Seven bowed his head. “I know this has been a terrible day for you, so I hate to tell you, but I was waiting here for you to say goodbye. I’m leaving with Chaos for Elysium.”
My eyes widened as I looked between them.
Chaos winked. “Selene will be meeting us there. She’s bringing Seven’s wife.”
Overcome with emotion, I threw my arms around Seven. “Oh, I’m so happy for you. This is everything you’ve always wanted.”
His cheeks flushed as he smiled, giddy like a schoolboy. “My heart is whole. I owe it all to you.”
I smiled but struggled to hold back the tears. I would never see him again. Not in this world, anyway.
Noting my reaction, he took my hand. “Your heart will be whole again one day too. Have faith.” He kissed the top of my hand and walked out the door.
Chaos lingered. “My offer still stands. You could come with us.”
I shook my head. “My place is here, with the living. I appreciate all you’ve done, but my duty is to my people. They need me more than ever. And I need them. The dark war is over, but demons can take many forms.”
Chaos smirked. “As you wish, little one. I release my hold. However, you may call upon me anytime you see fit. I may not answer right away, but I’m always listening.” He gave me a wink and sauntered out.
I chuckled for the first time in days. He never did learn how to have a normal conversation. A part of me would miss him too.
The Keeper entered in with Tobias at his heels. “Arcadia is in the catacombs, in a cell next to her mother. What is your wish for their fate?”
I took a deep breath. In my despair over Aldric, I hadn’t thought about my back-stabbing sister for a second. But it was time to decide.
“Banish them to Diana’s Forest and seal it with magic. I’m not a monster, but they cannot be trusted to roam free.” A forest instead of a dark prison cell was above and beyond merciful for the crimes they committed. And without their magic, they would not be able to hurt anyone else.
Tobias cleared his throat. “Will you grant me permission to guard them? They are my family and my responsibility. I will see to it that they never get out.”
I nodded. “The magic will hold, but if that is your wish, then permission granted.”
He turned to leave but hesitated at the door. “I’m sorry I wasn’t the father you deserved. But for what it’s worth, you turned out just fine. You never needed me.” His words hung in the air like smoke as he turned on his heel and disappeared down the hall. I had a feeling it would be the last time I would ever see him.
The Keeper rested a hand on my shoulder. “He’s right. You don’t need to hang onto that anymore.”
I nodded. “You can’t mourn a relationship you never had.” There was no bitterness in my tone, just a wistful realization.
He held out his hand to me. “The covens are waiting. Are you ready?”
Twenty-Five
I took his hand and let him lead me down the hall. They had been expecting to go to the war room, but war was over. I asked him to have them meet us in the dining hall. It was a time for celebration. Despite our losses, our victory was great.
I took a deep breath and pushed open the double doors. My heart skipped a beat. Awe filled me as I took it all in. For the first time in four centuries, the covens were together—laughing, telling stories, and feasting side by side without the threat of war hanging over their heads. A tingle ran up my spine. There was peace.
Bright eyes and warm smiles flashed in my direction as I sauntered through the dining hall. I nodded and shook various hands as I made my way through to the head of the table.
I took my seat between Dragos and Valentina. Squeezing both of their hands, a calm settled in. I looked back and forth between them and let out a breath that seemed to contain centuries of bloodshed, anguish, and pain. And I let it go as I exhaled, slow and steady.
It had started with the three of us. It was only fitting that it would end with us too. They plucked me out of my nightmare and gave me a home. Loyal to the end, they showed me what it meant to be a family.
As if reading my mind, Valentina’s eyes welled up with tears of happiness. With her red hair piled on top of her head and the Helm of Awe tattooed across her chest, she looked like the wolf queen she was supposed to be. No longer that hot-headed, impulsive little girl, she sat stoic and poised.
And Dragos…he had stolen my heart so many moons ago. Then lost it. And just when I thought I knew him, he surprised me and won it back. His black curly hair was cut short and slicked back off his tanned forehead. His skin glowed as the candlelight flickered across his face.
A lump in my throat formed as I noticed the empty chair next to him. A single arrow was placed on top of it. He smiled. “For Aldric. He will always have a place with us. Even in spirit.”
I smiled through the tears as Valentina leaned in and whispered, “It was Dragos’s idea. Who would have thought?” She giggled and turned back to nuzzle Lycos.
I pulled Dragos’s chin toward me and kissed him slow. My lips tingled under the heat of his touch.
He pulled away and gazed into my eyes. “I love you, Gray Wynter. I always have, and I always will. Even in death.”
A warmth spread through me as I grinned. “Esti al meu.” I gave him a wink.
He nodded and smirked. “I wouldn’t want to belong to anyone else.”
With most of the food eaten and wine drunk, I rose and clanked a spoon against my goblet. My eyes lingered over each face as they turned their attention toward me.
