Dear Readers, And so we have reached the end of Adrian and Pippa's journey. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it - although this was a painful and difficult story to write at times. I am always short on words at the end of a book. I never know how to properly thank my dear readers for all your support and kindness. A 'thank you for reading' always seems inadequate to me, but please know that it means so, so much to my dark little heart. Your love for Adrian and Pippa brightened my days, and more than once your comments made me smile. Thank you for every gem, comment, review and word of support. Much love as always,Celice
Pippa's POVWith shaking, freezing hands, I unlock the side door of the church and stumble inside. I slam the door shut behind me and fall back against the solid wood, trying to gather my frazzled nerves.I had to run through a raging storm to get here today, and twice the lightning hit so close to me that I could smell the ozone in the air and every hair on my body stood on end.I inhale deeply, enjoying the comforting scent of the ancient old church before I shake myself like a wet dog, splattering water all over the familiar old stone floor and walls. I don’t care much, since I’m the one who’ll be cleaning it up.Shivering like a tired old cat, I make my way to the sacristy instead of the supply closet to get my cleaning equipment. I’m not generally allowed in the priests’ sanctum unless I’m cleaning it and one of them is with me, but the church is old and drafty and I’m in no mood to get another cold.I feel like an interloper when I quietly push the door to the sacristy open and
Pippa's POV I go straight home. Ignoring the beautifully paved path that leads to the rectory, and from there to my flat, I take a shortcut through the woods that I know better than my own body. I don’t even have to look where I’m going. I’ve worn out my own path over the years and can find it blindfolded in the middle of the night. I run out of the woods, and into Father Joseph who is out for a morning stroll. I don’t like him very much. He’s kind of cold and uppity, but his presence does reassure me. “Morning, girl,” he grumbles. “Shouldn’t you be at work?” “I am sick, Father,” I say. “I will go back after Mass.” He looks me up and down. “You do look a little feverish. Don’t come to the rectory if you’re just going to spread your germs around, you hear?” “Yes, Father.” “Go home, rest, eat some chicken soup.” “Yes, Father.” I look over my shoulder into the woods, but can’t see anything in the shadows. “Have a good walk, Father,” I say and jog past him to my flat. The church gr
Pippa's POVIt’s going to be a difficult day.I had a long night. I kept waking with the stranger’s menacing voice in my head, “Are you lying to me, little girl?” followed by that bone-chilling howl that broke through the serene silence.My eyes are swollen and gritty, and as I walk down my short hallway to the bathroom, I keep bumping into the walls. I’m so tired I literally can’t walk straight.The shower does nothing to help - neither does the cup of strong coffee. I don’t even bother to eat. I just want to get this day over and done with.The priests and nuns have golf carts that they use to travel around the grounds, but I don’t have that luxury. I don’t even have a licence, because Miss Loretta didn’t think ‘my kind’ needed luxuries like driver’s licences. “You end up in one of three places,” she used to say. “In the convent, as a wife, or on your backs in a nasty hotel. None of those requires the ability to drive.”She was an awful woman. It’s a sin to hate, I know, but I think
Adrian's POVThe moment I walked into that church, I knew I was fucked five ways from Sunday. My mate was here. After all these years, the fates finally found me another mate and sent her my way. I knew it would happen one day, that they’d send another, but I had some hope that it wouldn’t be this soon.I followed her delicious scent to the sacristy and stood in awe of her. How beautifully made, how perfect. Her long raven hair tumbled in wet curls down her back, and the soaked clothes clung to her skin accentuating her soft, womanly curves, but it was her aura that really attracted my attention. She radiated magnificence.“Father Abraham,” I snap when the old priest doesn’t answer me right away. “What can I do to help?”It’s sheer torture to just stand here and pretend that I barely know Pippa. It’s agony to ask the old priest for permission to help my own mate, but I can’t give myself away. It would be a disaster for both of us.What I really want to do is wrap my mate in my arms an
Pippa's POV I stare into Father Adrian’s shocked face, and I am suddenly riddled with doubt. After what he said in the storage room and the church, I convinced myself that he wouldn’t mind if I asked him to stay, but clearly he does. “Nu-never mind,” I say, my voice trembling with embarrassment. “I will be okay.” Without a word, he takes the keys dangling from my shaking fingers, grips me by the elbow and steers and me in the direction of my flat. He looks around to make sure we’re not being watched before he unlocks the door and quickly slips inside. Adrian’s massive frame takes up half of my little entryway and I have to squeeze past him to get inside. “Do you want some tea?” I ask while nervously fiddling with the hem of the ugly t-shirt. I've never had a man in my house before. It's strange, but a little exciting at the same time. “I’ll make it,” he says, a deep frown of disapproval on his face as he looks around my living room. “You don’t have much in the way of security.”
Adrian's POV I run to the edge of the woods where Joseph meets me. “Did you hear that?” he asks. Who didn’t? “The sound of a wolf being tortured.” “Caspian punishing the Stonefang twins for failing to grab Pippa?” “She calls them the terror twins.” Joseph laughs. “You are smitten.” “Well…she is my mate.” “She can’t be. You know that right? You have to reject her.” I look at Joseph to tell him that I’d do it. I have to. It’s the only way I can truly keep her safe, but the words that come out of my mouth are, “I can’t. God help me, Joseph, I can’t do it. She’s just a human, it will kill her.” “She’s not just a human. I’ve been watching her for a while. She’s different.” “What is she?” “I don’t know. A Halfling maybe?” “Regardless, I can’t. Not again.” He sighs and tenses when another agonised howl echoes out over the forest. “Then you must leave. Run. Stay one step ahead of Caspian.” “Yes.” “Do you want to go in…see if we can help those unfortunate souls?” “No. There’s n
Pippa's POVI couldn’t face going to church after what I did last night. The thought of looking Father Adrian in the eyes is just too much. Every time when I think about it, I burn with shame. What was I thinking, trying to seduce a priest?I get up at my usual time, but instead of changing into my church dress, I change into hiking gear, grab my backpack, and head out into the forest.The church property borders on a large national forest with beautiful hiking trails and streams so clear and clean that you can drink the water.Signs warn me to stay on the trails, but it’s one of the few rules I break. I often go off the trail, and in the two years I’ve lived on my own and allowed myself to do it, I’ve never gotten lost. It’s my superpower. No matter where I end up, I can always find my way back home.Singing softly to myself, I put the priest and the horror twins out of my head, and decide to enjoy the early morning quiet and the forest that I have all to myself today.I lose myself