Annihilate (Hive Trilogy Book 3) (26 page)

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Authors: Leia Stone,Jaymin Eve

BOOK: Annihilate (Hive Trilogy Book 3)

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We hit the bar first and I found myself slamming back a shot with Tessa and Becca. Blood wine for Becca and I, tequila for Tessa. Our poor science girl didn’t know it, but there was a plan tonight. I was getting her hammered and she was going to have another shot at Sam. This unrequited star-crossed lovers thing they had going on drove me nuts. I was going to be interfering-Charlie for one more night, and if that didn’t work I was out.

“Gah, it’s really not appealing. I hate to think of the damage to my body with this poison,” Becca said, huffing in and out after her shot.

I snorted. “You’re an ashpire, girlfriend. Ain’t nothing damaging our liver.”

She shook her head at me. “You know what I mean. Anything that tastes like burning cannot be good for you.”

“Sam!” I yelled, noticing him across the room. He didn’t look uncomfortable – Sam was hardly ever out of his element – but he did kind of look like he wished he was anywhere else but here.

When he didn’t cross to me immediately, I stalked over and dragged him to the bar. “Do a shot with us,” I said, turning my most pleading expression on him.

He glanced over my head, and I knew the poor dude was exchanging a glance with Ryder. No doubt they both knew what I was up to. Brains and beauty that was my boys.

“I really need to keep a clear head. I have a lead on Sanctum, and it’s in our best interest to closely monitor that group.”

Jayden came upon us then. “Hells no,” he said to Sam. “No working at this awesome wedding. Sanctum are not going anywhere, and so far their ploy for world domination has resulted in nothing. They don’t have the numbers or support anymore. Too many humans. Too much still going on. You can take this one night off.”

Sam sucked in a deep breath, let it out, and surprisingly enough some tension left his shoulders and handsome face. “One shot,” he said, his eyes resting on Becca.

She nervously adjusted her blond curls, but didn’t protest when a whole row of shots were dropped in front of us and everyone grabbed one. I noticed Tessa and Jared out of the corner of my eye then. The pair were standing very close together, deep in conversation on the edge of our group. They turned to do a shot with us, and I swear stepped even closer together.

Whoa! They looked so hot together, all blond beach babes. And my bestie was smiling, a true and happy smile.

Maybe we would all get our happy ever after. Even Tessa.

As the party raged on, we sang, we danced, we loved. Jayden got so drunk that he and I declared our undying love for each other and promised to get a best friend tattoo in the morning. I was mildly tipsy, but trying to keep my head on so I could make sure operation Sam and Becca was going to happen. When I saw them sitting next to each other but not really engaging, I decided it was time to play hardball.

Stalking across the room, I found Jason. He was hot as hell, like all ash, and he was someone I sort of knew from the Portland Hive.

“Jason, I need a favor,” I said to him, only the slightest of slurs in my voice. I was nailing this sober thing. He nodded, a huge grin spreading across his face, although he also looked to be nervously checking over my shoulder. Was he looking for Ryder?

Gee. He wasn’t that scary.

“Anything,” he finally said, getting his fears under control.

“Go ask that blonde sitting with Sam to dance.”

Jason’s eyes bugged out. “Sam has already claimed her. Rules are not to go near her.”

That angered me even more. How dare Sam set that rule and then not go for Becca.

“Yeah, well, the rules have changed, and trust me, he’ll thank you later. I’ll make sure he doesn’t kill you,” I added.

Jason seemed to consider it. Finally, he nodded. “Okay, but you’re going to owe me one.”

“Yep, fine,” I said, pushing him in their direction.

I stayed close, because I couldn’t actually be sure that Sam wasn’t going to try and kill him. Walking five paces behind him, I casually acted like I was looking for a waiter. When Jason got two feet from Becca, both her and Sam looked up.

Jason cleared his throat and I knelt, pretended to be adjusting my dress.

“Would you like to dance with me?” he asked, extending his hand in Becca’s direction.

She looked utterly shocked, her eyes so huge without glasses hiding them. Sam’s head shot around, his gaze absolutely feral, and it wasn’t aimed at Jason. He locked eyes directly with me.

Ah fuck. Abort mission.

“Oh … um … sure,” Becca said, distracting everyone when she took Jason’s hand.

Oh shit. Sam shot up lightning fast and stepped between Jason and Becca.

“I was just going to ask her. Why don’t you go get yourself a drink?” His voice was very quickly developing into the growl register.

Jason swallowed hard and nodded. Sam’s gaze bore into me with a fire that said he would be plotting my death soon. Then he spun on Becca.

“Here’s the thing, Becca. I know you don’t want to ruin our friendship, but I can’t stand by and watch you date other men. So … will you please dance with me?”

Becca swallowed hard, eyeing Sam’s outstretched hand, then a blaze of silver lit up her eyes and she placed her hand into his. He pulled her so hard into his body that I could tell he’d knocked the wind out of her a bit. They remained molded like that, and then started gently swaying to the music. It was a slow romantic song, and dammit I was tearing up again.

On the dance floor, close to them was Tessa and Jared. Definitely something going on with those two. And was that … well, I’ll be damned. Looked like Kyle was going full steam ahead with his Sasha plan. Although, knowing that kickass chick, she’d been the one with the plan all along. Sasha had been the only SWAT human to accept the wedding invitation, but I was still going with my theory that she wasn’t actually human. Too much awesome in there for her not be something a little more.

