Dawn grins at us with tears in her eyes before she blinks and gazes over my shoulder. I turn in time to see Gabriel picking up a sword and rushing me. Before I can move to intercept him, Dawn is there.
The sword plunges into her stomach and we all freeze. She looks down slowly at the glowing, golden blade as Gabriel steps back with a triumphant expression. Time freezes for a moment as everything in my body stops. No.
No.
Little Monster!
Eyebrow arched, she reaches for the handle and unhurriedly pulls the sword free of her body. My heart stops at the blood there.
Little Monster—
She holds the sword up to the light, her blood coating the blade, and we all stare as her stomach mends. The hole closes, allowing me to breathe again. A fear like I had never experienced before recedes to anger. She looks at Gabriel and tuts. “That was a bad move, angel.” Then she plunges that same sword into his gut while he is gaping at her.
She doesn’t stop there. She pops up behind him and rips both wings off, the sound screeching and loud. He screams as he drops to his knees. She grips either side of his head, her eyes locked on mine as she leans down to whisper in his ear. “They are mine, no one touches what is mine. Angel, god, divine, no one.”
She twists, ripping his head clean off. Clutching it in her hand, she looks around at the other gathered council members. “Assmos, I’ve wanted to do this for a while.”
“You can’t—you—” He starts, but no one dares stop her as she saunters up to the terrified man as he tries to back away, only to run into Lucifer. He squeaks and turns as Lucifer laughs.
“Boo,” Lucifer says with a wild, wicked smile.
Dawn taps Amos on the shoulder and he spins, his feathers ruffling as he attempts to change, undoubtedly to fly away. “Oh, just fucking die,” she snaps, then plunges her hand into his chest and pries open his ribcage. She wrenches his heart free and drops it to the floor to join Gabriel’s head.
She looks to Lucifer then. “Care to burn them for me? I want to make sure they are really fucking dead, can’t have them coming back and hurting anyone again.”
“My pleasure, walker,” he murmurs, and raises his hands. Two fireballs form in each palm and he drops them on the corpses, head, and heart. They ignite, burning nothing else until only ash remains, and then they wink out of existence.
It’s done.
It’s over.
She is safe.
She turns and smiles at me. “Let’s go home.”
“As you wish, Little Monster,” I reply, and take her hand, pulling her closer. The others step near as we begin to walk away, but Lucifer calls after us.
“The others?”
“Your problem, they are your council,” she answers without looking.
Suddenly screams fill the air, and I glance over my shoulder to see the rest of the council’s bodies draped around him on the floor, dead. “For ignoring your duty and allowing this to happen, I offered you a quick death,” he tells them, before looking up and meeting my stare.
I incline my head. We both know that is only partially true. He did it so they would never seek revenge over the woman who exposed their secrets—Dawn.
“You cannot leave, walker,” he shouts.
“Watch me!” She giggles as the crowd parts for us. Everyone gathered drops their eyes and bows their heads as we pass.
A murmur of ‘thank yous’ goes up to the woman who stopped the people who were hurting them. They look at her with fear and respect.
When we reach the door, I stop just as Lucifer pops up there. He stares only at Dawn. “You cannot leave, walker. There is no council, there must always be a council, I cannot sit on it. Conflict of interest, plus, you killed them. This is your job now.”
“What? No!” Dawn exclaims in horror, looking to me.
But Lucifer raises his voice. “Who here wishes to vote in Dawn, the skinwalker, as temporary council head until others can be found to help her lead?”
Numerous hands and voices agree, nearly every single person in attendance. She blinks in shock, looking at her mates. “I-I can’t lead.”
“Draya,” Dume rumbles. “I will follow you anywhere. You lead us, and now they are asking you to lead them.”
“Neriso, it is both a burden and an honour to lead your people. Choose wisely. Whatever you decide, we are here.”
She stares at me in confusion. “Your choice, Little Monster, your choice.” I know this is what fate meant. I can’t decide for her, she must choose her path. It won’t be easy, it will be fraught with those trying to stop the change she signifies, and she knows this.
The whole world seems to hold its breath as she deliberates. She looks at Lucifer who smirks at her. “I cannot allow you to leave, walker, the people have spoken. They trust you.”
“And you?” she questions.
“I will do my duty. The council needs replacing. Attraction or not, you must be worthy, or you will die.”
“You will kill me if I fail these people?” she clarifies, a smile on her face.
“Yes,” he retorts. “It’s time for new leadership, for a change, what do you say?”
“Yes,” she whispers, and then blinks in shock like she can’t believe she said that.
And I know this is why I never wanted to sit on the previous council. Because I was waiting for her, for her council. For her change.
“Then take your chair, tomorrow we make it official. For now, let us calm the people and sort through the rabble. The world will feel the effects of their betrayal long after tonight, let us learn the full extent of it. Together.” He offers her his hand.
A choice.
The world is made of them.
We made ours—her.
Now she must make hers.
If she runs, I will run with her. If she stays, I will lead with her. Whatever my little monster wants, I will be there. We will never be apart again, not even the fates themselves could stop us now.
She places her hand in Lucifer’s, who nods knowingly. A wind blows through the room, one of change, as he turns her and guides her back through her people.
Her people.
Ours now.
Where she goes, I will too.
I once walked away from the throne, the crown, for her. Knowing she was coming and she needed me, and now I am willingly walking back towards it. Not to wear myself, but to support the one wearing it.
We can all feel it, the tug of destiny guiding her to take the throne. No one else deserves it, no one else could lead us. Monsters will follow her. These people will fear and love her, and the humans will be protected by her.
She isn’t a hero, not the good guy coming out on top like one is taught when learning good versus evil as a child. But she is what the world needs, someone willing to bloody their hands to protect theirs, someone willing to give up everything they are, everything they have, to protect those weaker than them.
She is a true leader.
A true queen.
I don’t know what this means. I don’t know how to lead. My mind is jumbled, my emotions out of whack. I just wanted to save those people, to protect my mates, and all the women and men hurt by Gabriel and his schemes. How did I end up being led to the council’s throne?
Why me? I am no one, just a monster.