Epilogue
Aiden
Nine months later
The Guild Hall is alive with merriment for the holiday season.
Garlands and wreaths dress the large beams overhead and spiral the thick columns with twinkling lights.
The hidden stage is open and equally decorated while members fill the tables closest to it.
If they aren’t singing along or shouting words of encouragement to whoever’s performing, they’re talking and laughing with one another.
Aside from the holiday, there’s a bigger moment we’re all celebrating today.
Yesterday, we took down the last Gifted Enterprise facility.
After Dane compiled locations from Charles’s computer, we’ve been taking them down one by one. Our Guild has now doubled in its membership from rescued gifted who didn’t want to go home or wanted to help us save others.
Now we can finally celebrate the complete annihilation of GE.
And remember those who we lost in the fight.
We’ve put up a memorial wall in the Hall with pictures of everyone who gave their lives for this. Who sacrificed everything to free gifted from GE and the fear of being hunted.
The ache in my chest when I think of them hasn’t faded—even nine months later.
“Don’t you look morose on this happy occasion,” Cibrina teases lightly as she strolls to my side with a celebratory glass of champagne. She hardly consumes alcohol, so seeing her with the flute is a surprise.
I drink my bourbon. “My thoughts wandered away on me.”
Cibrina smiles at the tables singing along with Kellan, who’s on the stage belting out “Blue Christmas” in his deep voice. “Maybe you should join them. Sing along and forget any lingering troubles for a while. You deserve the break.”
“We all do,” I counter.
She nods. “Of course. But you and I both know that our break won’t be for very long. You should enjoy it while it lasts.”
I take another drink, then tap my finger on the glass. It’s a conversation we’ve had before that we’ve pushed to the side in favor of focusing on GE. But now that they’re gone, there’s nothing stopping us from turning our attention to it.
Avoiding it would be foolish.
It’s only a matter of time before people learn of our existence.
The ratio of gifted to norms is increasing exponentially with every generation. It makes me wonder if one day everyone will be born with some sort of gift. And with how powerful some of them already are today, what kind of future will they have if that kind of power goes to someone who isn’t good?
And with Charles dead, that protection across media and governments to keep our secret is gone with him.
Elias has been helping in our efforts to remove news stories and videos posted online that expose gifted individuals who weren’t careful enough.
It’s become a whole department and floor in the Tower.
As much as I hope the reveal doesn’t happen in our lifetime, we need to prepare for it.
My gaze falls on Raegan in the front row, cheering on Kellan with Dane on one side and Portia and her guys on the other.
Reid, Tinsley, Alice, and Sam are seated at the same table while the rest of Raegan’s siblings are at the next table over.
Evie and the other lead members are at the table to her left.
Mallory sits with them, and her four-month-old puppy—that Raegan suckered me into—is curled on her lap.
Raegan’s buffered by family—chosen and related by blood. This was what I wanted for her.
My biggest worry now is how the public would perceive her gift if it ever came out. And others like us whose powers might be considered too dangerous.
Even if the gifted community is outed, I have to keep her safe.
We will keep her safe.
“You’re right. Let’s enjoy tonight. We can talk about the future tomorrow,” I reply.
Elias has already scheduled a meeting with me after the holidays to discuss how I’m supposedly repaying all his favors.
“Any word on Detective Unger?” I inquire.
“Still missing.” Cibrina offers me a consoling smile.
The murder investigation has essentially dropped since Detective Unger disappeared not long after I’d been rumored to have died.
Jackson was prepared to wear Thorne’s face and be seen by the cameras to get me out of it, but thankfully, it didn’t need to go that far.
I told him I’d rather Dane fake some evidence than try that plan, but he shrugged and said he’d keep it on ice just in case.
So long as it’s not in one of our freezers, I don’t care.
The tax audit came back clean with a nominal amount that had to be paid.
Dane removed all the damaging articles and posts about the Guild, and we’ve been busier than ever.
The frozen offshore account was confiscated, unfortunately, but we’ll be making that money back over the next year or so.
Now that income is flowing in, it’s less of a concern.
That had always been backup money anyway.
“I know that’s not the way you wanted the issue resolved, but him missing is better than having to prove Thorne’s alive,” Cibrina continues.
“I’d rather be done with it so it doesn’t loom over us like a dark cloud.”
She smiles. “I understand. Now go to Raegan and enjoy yourself tonight. I’ll keep an eye on any over-exuberant shenanigans with Penn and Quinn. Take the night off. Sing something for us,” she adds, laughter sparkling in her eyes.
I’d rather make Raegan sing for me in other ways, but I keep that thought to myself.
I raise my glass to her. “Thank you. Make sure you enjoy the party, too.”
Her glass clinks with mine. “I always do.”