Epilogue
REVERIE- FIVE YEARS LATER
Emberhold Academy, Bellona-
Emberhold Academy no longer existed in a pocket dimension.
It stood in Bellona now, rebuilt atop the shattered remains of the coliseum that had once taken lives for spectacle. Where blood had soaked into the sand, gardens now bloomed. Where cages had stood, classrooms had taken their place.
I had insisted on that, and my men had made it so.
Those ghosts deserved to be buried beneath laughter.
Avery Cleopatra sprinted across the large lawn, blond curls flying, light flaring uncontrollably around her hands as she shrieked with delight. She was only four but utterly convinced she was invincible.
Emery Lilibet followed at a slower pace, shadows clinging to her heels like a loyal hound. She was always watching, calculating everything.
Both of my daughters, named after great queens and loved by all, looked identical from head to toe, except for their eye color. Avery had Nathan’s green eyes, while Emery had Jet's warm brown ones. Both inherited their grandmother's white-blonde hair.
Emery had a combination of Zeke and Oren’s personalities; she cared for everyone but was also a bit bossy. Avery had the free spirit of Nathan and Zane, and unfortunately, their sense of humor.
Since the curse was broken, children had begun exhibiting their Nexus status earlier every year. My girls were going to be the most powerful Nexus this world had ever seen.
Don’t ask me how I knew this—I just did.
I rubbed my slightly rounded belly—only the Ancestors knew what traits this one would inherit.
“Avery! If you don’t come here right now, there won't be any rides on Frynn later," Zane said, trying to sound stern. However, even at her young age, she knew that her fathers rarely enforced punishments. Both of our girls were spoiled.
“I’ll bring her back,” Bennet spoke softly.
Blaze rolled his eyes but made his way over to Emery’s side, where he bounced around playfully trying to get her to join in.
Blaze and Bennet—five years old, identical smiles, and terrifyingly competent—were Chloe, Oliver, and Deshawn’s sons, instincts as sharp as both of their fathers combined.
Both were large for their age. Inheriting their size from Oliver, their skin tone and good looks from Deshawn. The only thing they got from my bestie was their piercing blue eyes.
Neither boy was ever far from my daughters, already very protective. I wouldn’t want to be the men competing for their Faction.
Chloe stood beside me, arms crossed, her expression equal parts pride and long-suffering amusement. “They’ve decided they’re the girls Aegisworn,” she said dryly. “I’ve given up trying to convince them otherwise.”
“I don’t doubt that if my daughters have their way, they will be.” I smiled.
She snorted. “True that.”
“Isn’t Razor and his Faction coming to visit y’all for Christmas?”
"Yes, they’re excited to experience snow for the first time," Chloe smirked. “Deshawn has a snowball maker and plans to welcome Razor vigorously.”
I laughed. “Ohio is beautiful this time of year. Wait till I bring them to Texas and introduce them to Bluebell ice cream and Tex-Mex.”
She groaned, rubbing her rounded stomach. “Don’t even start with that ice cream. I’ve made Oliver portal twice this month alone to pick up a half-gallon of butter pecan. I can’t get enough of the stuff.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “And we know whose fault that is.”
I guiltily changed the subject. “I love to hear Deshawn tell the story of how Oliver’s ability made itself known.”
“Don’t remind me. Do you have any idea what it’s like to be sexted up against the shower door one minute, then fall butt naked into Bellona’s market square the next?”
I threw my head back and laughed so hard I snorted. “Stop… you’ll make me pee!”
“You stop with that stupid laugh, or I’ll pee!”
We clutched each other, our legs crossed, gasping for air. After we stopped cackling, we finally noticed Deshawn signaling to Chloe.
She scowled. (The mood swings were no joke.) “I swear, if he’s calling me over to rub my belly, I’m going to kick his ass. He goes at it like he expects a genie to pop out.”
I giggled as she stomped off, glancing in Oren’s direction when I heard him barking orders to a line of older students, looking annoyed as usual.
I admired his body in the tight leather pants he wore. The man was even sexier than when I first saw him walking across the gym floor all of those years ago.
“I despise this job.” He muttered to me when I joined him.
“But you’re so excellent at it,” I smirked as I sent one of my shadows out and copped a feel of his ass.
