Selena was driving with uncharacteristic gentleness, her usual recklessness replaced by an unspoken awareness of the gravity of the situation. I leaned back in the passenger seat, pulling out my phone and dialing Leora’s number. It rang twice before her familiar voice answered, steady but tinged with a hint of concern.


    “Hey, sweetheart,” I began, keeping my tone light but earnest. “Remember when you told me to call you if there was ever a really tough fight?”


    There was a brief pause on the other end, then her voice came through, resolute. “What’s going on?”


    “Everything’s almost finished,” I explained. “There’s only one last fight left.”


    “Time and place.”


    “I’ll be waiting at the Company,” I said, already typing out the address in a text message. “I’ll send the address to you.”


    Leora didn’t say another word, simply hanging up. I finished the text and hit send, staring at the screen for a moment before slipping the phone back into my pocket.


    Selena glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, her usual playful smirk tugging at her lips. “Whoa~! Is it really necessary to call in your wife for this? I mean, I get it—she’s a powerhouse in her own right, but isn’t this overkill? The Elsewhere Cult is already a cornered rat… calling Leora feels like smashing a bug with a wrecking ball.”


    “It’s going to be the toughest battle yet,” I replied, my tone leaving no room for argument. “Trust me on this one. When did I ever lie to you?”


    Selena’s smirk faded, replaced by a contemplative silence. She had been around long enough to know that I didn’t throw words like that around lightly.


    In terms of mobility, the Saint had been easier to locate than the Prophet. But that was the only thing easier about the Saint. The reason the Saint hadn’t been caught sooner was simple: the Saint was hideously powerful. Not one Hunter who had gone after the Saint lived to tell the tale.


    I hadn’t spread that information around, though, and for good reason. The more people knew about the Saint—its appearance, name, personality—the stronger it became. That was part of the danger.


    But that wasn’t all. The real threat lay in the fact that the Saint had merged with the Elsewhere Cult’s god, a cryptid of immense power. My thoughts drifted to Leora as Selena drove. I could trust her with this, and I needed her by my side. No one else could face what was coming.


    Back when this world was just a novel to me, Leora was meant to become one of the strongest beings, on par with the Seven Extremes. If I hadn’t written her off as a discarded character, she’d probably have been strong enough to solo the entire series. That was how biased I’d been when I created her—a walking deus ex machina that didn’t fit the story I wanted to tell at the time.


    Now? It felt shitty, to say the least. She wasn’t just some discarded concept anymore; she was my wife. A powerhouse, yes, but also someone I’d come to rely on in ways I hadn’t foreseen. It was ironic, in a way, that the woman I’d once written out of existence had become the one person I could trust with my life and the life of our son.


    Selena pulled up to the Company building, parking the car with her usual flair—too fast, too sharp, and with a squeal of tires that probably annoyed the security staff. We stepped out, the crisp air of the city brushing against my face as we made our way inside.


    Reina was in my office, seated at my desk with perfect posture, meticulously organizing files on the holographic display. She was the picture of efficiency, her fair features serene as her fingers danced across the interface.


    She glanced up as we entered, her eyes sharp and calculating. “Father,” she greeted, her voice even. “Welcome back.”


    “Reina,” I began, pulling out the chair opposite her and sitting down. “I’ll be gone for some time. Selena’s coming with me. We’re heading to the Outer Wall.”


    Her brows furrowed slightly, the faintest hint of concern crossing her face. “Understood. What are your instructions for the Company in your absence?”


    “Suppress any information about my location and the location of our quarry,” I said. “That means tampering with the Association’s records and causing enough chaos to throw them off the trail. I don’t want to spook the Elsewhere Saint.”Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Reina’s lips pressed into a thin line, her disapproval subtle but palpable. “Understood. I will handle the necessary obfuscations. However, I must point out that tampering with the Association’s records will not go unnoticed forever.”


    “I’m counting on that,” I said. “But by the time they figure it out, this will be over.”


    She nodded, her expression returning to its usual calm. “I will ensure the operation runs smoothly in your absence.”


    Selena leaned against the doorframe, popping her gum with an exaggerated snap. “You really trust this Saint business to your wife, huh? Bold move. But hey, I’m just here for the ride.”


    I shot her a look. “You’re here because you’re useful.”


    Selena smirked, unbothered. “Useful and charming. A deadly combination.”


    Reina ignored the banter, her focus already back on the holographic display. “If there’s nothing else, Father, I’ll begin preparations immediately.”


    I stood, smoothing out my jacket. “That’s all for now. Keep things running.”


