Chapter 49 #2
The same process was applied to Cameron, as we looked further into his past as well. I may have also interrogated him a bit in Tartarus one afternoon, trying to learn how he got the elemental magic when Milo did not. I took it too far and so far he’s not woken up for us to continue questioning him.
Hades briefly considered throwing him through the Styx first to double check what would happen but as he hadn’t had a demonic side awakened we felt the test a bit pointless. And we didn’t want him to awaken as a fully turned demon. The asshole didn’t deserve any of our magic.
“Alright, quieten down. We are ready to get underway.” Charon’s voice booms over the crowd.
It's always a big moment when Charon herds the contestants onto his boat to set sail across the river. The flames that swirl above the water seem more intense this morning, like they know the significance of the passengers on board this particular voyage.
I desperately want to go to my humans, to hug them one final time, breathe in their scents, tell them I love them.
Doing it in the apartment a couple of hours ago seems like a different year.
They need to know in case anything goes wrong.
But I hold steady, despite the fact my wings flair, ready to catch an updrift and take me to them.
“You can’t go with them.” Hades appears at my side.
“I’m aware,” I reply, locking my muscles tight, ignoring every instinct raging in my body.
“They’re going to be okay, babe.” Khaos grips my hand in his as we watch the contestants move around on the boat, the anticipation high.
Biting my lip hard, I taste blood as Charon releases the final ties to the shore and revs the boat away from the dock.
I don’t blink, don’t breathe as I watch the vessel carry away two of the most important people in my world.
They look back as they move away from the dock and our eyes lock.
Wyatt pulls Milo against him as he mouths “I love you” to me.
“Hey, it’s going to be a while. We could join the rest of the party and grab a drink?
” Garrick’s voice tears my gaze away from the boat as the flames engulf it from view.
I look at him, eyes narrow even though he won’t be able to see my face because of my mask. “Or we can wait right here,” he amends.
Hades and Khaos move away to mingle with the small crowd, a celebration already getting underway. I can’t even entertain the idea of taking my eyes off the horizon until they return.
Garrick stays by my side the entire time. He doesn’t pull me into him but angles his body with mine in such a way the other demons on this beach won’t see how he has one hand gripping my hip. The small gesture is the only thing keeping me from losing it right now.
I don’t know how long we wait on the beach, but it’s a roar that breaks my vigilance. A dragon roar. Garrick tightens his grip as I once again go to take off. “Just wait a moment,” he orders.
Indeed, a second later I see him. A giant silhouette of a dragon breaks through the flames, skimming the lake and adding more fire to the inferno with each of his own exhales.
His orange scales almost blend perfectly into the scenery.
He glides towards us, flapping his huge wings in smooth, graceful beats to keep himself just elevated enough that he isn’t touching the water below.
The almost languid pace does nothing to ease my racing pulse.
Why is he flying back here? What’s happened to the boat? Where is Milo?
Racing to the water’s edge, I stop before any can touch me, mainly thanks to Garrick grabbing onto me once more. Which is good because I have no idea what’s in the river or what touching it would do.
My eyes track Wyatt as he flies directly over me, circling the beach as he attracts the attention of everyone else already celebrating.
He roars again before landing in an empty space.
I’m running once more to get to his side.
My heart skips a beat as Wyatt folds in his wings, pulling them low against his sides.
Sitting between his shoulder blades is Milo.
I reach them just as Milo is sliding down Wyatt’s massive foreleg. I don’t hesitate, slamming myself into the male and wrapping my arms around him, not giving a fuck who sees. “Did it work?” I breathe into his neck.
He nods against my shoulder as he grips me tightly back and I sag against him, relief like I’ve never felt before weakening my knees.
“It all went smoothly,” Wyatt says a second before he’s enveloping us both into his embrace, back in his human form. I can tell from his voice that he’s beaming. “We just couldn’t wait for the boat to bring us back, so I flew.”
I’m laughing through tears as I pull back enough that I can take them in.
Visually they don’t look any different, but I can sense the magic as it settles within them.
There’s a little added grace to their movements, I feel their strength as we cling to one another. They’re Demons now, and they’re mine.
We stay on the beach for as long as required.
And it is fun, celebrating with the rest of the contestants once they arrive back with Charon and the guards that we’ve spent the last few months with.
Drinks flow and bonfires are lit. Teddy even comes up to Garrick and me to introduce his fiance, Calli.
She seems nice, and it’s clear Teddy is utterly, completely smitten with the Harpy.
Tarron, and his wife, also join our little circle for a few drinks.
But all four of us grow equally as irritated as the night wears on.
We want to be alone so that we can be together.
Even though we’ve spent so many hours in each other’s company for the last two weeks–months really, since the start of the games–I can tell my guys are as equally wanting to leave as soon as would be deemed reasonable.
I want out of my mask, and disguise, so I can touch them, kiss them, and simply enjoy them without having to worry if we’re starting any rumours. I’m certain we’ve already failed on that front but maybe my scary as fuck reputation will squash any real speculation.
Either way, I don’t give a fuck about that right now. We’ve stayed through the barbeque dinner and we’ve mingled enough that our presence will be noted. Garrick is the one that gets tied up in conversations the most.
I do manage to pull Seffy to one side so we can catch up.
We even make plans for her to come over to our apartment next week to simply hang out which I surprise myself with.
It looks like our friendship is going to go beyond the games.
Who could’ve guessed I’d make a new friend as well as find the loves of my life?
Finally, somewhere near midnight, we’re landing back on the rooftop of our home. Despite dragons normally hating being ridden, Wyatt is the opposite. And even though Garrick had to sneak on board so as to not draw attention, Wyatt flew them both on his back whilst I soared beside him.
It was the panther shifters that seemed most uncomfortable, especially as we rose higher into the skies to avoid being noticed by anyone in the high-rise towers of the centre of Elysium.
I noticed them clinging to Wyatt’s scales for dear life.
Maybe these flights won’t be a regular occurrence, but it filled my heart with such joy at seeing it.
Unlocking the doors and entering the apartment, I’m immediately stripping out of my hood and mask, letting my hair out of the bun I wrapped it in to keep it hidden.
Garrick grabs us some drinks from the kitchen and we collapse onto the sofas, talking, swapping loving touches and glances filled with certainty.
This is the start of our forever, and nothing is going to break us apart.