I took a sip of plum wine and a deep breath. “This moment is what we’ve been fighting for. An age of peace. That is our reward. We have suffered many losses. Each of has bled on the battlefield. Every one of us has buried a loved one. But we did not falter. We did not concede. Together, we pressed on and we achieved victory.
“Our world is far from perfect and there will be others that come to challenge us. To break our alliances. I say, let them try. We are strong. We are warriors. And we are one. Nothing can break us.
“As we go forward on our journeys, I’ve decided we will no longer be calling ourselves the Consilium. In honor of all we fought for and for those who have given their lives, we will now be known as Sanctum. We are not a council, we are a sanctuary. An entity where those who cannot defend themselves can turn to for aid. We will be their swords and their shields. A symbol of hope.
“And we will let it be known that those who intend to do harm to the innocents will be met with a force unlike any that has ever existed. And someday, if we are lucky, we will have extinguished the darkness and they won’t need us anymore.
“So, please, raise a glass with me and pledge as I do, your hearts and your swords to Sanctum. May it lead us to salvation. And may the gods guide us. But always remember…we make our own fate.”
The stomping of feet and clanking of glasses erupted as the covens cheered and raised their glasses in salute.
I knocked back my wine as euphoria spread through me. My heart filled with a joy that I had never felt before.
I caught The Keeper’s eye and nodded. He beamed with pride as he raised his glass in my direction. Music rang out and wine flowed like a river as we celebrated until the sun rose on the horizon.
Valentina stood on the docks, watching Dragos and I load our things onto the Resistance. Leaving the Deam Morte behind, I was also leaving behind those dark parts of myself. I didn’t want to be the Goddess of Death anymore. It was time to let all of that go.
Dragos pulled his sister close and whispered in her ear. She nodded and pecked his cheek. He squeezed my shoulder as he walked past me. “I’ll be waiting on deck. Whenever you’re ready.”
I approached Valentina and let out a deep sigh. “So, this is it. Time to say goodbye.”
She blinked back tears. “It will never be goodbye, Gray. Just a…so long for now.”
I threw my arms around her and buried my head in her lilac-scented curls. She was more th
an my best friend. She had become the sister I never had and always wanted.
I pulled back and flashed a grin. “We’ll come visit you in London once you get settled. I’m sure the wolves will keep you busy.”
She rolled her eyes. “I will be redecorating, that’s for sure. Arcadia had horrible taste.” She pursed her lips, then erupted into giggles.
I chuckled. “I’m gonna miss you.”
She nodded, her eyes glistening. “I miss you already.”
I let out a sigh and gave her a nod as I started toward the ship.
She called out. “Don’t you want to know what he whispered?” A smirk formed on her face.
I half-turned and shook my head. “I have a feeling I already know.” I gave her a wink and climbed on deck.
As the Resistance pulled out of the harbor, we waved to each other until we were out of sight.
“So…where do you want to go?” Dragos raised a playful eyebrow at me.
The shores of Scotland edged into view and I inhaled a deep breath of salty air. Stonehaven was a welcome sight. Our new home. I clasped Dragos’s hand to my chest as we sailed closer.
Climbing the path to the top, my worries began to fade with each step. The ache in my chest hurt a little less. As the new headquarters of Sanctum, we would be doing good things here. Important work.
Jane approached when she spotted us. She flashed us a warm smile. “It’s good to see you both. I’ve arranged everything to your specifications. Come have a look.”
Butterflies swam in my stomach as we followed her into the gatehouse. My heart thumped in my chest as we descended down the stairs. I gasped when my feet hit the bottom.
With eyes wide, I sucked in a sharp breath. “There’s so much…light.”
Skylights had been carved into the roof, allowing the sun to pour through. The walls had been painted with murals of fields of wildflowers. I was stunned. It was breathtaking.
We continued down the maze of hallways to see the offices had been gutted and replaced. There were meditation rooms with sparkling fountains, a training room with wall-to-wall weapons, a dining hall, and even a library with sacred books, donated by The Keeper.
I was speechless as Jane clapped, giddy with excitement and pleased with my reactions. Dragos’s mouth gaped open as we explored room after room.
As we neared the last corridor toward the double doors to that once awful room, the room where I had killed Jezebel, my body tensed. But Jane kept smiling as she led us through.
I nearly dropped to my knees. “How did you…?”
The roof had been taken off. Trees and flowers sprouted out from the ground. Creeks and bridges twisted and turned, overlapping each other. Dhampir fledglings sat on a patch of grass in a small group, listening intently to their Rain Maker teacher. Just a few feet away, a group of Witches practiced water spells, creating ripples that rose upward instead of out.
I shook my head in wonder. “This is amazing. Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this.”
Dragos let out a low whistle. “I’m not easily impressed, but Jane, you’ve outdone yourself.”
Her cheeks flushed. “It was Gray’s vision. I just carried it out.”