He raised an eyebrow, his face set in his usual haughty expression, which softened when he pulled me into his arms. “That isn’t behavior befitting a queen.”
I waggled my brows. “I have a new decree concerning that very thing.”
“Is that so?” He grinned.
“Yes, it is. Every queen from this day forth is allowed to grab the amazing asses of each of her Faction at her discretion.” I spoke in my most queenly voice. Although I was pretty sure the Texas twang I had ruined the tone I was going for.
He grinned, “I like it.”
“I was sure you would.” I stood on tiptoes and kissed his beautiful lips.
Oren couldn’t fool me. I knew he loved torturing the students at Emberhold as he ran them through their paces. The man had a bit of a cruel streak… but who didn’t like a bad boy?
Nathan, lounging nearby, with Dale resting on his shoulder, grinned. “Give it up, Shitstorm. We know you love lording it over the students. It’s the lesson plans you hate.”
Now, the instructors at Emberhold rotated.
All of my men took a turn and spent part of the year as instructors.
Jet assisted Instructor Lee in battle strategy.
Nathan helped Oren. Zeke and Zane handled draxon studies and controlled shifting.
(It was now more common since our Factions were able to form without the ritual due to the curse being broken.)
I taught a legacy course. I kept the classes small but thought it important to remember our past queens as the wonderful rulers they’d been. The crap the council had taught generations of Aurathions was a massive pile of steaming bullshit.
Nathan waved me over, and I snuggled into his lap.
He gently rubbed my belly, and I smirked, thinking of what Chloe had said earlier.
Zeke appeared beside us and sat, pulling my feet into his lap, rubbing them firmly, making me moan.
Jet and Zane made their way over, each of them touching me in some way.
I was more than content.
The council had been disbanded, and Oren’s father stripped of his abilities. We hadn’t known it was possible, but with Rue’s help, it had been done. He hadn’t been imprisoned per se, but Tanya had bound him to his estates. Mira and Pantar popped in and out to make sure he was behaving himself.
Mom and all of my fathers thrived here. She was head of Faction restoration and ensured that the Factions formed through the ritual were strong and healthy.
It took a long time for Poppa (Rue) to recover, but with time and patience from Mom and my other fathers, he improved.
I credited his granddaughters with most of his recovery.
He worshiped the ground they walked on. I believed that my mom killing Selene the way she did also helped put all of their demons to rest.
I smiled as I saw all five of them walking out of the main building. Pops smacked Mom on the butt, and Grumpy put him in a headlock. Dad smiled in approval as Poppa took the opportunity to tuck Mom under his arm.
Life was damn near perfect.
We spent part of the year here at Emberhold, living in the house the academy built for us.
(Honestly, I loved it more than the massive structure the ancestors willed to me.) For the rest of the year, we’re either at the castle, dealing with the politics of my position, or on Earth, working on strengthening our relationship with humans.
I loved Aurathia, but I was born on Earth, and that helped me relate to their concerns.
Jet had also been a tremendous plus in that endeavor.
The spy planted in Aurathia turned out to be one of his friends from basic training, Nathan Sterlings, who had tested positive as a passive.
So far, he hadn’t found his Faction and liked to fuck with my men, pretending he was my potential.
He screwed with Nathan the most, calling him an imposter and a placeholder for the much more superior Nathan.
My Nathan hated his guts.
Chloe and I had a bet on how long it would take all of them to realize that Nathan Sterling batted for the other team.
Avery's laughter echoed across the green. Emery was right behind her, shadows curling around her shoulders. Blaze and Bennet weren’t far behind—more like older brothers than cousins.
My parents, my bestie, and my men are all nearby. The battle is won, but we know better than most how quickly things can change. Pantar, Mira, and Kharox have taken it upon themselves to travel between Earth and Aurathia, ensuring the DF never rises again.
This—this—is what winning looks like.
And the future?
It’s already here.
One resting gently in my belly, the others:
Barefoot.
Laughing.
Guarded closely.
Answering to the names—
Avery.
Emery.
As I sat surrounded by my men, my two sweet babies’ laughter ringing in the air, I knew it was all worth it. Every bit of the pain and suffering we’d endured. This life was worth fighting for, and the Ancestors better take mercy on anyone who tried to take it from me—because I would not.