The Last Hunter: Collected Edition (Antarktos Saga #1-5)

In the distance, three hundred cresties roar sorrowfully, lamenting the passing of the man who led them, a mantle that now passes to me.

I hand the shofar back to Kat, who carefully wraps it. Kainda appears by my side. “I’m sorry,” she says and then glances down at Xin’s body and gasps. “He’s...”

“Me,” I say. The transformation removed all about Xin that was Nephilim and changed him to all that remained. He is a hairless, but otherwise perfect copy of me. “This is who he always was.”

Someone, I’m not sure who, hands me a blanket and I use it to cover his body. When I’m done, I feel a gentle touch on my shoulder. It’s Luca. I turn to him and hold the little version of myself tightly. I know how big I felt things as a kid. I’m kind of a mess now, and I’m supposedly hardened. I can’t imagine how hard this is for him. But then he surprises me.

What did he give you?

The little boy’s voice is in my head.

A laugh escapes my mouth and I pull away, looking Luca in the eyes. He’s smiling through his tears.

I don’t know, I reply. In fact, all I do know is that my head feels very full, almost like a sinus infection, and I’ve got a constant dull pain just behind my eyes. It might just be from the intense emotions and crying, but if Xin did something to my mind, I have no idea what it is. I certainly can’t read people’s thoughts.

Xin is given a burial within the hour, complete with a chaplain, a prayer and a three-volley salute. It’s especially moving given the fact that most of these men and women, including Em and Kainda, either feared or did not trust Xin. In the end, he proved to be the best of us, willing to give his life for mine, and ultimately, for theirs.

When it is done, I’m approached by Merrill, Aimee, General Holloway, Kainda, Em and Kat.

The general takes the lead, stopping in front of me. “I’m sorry for your loss, son, and for our...behavior toward him. Toward you. But from what I understand, we might see some action within the next few weeks and I would like to prepare for it.”

I nod, but say nothing.

“What would you have us do?” he asks.

I look at the familiar faces around me and stop at Merrill. He’s watching me. On my side, but he doesn’t know me. Xin’s strange request regarding the Clarks returns to my mind. Remember something they have told you.

“Merrill,” I say. He steps forward, and I extend my hand, recalling all the conversations I had with Merrill before being kidnapped by Ninnis.

He looks unsure, but he takes it and says, “I’m sorry for your confusion and I hope we can move past—”

“We weren’t put on this Earth to be stagnant,” I say.

For a moment, he just looks confused, but then a surge of energy flows from my head, across my arm and into his. He gasps as though rising from deep water. His eyes settle back on me a moment later, and widen. He looks me up and down.

“Solomon!” A smile appears on his face, but I only see it for a moment because then he’s got me in his arms, crushing me with love. I can feel the sobs wracking his chest. His memories have been restored.

“Merrill?” It’s Aimee. She sounds confused. He lets me go and turns to her. “It’s Solomon! He’s alive!” He seems to realize what has happened and turns to me. “She doesn’t remember yet.”

“Merrill, what are you—”

I step up to Aimee. This one is easy. “You are a precious boy.” I kiss her forehead. The same surge of energy courses through my lips to her head, and I don’t even get a chance to step back and see the change in her eyes before her arms are around me. She hugs and weeps and rubs my back like only a mother can. When she finally separates and looks in my eyes, she says, “You are a precious boy.”

With a gasp, I remember the news I have for the Clarks, which is also the answer to Holloway’s question.

“She’s alive,” I say to Aimee, and then turn to Merrill. “Mira is alive.”

“But, the shifter,” Em says.

“Didn’t kill her,” I say. “Xin and I saw it. In his memories. She’s alive.”

Holloway speaks up. “If you’re right, we can send a squad to—”

“No,” I say. “I’ll go.”

“Son,” Holloway says, growing angry. “You have just proven your worth to my men, and me. You have also instilled in us the firm belief that we cannot win this war without you. If you leave now—”

“General, please,” Aimee says. She might understand the logic of Holloway’s words, as do I, but as a mother, Mira comes first. As she does for me, as well.

“I will not leave her,” I say. “How many people have died because of me? Xin. Hades. Cerberus. Wright. How may more whose names I don’t even know? I will not lose someone else—”