safe when he was asleep, that wasn’t always the case. Ah, the memories. Let's just say we were typically partnered when we needed someone on watch.
“Only because you are with me.” The man pointed out before kissing my neck. I relaxed into his hold as I wondered just how far he would take this before our audience forced us to stop. One of his arms held me to the side as the other hand lightly guided my chin around. Our lips brushed against one another. My eyes rolled as the man pulled away. I was not going to let him half-ass a kiss. Either he was going to do it right or I was going to kick his ass – again.
My mouth collided with his as I rotated around to get a better position. My lips parted as my tongue searched for its opponent. It didn’t take a moment before they went to war.
“Oi, Kyren, Lance. Stop mouth fucking each other or you might miss the fireworks!” The alchemy guru, and resident goblin, of our group called out from the other side of the clearing. Given who had been lying with her head in his lap, I doubted we had been the only ones kissing.
Still, I pulled away from Lance. His arms wrapped around me as we both looked up just in time to see the first firework launch from the top of the broken spire at the center of the town. I flinched as the thing exploded in a shower of green and blue sparks. As the wolf's arms squeezed me to him, I relaxed.
While there was still danger to be faced, places to explore, creatures to kill, and the void to stop, here and now, I was safe. Here and now, I was with my friends and family. No matter what the New Year might bring, at least they would be there with me. They would help me get through and push me forward so that we might see the next New Year together.