“Can you take a break from all of your evil plotting?” Ryder came out of nowhere and I turned, smiling.

“What did you have in mind?” I raised an eyebrow. It was very dark out now, with only candles and the moon to light the night.

He leaned in close and whispered in my ear. “I’ve always wanted to have sex on the beach.”

I grinned. “What a coincidence. So have I.”

Jayden caught my eye as we were leaving and blew me a kiss. I winked and blew him one back.

Okay, so sex on the beach was a loose term. I wasn’t really that keen on sand in my ass. Thankfully, Ryder had already thought of that, and we had rented an exclusive cabana house on stilts that was literally out in the ocean.

We didn’t really speak; there was no need for words as Ryder slowly undressed me, his mouth caressing every part of my bare skin. The warm breezes embraced us though the open windows, white sheer curtains flowing in the wind as Ryder made love to me. He kissed me at least a thousand times over every inch of my body, touching each spot reverently.

This was it.

This was my happy.

I didn’t need marriage or kids with Ryder. Just being together, like this, forever. That’s all I wanted. No labels required.

Afterwards, when I was barely coherent, and my body still trembled from the sensations, Ryder held me tightly, stroking softly up the side of my neck. After a while he sat up, the sheet falling to reveal all of his glorious naked body. He pulled out his cell phone.

“I want to show you something,” he said, flicking through his phone quickly before handing it to me.

It was a house. The front of a beautiful, modest, Craftsman. The address said Portland. I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face.

“What’s this?”

“Our new home,” he said. “If you want,” he added quickly.

OMFG, he’d bought us a house. “I want!” I shouted, and threw myself on him, kissing him.

He smiled. “Good, because it closes next week and Oliver bought Jayden the house down the street.”

Jayden and I were going to be neighbors? Oh the shenanigans we would get up to. If I had it my way, then Tessa and Jared wouldn’t be far behind us. Then Sam and Becca. I was grinning like an idiot and Ryder was looking at me with a serious gaze.

“What?”

He chuckled. “When I saw you all those months ago at the club, I knew you would be special, but I never thought you were capable of this. You changed everything, Charlie. You changed the way the world lives. But most importantly, you changed me. I was a shell of an ash and man. I never even knew what I was missing.” He kissed my lips softly. “I love you.”

I was lost in his kiss, before pulling back to express my absolute adoration and love for him. I’d never imagined a few months ago, when I turned ash and I thought my whole world was falling apart, that I would end up here. I had found my family. Or added to it at least. I had so much more now than I ever imagined.

“You know it wasn’t just me that changed the world,” I said, kissing him softly. “We did it together. I love you more than anything. You are my greatest reward.” The rest of my words were lost in our kisses. I never wanted to stop kissing him. He was the best thing that ever happened to me. They all were.

THE END

Loving books from team Jaymin & Leia? Keep your eyes peeled for Queen Heir, Book One in the NYC Mecca Series, their new fantasy paranormal romance crossover coming early 2017.

Acknowledgements from Leia
: As always I am so thankful to my amazing best friend and writing partner Jaymin Eve. She took a chance on me when I said I had a fun idea but didn’t know what to do with it and asked her if she wanted to co-write something with me. Now we have created this amazing world with these amazing characters that I will always love. You have made this process so fun and I can’t wait for our next series together. A big thank you to Steven Smithen for the big rig consult =) We really appreciate it. Also to all of my readers and especially the Ash Enforcers, we love you guys so much! I’m so grateful to my supportive husband for taking time off of his career to support mine and help with our kids. Love you to the moon and back babe~!

Acknowledgements from Jaymin
: The end of an era. Okay, not really an era, but it has felt like an epic nine months of being in the Hive world. First, and always, I love Leia Stone. She is the best friend an author, human or other could ask for. We talk a lot about fate bringing us together, and I have never been more sure of that. Written in the stars. BAFFs for life. Next I want to thank Andi for being a truly supportive friend. She beta reads all of my books (usually more than once) and is always there for support and reassurance. When I fall into a heap of author mess, she picks me up, dusts me off, kicks my butt, and sets me on my way again. She’s a keeper. Huge thanks to my release team. I’d love to mention you all by name, because I feel like we’re a family, but just know I love and appreciate every single one of you. Also to my Nerd Herd and Ash Enforcers. You guys rock!! I love spending time with you all. Your support means everything. Thank you to Lee for your awesome editing, as always, you took our words and made them so pretty. And to Tamara, our cover artist. You’re awesome! We love every single thing you do for us, you bring our worlds to life. To my family. Thank you so much for all your support and love. I couldn’t do what I do without you, and I never forget that. I love you more than words. And I’m an author with a lot of words. Lastly to our fans. We love you. You have no idea how blessed we feel to be able to do this as a job, to be able to create worlds, and fall in love with these amazing characters. And we can do that because of you. All of our books are for you. xxx.

Books from Leia Stone

Matefinder Trilogy (Optioned for film)

Matefinder: Book 1

Devi: Book 2

Balance: Book 3

Matefinder Next Generation

Keeper: Book 1

Hive Trilogy

Ash: Book 1

Anarchy: Book 2

Annihilate: Book 3

Stay in touch with Leia:
www.facebook.com/leia.stone/