Epilogue

Jarvis returned home with the bodies of his family after promising Lucy that he would take the time to visit. It was a heavy burden to bear as the rest of the Marcioni pride met him at the airport, their solemn faces reflecting shared grief as coffin after coffin was slowly lowered onto the tarmac. He made a single phone call to the prison, and Emilio, his wife, and their newborn son waited on the doorstep as he exited the limo awhile later, striding up the path towards them.

"Your debt is cleared," Jarvis said to his son before entering his home and heading up the stairs. He liked to grieve alone, and as the door to his bedroom closed, that's exactly what the lion shifter did.

2.

One year later...

Quinley Barrett sat at her desk, going over paperwork and assessing student papers, when the call came through. The high priestess was relieved to hear that Valenar and Raeann had finally regained control of their kingdom with help from the Desdeyos dr