"Second?" A voice called out, pulling Juniper's attention away from the Elders carrying Rust's body away.

"Who're you?!" Elder Riley's mate was in between them in an instant.

"Relax, I'm a friend."

"That doesn't answer my question."

Bone white hair fluttered in the slight wind, a small smile appearing on the woman's face as she stood facing the pair of them. "My name's Angela, and I'm the Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse – normally referred to as Death. Nice to meet you." She spoke brightly.

"Fourth Horseman...?!" Silver eyes blinked in confusion. "Death?!"

"Looks like you managed to get out of hell by yourself." Angela smiled over at Juniper, ignoring the incredibly confused silver-haired woman, her purple eyes gleaming. "I was worried there for a bit."

"Where's the Third?" Juniper tilted her head, curiosity written across her face as they stood slightly away from the main group who hadn't even noticed the arrival of the Fourth Horseman.

"The Third?" She shrugged. "He lives up on a mountain... All alone... He's called Famine for a reason, you know?"

"Oh-"

Juniper's words were cut off by the sound of Black's voice ringing out from the gigantic hole in the wall of Stonewall Castle.

"She's alive?!"

"Do you really think I'd lie about something like this?" Elder Riley's exasperated voice sounded, his familiarly finely dressed figure coming into view. "Look. She's over there with Silver, and..." Grey eyes narrowed as they spotted Angela leaning against one of the remaining walls of the castle.

"JUNIPER!" Black tackled her to the ground, his eyes wide, inspecting her from head to toe carefully.

"I'm fine, Black." She sighed, stroking his face gently, wiping away the tears pouring down his face with the pad of her thumb.

"Pookie Bear..." He whispered, his voice thick with an emotion Juniper knew all too well thanks to him.

She didn't get a chance to say anything back, though, since his lips had found hers in the next second. His teeth tugged at her lower lip, one hand knotting itself through her hair, the other holding half her body upright, keeping her firmly pressed up against him until she was looking thoroughly kissed.

"Keep it down, children." Riley sighed. "You do have an audience."

"Shut up, Riley." Black muttered, blinking as the ring on his mate's finger caught his hair. "What's this...?"

"That's a marriage ring." The Elder said, peering curiously at the small oval blue gemstone embedded in the silvery coloured ring. "And it's got a hellstone on it too..."

"Hellstone?!"

"You've got to be kidding?!" Angela blinked. "What the hell happened after I got out of there?!"

"Oh..." Juniper mumbled. "Lukaris tried to drag me off to his bedroom, and somehow managed to put-"

"WHAT?!" Black scowled, fangs dropping down over his lips, his eyes changing between human and wolf.

Riley slapped a hand to his forehead. "Compose yourself."

"He didn't do anything to me." She smiled. "I snuck past him before he could stop me and ended up back here."

"That damned Devil..."

"But I'm here now, and that's all that matters." Juniper said, snuggling into his chest, quickly distracting the enraged Alpha with yet another kiss.

"Goddess yes." He muttered, hugging her like his life depended on it.

"Who are you?" Riley interrupted their touching reunion, his sharp grey eyes fixed on Angela as she pushed herself off the wall.

"I'm guessing you won't be riding again... at least, not for a while." Angela smiled, but it was somewhat strained. "I'm glad you got a happy ending, after all that fuss."

"I asked you a question..." The Elder mumbled, his eyebrow twitching slightly as he was ignored for a second time.

"I suppose I should say thanks for trying to rescue me."

"I failed." She shrugged. "You got out all on your own, so there's no need to do that. In fact, I should be the one thanking you for that distraction... otherwise we'd probably both be trapped in Hell..."

"Meh." Juniper fell back, staring up at the sky, smiling slightly when she felt Black shift about until her head was resting neatly on his lap. "It was for my benefit as well as yours..."

Riley cleared his throat.

"Women are talking, Riley." Juniper sighed, rolling her eyes at the Elder who was currently trying to get their attention.

"Well... on that note..." Angela trailed off, looking over at the forest.

"Are you going...?" Juniper glanced at her.

A white horse materialised from the forest, racing over to the woman's side. "When we ride together, we'll herald the coming of the Apocalypse..." She explained, hefting herself up into the saddle. "So, if you ever get the feeling that this world needs to start afresh, then give me a call." Angela grinned, waving over her shoulder as she rode away. "See you around, Second."

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ILLENIS HERE

Epilogue comes next :)

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