I clasped her hands. “Thank you. This is perfect.” I scanned the garden again, unable to take my eyes away from it.
She squeezed my hand. “Now, there is a safe place for everyone. Dhampirs, Witches, Lupi…everyone. They will live together, train together, and they will fight together if necessary.”
My heart swelled in my chest. “I wish Aldric could see this. He would have loved it.”
Jane’s eyes lit up. “That brings me to another room I want to show you.”
Dragos gave me a wink as we followed her down another corridor.
As we approached a door I wasn’t familiar with, my heart raced. I stepped into the room and gasped. It was an exact replica of the Three Blind Mice. “Wild as the Wind” was even playing through the speakers.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I turned toward Dragos. “You knew about this, didn’t you?”
Jane chimed in. “It was his idea.”
He smiled and took my hand. “Do you like it?”
I felt giddy. “Like it? I love it.”
He nodded. “Now you can come here anytime you want to remember him.”
I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight. “Thank you.”
Jane walked to the bar and poured each of us a glass of whiskey. She raised her glass in salute. “To Aldric. And to all of our fallen. May we always remember their sacrifice.”
As we clanked our glasses together and drank, I could sense him. I could almost hear his voice whispering back, “See ya on the other side, darlin’.”
With Dragos and Jane giving me a moment to finish my drink alone, I sat and reflected. Stonehaven, now called Sanctum, was now my sanctuary. My new home. And it brought me comfort to have a piece of Aldric with me here.
I used to think it was him that kept me tied to my humanity—connected to the light—but it was always within me. He just showed me how to bring it out. I didn’t need the darkness anymore.
I poured another glass of whiskey and set it down next to mine. I gave it a clank and knocked mine back. “Cheers, my love.”
I lingered at the door for a moment before turning out the lights and closing the door behind me.
On the other side, Dragos waited patiently. I leaned in and gave him a long lingering kiss. The familiar taste of clove and honey warmed my blood and teased my senses.
I locked my fingers with his and pulled him down the corridor. “Come on. The sun is about to rise.”
The cool air hit my lungs as I threw my head back and bathed in the golden light.
A tingle ran down my spine as I grinned from ear to ear.
It was a new day. And it was full of hope.
THE END
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Acknowledgments
Writing Gods and Demons was such a cathartic experience for me. It was also bittersweet having to say goodbye to these characters I have come to love so deeply. I started this journey of Blood and Darkness four years ago, and as I typed the last sentence to complete the trilogy, a wonderful sense of joy and accomplishment came over me. And I couldn’t have done it without all of you.
Thank you to Tina Moss and Yelena Casale, my publishers at City Owl Press. You have made this entire publishing process warm and welcoming. I’m so happy to be part of the City Owl family.
To my editor, Amanda Roberts, thank you for your hard work and dedication to me and my books. As you venture out, I wish you the best of luck and success in your new endeavors. It’s been an extreme pleasure working with you.
Thank you to my fellow City Owls for welcoming me into the family and showing me the ropes. Thank you to all of the amazing people in the Author’s 18 community. Your support and guidance have made all the difference in this journey.
To my wonderful family, thank yo
u for everything. To my mom, Linda Campbell, you are an inspiration. You have always encouraged me to be independent, creative, and to go after my dreams. To my dad, Giovanni Sercia, your love and support means everything. Thank you for always making me laugh and for keeping me humble. To my beautiful sister, Jennifer Sercia, we have always been each other’s biggest fans and closest confidantes. We root for each other and support each other, no matter what. Thank you for always being on my side. I love all of you so much.
Thank you to my wonderful aunt, Charlene Deaver, Uncle John Deaver, and my cousin, Kathleen. Thank you for rooting for me and supporting me all of these years. My heart is full.
To my best friend, Renee Infelise, thank you for your amazing friendship. No matter how far apart we are in miles, we are always there for each other and that means everything to me. Thank you for believing in me and being a part of this journey.
Thank you to the amazing and fabulous Julie Brooks, Serena DeWinter, and Brennan Kennedy. We might not see each other every day, but your friendship and love surpasses the time spent apart. Thank you for your endless support and encouragement. You are the best friends a girl could ever ask for.
Thank you to the Driels family, Jenny, Morris, Fiona, and Joanne. Over the past eight years, you have welcomed me into your family and your hearts and I’m very blessed to know you. Thank you for your kindness and support.
I want to give a special thank you to my readers. Thank you for taking this journey of Blood and Darkness with me. It was really important to me to tell this story and I’m so happy you all came along for the ride. While this particular series has concluded, I have more stories to tell in the Blood and Darkness universe, and I hope you will join me on that journey too.
Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank the love of my life, Chris Driels. When you came into my life eight years ago, I knew that you were special and it didn’t take me long to fall in love with you. You have always had my back and have always encouraged me to go after what I want. Thank you for being by my side through everything. I love you so much.
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