“I never wanted you to fear me.”
“I don’t. I never will again.” Trust went soul deep. She smiled at him. “I think you were made for me.”
His eyes widened. Did he remember that he’d once told her that exact same thing? Julian cleared his throat. “And I was made for you.”
He did remember. Because those words had been the ones she’d given to him, so long ago.
It was all the same except…
This night wasn’t going to end with her dying. No bullets were flying at them. Stars glittered overhead and the scent of the ocean teased her nose and—
Julian had dropped to one knee.
She tried to fight her smile. She couldn’t. Just like she couldn’t make her heart stop racing.
“Rose, will you—”
“Yes!”
“Marry me?” Julian finished. Then he blinked. “Wait, yes?”
She grabbed him and yanked him back up—the better to hug him and kiss him like mad. “Yes, absolutely, yes!” Marriage. Forever. She wanted it all.
They would have it all.
Who said monsters didn’t get a happy ending?
They did. They fought like hell for those endings…they fought like hell for each other.
His arms closed around her, and she knew—Rose knew that life was just beginning. Her life with Julian. Her life without fear.
Her life…her choice.
And it was going to be amazing.
***
Julian was laughing.
Kissing his mate, laughing, and disappearing as he led his vamp back into the house.
“Looks like someone’s happy.”
Luke sighed when he heard his brother’s sardonic voice. “No thanks to you.” He turned to face Leo, not in the mood for this shit. “We need to clear the air.”
“Is that why you summoned me?” Leo’s brows rose. “Because I thought you’d banished me from this island—”
“After you tried to kidnap the angel and you nearly killed Rose?” His arms crossed over his chest. “Yes, you’re not exactly welcome.”
Leo glanced toward the house. Luke thought he saw a flicker of fear in his twin’s gaze. Interesting. Did he fear the panther? Or the vampire?
“Is she…wrong?”
“No, I think she’s quite right. Finally.” Rose wasn’t fighting who she was any longer. She’d embraced her vamp side. She’d let go of her fear. And she was loving—wildly, fully, without reservation. She was good and so was Julian.
Luke figured they deserved their happiness…and speaking of what people deserved. “I’m missing…one of mine.”
Leo shrugged. “What does that have to do with me?”
“Simon Lorne was using a gargoyle to do his dirty work. The last time the gargoyle was spotted, well, Rayce told me that you picked him up and flew away with the guy.”
“He was on Simon’s side. He needed to be put down.”
Luke didn’t let his anger sweep out—it was too dangerous when he did. “If this is the gargoyle that I think it is…he was under a spell.” He had been, for a very long time. “Where, exactly, did you put him down at?”
Leo glanced back toward the ocean. “Stone sinks pretty quickly. If I were you, I might try the deepest depths.”
“You’re such an asshole.”
Leo smiled. “I could give you more of a map, if you were…say…willing to help me find a certain angel?”
Luke just stared at him.
“Do we have a deal?” Leo prompted.
“No.”
A faint rustle of sound came from behind Leo. It was the only warning his brother got. Leo whirled—and found himself face to face with Julian.
“I wanted to give my friend a wedding present,” Luke announced. “I figured he’d like a bit of payback.”
Julian’s claws slashed, cutting into Leo. Leo screamed and his wings shot from his back even as the blood poured from his chest. Then Leo was shooting up into the air—
But Julian’s claws caught one wing. They ripped it apart. Leo fell like lead onto the ground.
Julian started to go after him again.
“That’s enough.” Rose’s voice.
Luke smiled. “Sweet Rose, ever the voice of reason.” He strode toward his brother, and, for fun, gave him a little kick in the side. “You’re lucky she didn’t come back wrong.”
Leo groaned.
“Payback,” Julian snarled. “It’s a bitch.”
Or a very, very enraged panther.
Rose twined her fingers with Julian’s and they headed back toward the house.
For a moment, Luke just studied his brother. Then he smiled. “You’re not healing as quickly as you once did.”
“I think…you may be weaker, brother. A bite from a vampire can have repercussions, especially for someone like you.” He laughed. “You were worried about her being wrong, but maybe you should worry about yourself. Claws would never do this much damage to you before.”
Leo had gotten to his feet. He stumbled a bit, glaring. Scales began to appear on his body. He was transforming fully. The best way to heal from injuries.
Luke didn’t speak again, not until his brother had flown away. For years…years…centuries…there had been talk of a battle between him and Leo. He’d worried about the day when that final fight would come. Good versus evil. Blah fucking blah.
He’d worried but now…
Now he laughed again.
Because his dear twin was showing a weakness, and if there was one thing Luke knew how to do…it was exploit a weakness.
He turned and strolled back to the house. But he didn’t get far, not before a wolf shifter crossed his path.
“Glad you think the night is funny,” Rayce muttered. “That bastard is probably off, hunting down that angel right now.”
Luke clamped a hand over his shoulder. “Why not make this a challenge?”
Rayce lifted a brow.
“You have her scent. Why don’t you see if you can find her first?”
The wolf gave him a slow smile.
And the game was on.
THE END
###
If you enjoyed ON THE PROWL, be sure to look for BROKEN ANGEL, Book 3 of the Bad Things series, in December of 2016.
A Note From the Author
Thank you so much for taking the time to read ON THE PROWL. I hope that you enjoyed the story. I’ve been having such an amazing time writing about the “Bad Things”—and there are more stories coming soon! Next up, I'll be releasing Rayce and Lila’s story in BROKEN ANGEL. And soon…I'll have a gargoyle hero to share with you.
