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“We need to check on the others,” Wren says suddenly. “Mom and Dad. The horsemen. Your mates and friends.”

I nod. “You’re right. Let’s go find them.”

It doesn’t take us long, as they’re all gathered near where they were fighting earlier. There are many injured, but it doesn’t seem like anyone from our side is dead. Probably because I raised them from their deaths.

“Girls!” Mom yells as soon as her eyes land on us. “Thank the Fates you’re okay.”

We land in front of her, and I release my hold on my hellfire. Wren tucks away her wings, and if I didn’t know better, I’d swear they were never there. We wrap ourselves around Mom, the three of us clinging to one another until someone clears their throat behind us.

When we break apart, tears streak our faces, but I don’t give a fuck. Let everyone see the tears of joy I’m crying.

Lucifer is standing there, his eyes moving between the three of us. “I hear I have a necromancer and a phoenix for daughters? Both of you displayed an immense amount of power today. You’ll need to be trained.”

I roll my eyes. “Seriously? We just killed Michael, and the angels surrendered. I’d like to go home and take a bath. Rest with my mates for like a month before I worry about anything like training.”

“Unfortunately for us, that’s probably not going to happen,” he tells us with a sigh. “There’s so much that needs to be done to clean up the city so the mortals can return. You might have brought those on our side back from the dead, but there are many who need to be healed.”

I scoff. “Can’t someone else do that?”

“Most of it is going to land on me and the other gods, but we’ll need all hands on deck. Beyond Leyton, there’s so much we need to figure out.”

Lucifer continues to ramble on about the list of things that need to be done, but I tune him out as the rest of my mates join us. Turning my back on my family, I throw myself at the five of them. I’m passed from mate to mate as weexchange kisses and quiet words not meant for anyone else’s ears.

I’m sure my dad is going to be frustrated that I’m ignoring him, but I can’t find it in myself to care.

“Cassian?”

My mate goes taut beneath me, setting me on my feet as he turns toward the voice. There are three women standing before us, each of them beautiful and strangely familiar to me.

“Mom? Aunts?” Cassian’s knees hit the floor as he stares up at the women as they move toward us. “Are you really here?”

Holy shit. It’s the Fates, but how? I thought they were sleeping.

Chapter Twenty-three

Cassian

Ican barely believe my eyes as I stare up at my mom and aunts.

Are they truly here?

And if they are, how?

“My sweet boy.” Mom smiles softly, her hand cupping my cheek.

My eyes fall shut as my tears spill over. I can feel her hand on my cheek. It’s been so long since I felt her touch or heard her voice.

“I missed you so much,” I murmur, surging to my feet and wrapping my armsaround her.

She still feels small in my arms, but it’s been that way since I grew up. I’m over a foot taller than her and my aunts. They all hover right around five feet tall and petite in stature—although that’s easy to forget with the power they exude.

“How are you here?”

Mom pulls back, patting my chest, and I reluctantly release her. “The end of the battle woke us.”

I stare at her, trying to comprehend why the end of the battle would wake them. I might have inherited some of my mom’s abilities, but understanding the ominous choice of words isn’t one of them. She and my aunts are known for talking around a topic, never really giving an answer, and I’ve never been able to read between the lines with them.

“Umm…okay?”