And it wasn't really lost. Only temporarily misplaced.

Come the morrow, they would evict the b.i.t.c.h and take Andaria back. Of that she had no doubt. And if Jullien still lived, they'd save him too.

After all, they were The Sentella. Impossible miracles were their specialty.

Epilogue.

F.

ain frowned as he kissed Galene's hand. Gently, he brushed his fingers over her bruised and scuffed knuckles. "What happened?"

"Nothing."

He turned the lights up and saw that she had scratches and more bruises. Furious, he growled. "Who hurt you?"

"No one. Rather, I hurt someone else."

"Pardon?"

A becoming blush stained her nude body as she bit her lip in a way that never failed to make him hard. "I didn't really go shopping today."

Obviously. Unless there had been some ma.s.sively discounted sale on female shoes guarded by a herd of rabid lorinas. "Where did you go?"

"To visit an old friend."

She was being purposefully vague and he didn't like it. "Stormy..."

Galene let out a long sigh. "I went to see Malys Venik."

Fain gaped at her. "What?"

Reaching up, she traced the line of his jaw with her fingers. "You didn't really think I'd let her get away with hurting you and Talyn, did you? I merely went to explain a few things to her."

"With your fists?"

She gave him a lop-sided grin. "I am Andarion, you know? You and Talyn don't have the marketshare on that. No one threatens what I love. I promise you, she won't be back again in our lives. And neither will Venik." She handed him her link. "I have your papers. He signed them."

Stunned disbelief filled him as he read through them. "I don't understand."

"He was with her while I was there."

Shocked, Fain gaped even more. "You fought Ven, too?"

"No. Him, I shot."

"Stormy! Are you serious?"

"It was just a flesh wound. I'd already cleared that possibility through Hermione."

Fain couldn't believe what he was hearing. "And she was all right with that?"

"Given that Malys almost killed her daughter-in-law with her betrayals and actions? Yes. Mack's pregnant, by the way. So Malys almost killed Hermione's daughter-in-law and grandbaby. I could have pretty much gutted them both and Hermione would have been okay with it."

With a nervous laugh, he brushed the braids back from her beautiful face. "You are insane, Galene Batur."

"Galene Hauk."

"Ger Tarra Hauk," he corrected with a smile.

Biting her lip seductively, she shifted her hips and ran her feet down his legs. "I like that even better."

His heart pounding, Fain stared down at her as he slowly slid himself inside her warm body. "And this?"

"Mmm. I definitely like this." With the tenderest expression, she ran her hand over the tattoo on his arm.

Fain savored that look and the feeling of her holding him. Of having her in his life. Forever. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Bringing me home after I'd lost my way and forgot where it was."

"You don't have to thank me, Fain. I was out in the cold, too. Every bit as lost in the dark. And sadly, I didn't even know it. I thought I was all right alone. That I was happy and fine. But the truth is, every ship needs a hangar. And every heart needs a haven. You are that light that saves me from the darkness, and I don't want to dwell there ever again."

Cupping her cheek, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "My oath to you, Galene Hauk, you never will. For wherever you go, I will always follow. To h.e.l.l and back. Forever and beyond."

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter World Series:.

(in reading order).

Fantasy Lover.

Night Pleasures Night Embrace Dance with the Devil.

Kiss of the Night Night Play Seize the Night.

Sins of the Night Unleash the Night.

Dark Side of the Moon The Dream-Hunter.

Devil May Cry Upon the Midnight Clear.

Dream Chaser.

Acheron One Silent Night Dream Warrior.

Bad Moon Rising No Mercy Retribution The Guardian Time Untime.

Styxx Dark Bites Son of No One.

Dragonbane The Dark-Hunter Companion Dark Bites.

Also by Sherrilyn Kenyon:.

League Series.

Born of Night.

Born of Fire Born of Ice.

Born of Shadows Born of Silence Born of Fury.

Born of Defiance Born of Betrayal.

The Belador Code.

Blood Trinity.

Alterant.

The Curse Rise of the Gryphon.

Chronicles of Nick.

Infinity.

Invincible Infamous.

Inferno Illusion.

By Sherrilyn Kenyon writing as Kinley MacGregor:.

Lords of Avalon Series.

Sword of Darkness.

Knight of Darkness.