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Above us, a crack forms in the darkness and through it, I see the glimmer of stars. We’re soaring upward, and I don’t look back.

Chapter 53

Love Interrupted

Iwas pretty sure we were about to crash into the ceiling of Hell, but at the last moment, the crack widened, and I could see whole constellations. The air is filled with the beating of wings and Grimlet’s soft whimper close to my ear. I don’t think he likes flying. At least not clutched in a dragon’s claws.

Then we’re through and flying across a starlit sky. It’s pretty dark, and I don’t recognize where we are, but from the constellations, I think we’re on Valandria. There’s a faint light in the distance that might be the city. I hope so; I can’t wait to see Zayne and Josh. Tell them it’s over, that good times are coming.

It seems the gods came through after all.

It’s slowly dawning on me that we fucking did it. Not only that; we did itandwe managed to survive. I try to imagine a life where my imminent death isn’t an almost certainty. A life with Khaos. It doesn’t seem real. From the time I remember, I’ve always known my destiny, and while no one said it outright, I also knew that no one really expected me to live through it.

And yet here I fucking am.

And Khaos is a freaking dragon, and I love him.

I have a small bleak moment when I think of Hecate. But like my father, I don’t think she was ever coming back from what she had done. Some things are beyond redemption. I believe she loved me, in her own way, but she was fixated on an earlier love that only ever existed in her own mind. She’s gone now. At peace, I hope, but I just don’t know. If I ever meet Selene again, I will make a point to ask her what happens to us when we die. One thing I know for certain—we’re not going to Hell!

I throw back my head and laugh.

Am I a little hysterical? Oh, yeah. But for a little while, I can be anything I want.

I’m trying not to think about Khronus. Because now I know that my father wasn’t the bad guy in all this. Khronus is. And he needs to pay. But that’s a problem for another day.

I think I deserve a little vacation first. Maybe Khaos would like a week-long all-inclusive vacation in Hawaii. Lazing on the beach, swimming in the sea. Drinking cocktails and eating lots, and nobody dying.

Grimlet tugs on my hair, and I come out of my daydream.

I glance down. So far, I’ve just been so euphoric about escaping certain death in Hell that I haven’t thought much about the fact that I’m clutched in a dragon’s pointy claws and dangling a long way above the ground. I trust Khaos, but this is the first time he’s been a dragon. I hope he doesn’t drop us.

We’re coming up to the city, and it looks like they’re getting ready for a big battle. Fires flicker on the outskirts, lighting up the lines of soldiers facing each other. Khaos circles us over, taking a good look. I wish I could ask him to put us down first. I’d hate to survive the destruction of Hell only to be splattered at Thanouq’s feet. But I don’t think he can hear me from here.

There are thousands of soldiers facing Thanouq’s dwindling army. But no shadowguard. Have they all gone now that the magic that sustained them has been destroyed? I hope so. I hope they are at peace.

Finally, Khaos rises again and heads toward the city itself and the Mirador. He hovers above the tower, opens his claws, and I drop—not so gently—to the floor. My legs give way, and I collapse in an undignified heap. Grimlet has had enough. He jumps off me and climbs the parapet to perch on the edge in a very gargoyle-like manner. Then, a moment later, magic shivers through the air and Khaosti is back.

I close the space between us, wrap my arms around him, and rest my head on his chest. I feel his hands stroking my back, and I melt into him.

“We’re alive,” I murmur into his chest and feel him chuckle. “Don’t laugh,” I say. “I just never expected to be alive at this point.”

“I’m glad you’re alive,” he says.

“Me too. I have a long list of things I want to do.”

“I hope they involve me.”

I step back, look up into his face, and waggle my eyebrows in what I hope is a suggestive manner. “They do.”

He chuckles again. He’s such a light-hearted guy. I wonder how long it will last. Then he stops laughing, cups my face, and stares down into my eyes. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Then he lowers his head and kisses me. His lips are warm and firm, then hard and urgent, and his hot tongue thrusts into my mouth as he backs me up against the wall and—

Something hits me on the shoulder. I open my eyes and find Grimlet scowling on the parapet. He threw a stone at me.

But he’s probably right. There will be enough time for that now. Lots of time.