If you’d like to stay updated on my releases and sales, please join my newsletter list www.cynthiaeden.com/newsletter/. You can also check out my Facebook page www.facebook.com/cynthiaedenfanpage. I love to post giveaways over at Facebook!
Again, thank you for reading ON THE PROWL.
Best,
Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
About The Author
Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes dark tales of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Cynthia is also a three-time finalist for the RITA® award. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over fifty novels and novellas.
Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings. More information about Cynthia and her books may be found at: http://www.cynthiaeden.com or on her Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/cynthiaedenfanpage. Cynthia is also on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cynthiaeden.
Her Works
Paranormal Romance
Bad Things
The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things, Book 1)
On The Prowl (Bad Things, Book 2)
Blood and Moonlight Series
Bite The Dust (Blood and Moonlight, Book 1)
Better Off Undead (Blood and Moonlight, Book 2)
Bitter Blood (Blood and Moonlight, Book 3)
Purgatory Series
The Wolf Within (Purgatory, Book 1)
Marked By The Vampire (Purgatory, Book 2)
Charming The Beast (Purgatory, Book 3)
Deal with the Devil (Purgatory, Book 4)
The Beasts Inside (Purgatory, Books 1-4)
Bound (Vampires/Werewolves) Series
Bound By Blood (Bound Book 1)
Bound In Darkness (Bound Book 2)
Bound In Sin (Bound Book 3)
Bound By The Night (Bound Book 4)
Forever Bound (Bound Books 1-4)
Bound in Death (Bound Book 5)
Night Watch Series
I’ll Be Slaying You (Night Watch Book 2)
Eternal Flame (Night Watch Book 3)
Phoenix Fire Series
Burn For Me (Phoenix Fire, Book 1)
Once Bitten, Twice Burned (Phoenix Fire, Book 2)
Playing With Fire (Phoenix Fire, Book 3)
The Fallen Series
Angel of Darkness (The Fallen Book 1)
Angel Betrayed (The Fallen Book 2)
Angel In Chains (The Fallen Book 3)
Avenging Angel (The Fallen Book 4)
Midnight Trilogy
Hotter After Midnight (Book One in the Midnight Trilogy)
Midnight Sins (Book Two in the Midnight Trilogy)
Midnight’s Master (Book Three in the Midnight Trilogy)
Paranormal Anthologies
A Vampire’s Christmas Carol
Loved By Gods Series
Bleed For Me
ImaJinn
The Vampire’s Kiss
The Wizard’s Spell
Other Paranormal
Immortal Danger
Never Cry Wolf
A Bit of Bite
Dark Nights, Dangerous Men
Romantic Suspense
Killer Instinct
After The Dark (Killer Instinct, Book 1) - Available 03/28/2017
LOST Series
Broken (LOST, Book 1)
Twisted (LOST, Book 2)
Shattered (LOST, Book 3)
Torn (LOST, Book 4)
Taken (LOST, Book 5) - Available 11/29/2016
Dark Obsession Series
Watch Me (Dark Obsession, Book 1)
Want Me (Dark Obsession, Book 2)
Need Me (Dark Obsession, Book 3)
Beware Of Me (Dark Obsession, Book 4)
Only For Me (Dark Obsession, Books 1 to 4)
Mine Series
Mine To Take (Mine, Book 1)
Mine To Keep (Mine, Book 2)
Mine To Hold (Mine, Book 3)
Mine To Crave (Mine, Book 4)
Mine To Have (Mine, Book 5)
Mine To Protect (Mine, Book 6)
Montlake - For Me Series
Die For Me (For Me, Book 1)
Fear For Me (For Me, Book 2)
Scream For Me (For Me, Book 3)
Harlequin Intrigue - The Battling McGuire Boys
Confessions (Battling McGuire Boys…Book 1)
Secrets (Battling McGuire Boys…Book 2)
Suspicions (Battling McGuire Boys…Book 3)
Reckonings (Battling McGuire Boys…Book 4)
Deceptions (Battling McGuire Boys…Book 5)
Allegiances (Battling McGuire Boys…Book 6)
Harlequin Intrigue - Shadow Agents Series
Alpha One (Shadow Agents, Book 1)
Guardian Ranger (Shadow Agents, Book 2)
Sharpshooter (Shadow Agents, Book 3)
Glitter And Gunfire (Shadow Agents, Book 4)
Undercover Captor (Shadow Agents, Book 5)
The Girl Next Door (Shadow Agents, Book 6)
Evidence of Passion (Shadow Agents, Book 7)
Way of the Shadows (Shadow Agents, Book 8)
Deadly Series
Deadly Fear (Book One of the Deadly Series)
Deadly Heat (Book Two of the Deadly Series)
Deadly Lies (Book Three of the Deadly Series)
Contemporary Anthologies
Wicked Firsts
Sinful Seconds
First Taste of Darkness
Sinful Secrets
Other Romantic Suspense
Until Death
Femme Fatale
Young Adult Paranormal
Other Young Adult Paranormal
The Better To Bite (A Young Adult Paranormal Romance)
Anthologies
Contemporary Anthologies
“All I Want for Christmas” in The Naughty List
Sinful Seconds
All He Wants For Christmas
Paranormal Anthologies
“New Year’s Bites” in A Red Hot New Year
“Wicked Ways” in When He Was Bad
“Spellbound” in Everlasting Bad Boys
“In the Dark” in Belong to the Night
Howl For It