    Reina nodded, her attention already shifting to the tasks ahead. As Selena and I left the office, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease. The pieces were moving into place, but this final confrontation was going to push all of us to the limit.


    The Outer Wall awaited. And with it, the Saint.


    I received a text from Leora. She had arrived and was waiting in the lobby. My pulse quickened, and without a word, I turned toward the elevator. “Let’s go,” I said, motioning for Selena to follow.


    “Nervous?” Selena asked, her tone teasing.


    I realized I was tapping my foot against the floor of the elevator, my impatience betraying me. I forced myself to stop, though my heart didn’t slow down. “It’s been three years,” I muttered, as if that explained everything. And maybe it did.


    The elevator doors slid open, and we stepped into the lobby. It was quiet, almost eerie, with the emptiness amplifying the sound of our footsteps. There, standing in the center of it all, was Leora. Blonde hair catching the light, blue eyes that still felt like home. She wore a black leather jacket over a simple top and jeans, but my eyes were drawn to her right hand—the wedding ring she held. I glanced at my own hand, the matching ring still on my finger. Three years apart, but that connection had never faded.


    Before I knew it, we moved toward each other, the distance closing in an instant. And then, instinct took over.


    We kissed. Soft and tender at first, but quickly turning fierce and hungry. Three years of separation, longing, and unspoken emotions poured into that moment. I lifted her effortlessly, placing her on the counter behind her. Her soft moan sent a jolt through me as my hands found her waist, pulling her closer, while her leg brushed against my groin. Her cheeks were flushed pink, and I had no doubt mine were the same.


    “Ahem.” Selena’s exaggerated cough cut through the haze. “Get a room, you two!” she snapped, her tone half-annoyed, half-amused. “Aren’t we supposed to hunt some cultist saint? Damn it, if you’re going to be this affectionate, you might as well invite me to a threesome!”


    Leora pulled back slightly, her lips still swollen, and glared at Selena with a mix of annoyance and amusement. “Maybe if you weren’t so nosy, you wouldn’t have to witness this.”


    Selena rolled her eyes, throwing her hands up in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. I’ll just be over here, pretending not to exist. But seriously, can we focus on the murderous cryptid cultist we’re supposed to kill?”


    Leora chuckled softly, brushing a hand against my jawline. “She’s got a point. Let’s finish this first, then we can pick up where we left off.”


    I nodded, my forehead resting against hers for a brief moment. “Deal.”


    We stepped back reluctantly, and I adjusted my jacket, my mind already refocusing on the task ahead. But I couldn’t help the small, satisfied smirk tugging at my lips. The Saint was going down tonight, and for the first time in a long time, I felt whole again.


    Selena groaned dramatically, throwing her head back as if the weight of our reunion was too much for her to bear. “Boring! And here I was looking forward to some sexy action,” she quipped, a mischievous grin plastered on her face.


    Leora rolled her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. “That’s not funny, Selena. But long time no see, you contrarian vixen.”


    “Long time no see, my lady of leather and snark.” Selena smirked. “Though, honestly, I don’t know how you put up with this guy.”


    We ignored her antics as Leora reached out and laced her fingers through mine. Her hand was warm, steady, grounding. Just that simple connection felt like it was enough to piece together the parts of me that had been fraying for years.


    Selena threw her hands in the air. “This is utterly and painfully ridiculous!” she exclaimed. “You two are so sappy I’m getting cavities just standing here.”


    I turned to her, raising a brow. “Selena, your opinion is duly noted and ignored.”


    She clutched her chest in mock offense. “How cruel!”


    I shook my head, then turned to Leora, squeezing her hand gently. “Let’s go Saint hunting,” I said, the gravity of our mission pulling me back to the present. “And you’re driving, Leora.”


    Leora arched a brow, a playful glint in her eye. “Oh, am I? You sure about that?”


    “Absolutely. I’d rather not endure Selena’s... unique driving style again.”


    Selena let out an exaggerated gasp. “Excuse me? My driving is perfectly fine! It’s not my fault you don’t appreciate the art of drifting through city streets.”


    “It’s not art if you nearly kill us every time,” I deadpanned, earning a laugh from Leora.


    Leora smirked, tossing her keys in the air before catching them with ease. “Fine. I’ll drive. But if we get into a chase, I’m not promising anything.”


    “Fair enough,” I said, following her to the car with Selena trailing behind us, muttering something about ungrateful passengers. “I missed you, Leora.”


    “Me too, Reynard… Me too…”