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“I just watched how hard it was for you to say goodbye to your sister and mom,” Diana saysquietly. “So we’re not going to do that. I love you both, but I’ll see you in a few days.”

Diana and Celeste wrap me into a group hug, and I can’t help smiling. I love how well my friends know me.

“Do you think you can convince your dad to bring me with you when you go to Olympus?” Celeste asks as we watch Diana join Melody and Warren.

I shrug. “I have no idea, but I’m willing to ask.”

I can feel my mates crowding around us as Nyx, Erebus, and a slew of reapers and harpies appear out of nowhere.

Mom and Wren try to step through the gate first, but Octavius is having none of it. He steps in front of them, saying something I can’t hear before he and Gael step into the gate. Riggs keeps them there for a moment before leading them in.

Nyx and Erebus surround Diana, Melody, and Warren before leading them through the gate. As the harpies and reapers start into the gate, I consider walking away, but I can’t bring myself to.

It’s not until the last person steps through and Lucifer shuts the gates that my body gives up on me. Donovan catches me easily as I collapse.

“Let me and Nex walk you back to your place,” Brenden tells Celeste, who’s giving me a worried look.

I wave her off, watching as two of my mates lead her toward her apartment.

I’m so tired. All I can think about is taking a nap while my mates hold me.

For today, I’ll allow myself to be weak, but tomorrow is the beginning of the rest of my life.

Tomorrow, I will learn what being the heir to hell means.

Excuse me. I meant the heir to the underworld.

I can’t fucking wait.

Epilogue

Donovan

Two years later

Istalk into our house, already stripping off the security uniform I’ve been wearing all day. I hate having to wear it, but when I told Wraith I wanted a job at the academy, he gave me one—I just didn’t know that being the head of security would mean I would need to wear a uniform.

Rather than complain, I put it on every day. Then, when I get home, I take it off as quickly as possible. I’ve heard Wraith or one of the others complain about tripping over them, but they usually just pick them up and put them into the dirty clothes.

Voices filter through the house, coming from what we’ve dubbed the family room, which encompasses the kitchen, dining room, and living room.

Not caring that I’m wearing nothing more than my boxer briefs, I step down the hallway and into the family room. I smile when I see Audrey sitting at the table with Athelina, Claudia, and Laurel. They’ve become regulars around here, which has pleased Cassian greatly. And unlike Lucifer, who just pops in whenever he wants, the three of them always call before they stop in for a visit.

You’d think that after the last time Lucifer popped in while we were running a train with all of Audrey’s mates, he would stop. Especially after complaining that he’d need to bleach both his eyes and brain, but he still keeps doing it. He likes to say it’s our fault because we shouldn’t be having sex all over the house, but it’s not like he has room to talk.

Unlike him, we’ve learned our lesson about popping into his house randomly. Not only do we call or text, but we also only shadow walk to his front door and knock from there. I didn’t think Audrey was going to recover after we saw something we weren’t meant to.

These days, Lucifer is way too busy to pop in too often, so that’s a plus.

“For Lucifer’s sake. Put some damn pants on, Donovan.” Audrey lays her head in her hands as she shakes her head.

“Oh, it’s quite alright,” Athelina says with a smirk. “I have no problems with him walking around just like that.”

I grin at her before my eyes land back on my mate, who looks like she’s ready to murder her aunt-in-law. Grimacing, I head for the stairs. “Sorry, pretty girl. I’ll just get changed really quickly.”

“And grab your clothes you left lying everywhere, please.”

At her words, I veer back the way I came and grab my discarded clothes—even setting my boots neatly by the door before hurrying up the stairs. I jump in the shower for a quick rinse, surprised I haven’t seen anyone else. While I’m rarely the last one home, I’m never the first.