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Katana went to Thane and wrapped him in a hug again. He held her tightly to his chest and closed his eyes. It was wonderful to see they both had someone to love and comfort in hard times even if it didn’t take away the pain of loss, it helped with the sting.

The four gods and goddesses who came to their rescue rode up beside them. Marching in a line behind them were the surrendered enemy soldiers with their hands bound behindtheir backs and warriors from Villhara guiding them in the direction of the portal in the unnamed forest.

Zaelia, Hel’s mother, was the first to dismount. And the others followed. It was…. shocking to see them all here.

Firstly, she thought Hel’s mother was trapped in the underrealm, and she hadn’t seen the others in thousands of years. Thane’s—or War’s father, rather—hadn’t helped them when the council sentenced them to die the first time; no one did. Era never involved himself in any conflicts. Elora was the only one of them that had previously aided them. She was the goddess who helped Hel get more powerful, and the same one who told Valeen how to wake him.

Zaelia stared at Hel more in surprise than in a loving way. As a mother who hadn’t seen her child in so long, she supposed it would be surreal. “Zaurahel,” she said softly as if his name was a prayer. Her gaze shifted to Thane. “And War. I am so happy to see you both.”

“What are you all doing here?” Valeen blurted out. They all looked amongst each other. “I am eternally grateful, but I just don’t understand. Where did our people come from? House of Night was destroyed.”

“It was destroyed long ago.” Elora nodded. It was strange seeing her now knowing who she truly was. This was the goddess who’d taught the primordials how to write and had opened the portals to the other worlds. She was there with Valeen and Katana at the beginning. “And it’s a tragedy we shouldn’t have allowed. Hel and War are also my blood.” Elora’s reddish-gold locks waved all around her. She patted her gray horse’s neck. “I stood by last time and let this happen. I swore I wouldn’t do it again. It was my daughter’s idea to gather all that was left of your people. Many of them were under our care and we never let them forget.”

“Well, thank you,” Thane interjected. “One day we will repay you for this. You saved my people.”

“You consider yourself an elf now?” Balneir looked confused. The twins had the same black hair and blue-green eyes against soft ivory skin.

“It is what I am, Father.”

Balneir smiled. “Well, you’re always my son and are welcome to come home to Runevale whenever you wish. I regret I couldn’t do more to help you and Zaurahel sooner. With the portals closed, I was limited.” He smiled at Hel now. “How is my nephew?”

“I am glad this is over.” He walked over to Valeen’s side and put his arm around her shoulder. “Thank you all for finding our people and bringing them here today. We would have lost otherwise.”

Era hadn’t taken his gaze off Hel since they’d stopped beside them. There was a curious look on his face as he inspected him, but he finally tore his eyes from him. “Katana, is it truly you? I did see you in a vision, but it didn’t seem possible.”

She beamed at him. “It is, Era. It’s wonderful to see you. Thank you for helping us.”

Hel cleared his throat. “I’m glad to see that you’re not actually in the underrealm, Zaelia.”

With pinched brows, Zaelia looked confused. “You know I was in the underrealm? It was long ago… how could you know that?”

“I had the unfortunate opportunity to go there recently—it’s a story for another time. The demon said you’d traded yourself… for me.”

She pursed her lips and glanced at Era. “I did once. Five hundred years in the underrealm was the price to set you free, which I agreed to. But thankfully Era was able to get me out in half the time.”

Everyone was quiet for a moment. The things she must have gone through and seen… Hel rubbed the back of his neck. “You spent two hundred and fifty years in the underrealm? Because I was stupid and went there?”

With a deep inhale, she lifted her chin. “Even if I didn’t raise you, I love you as a mother does. And yes, I did, and I would do it again for you. But once I got out, I wasn’t myself for a long time.”

“It took many years to recover her mind,” Era added. “Or she would have wanted to be in your life sooner. You were already gone by the time she was ready.”

“I know I wasn’t a mother to you, and you don’t owe me anything. I found myself scared and pregnant with someone I had only been with once at a party. Nothing was ever supposed to come of it... I regret to this day that I left you with my brother, even if he was good to you. I hope one day you can forgive me. And I don’t need an answer here and now. I just want you to know I’d like to be in your life.”

Hel ran his hand through his hair, breathed deeply and said nothing. She felt the unease coming off him. Like he wanted to be grateful but also didn’t trust her.

“Who is Hel’s father?” Valeen asked. If it was a brief encounter with a male at a party, and she did that sort of thing often, it was possible she didn’t know.

She glanced at Era once again.

“I’m your father, Zaurahel.” Era’s voice was soft for how large of a male he was. At first glance they looked nothing alike. Era had short, wavy auburn hair and tanned, freckled skin. He had a wide jaw and thinner lips, but upon inspecting him closer, Valeen did see the resemblance; they had the same nose and eye shape, although in coloring and most other features Hel looked like his mother and uncle. “And like your mother said, you don’t owe us anything, but we did owe you. The council is finished.The primordials will take back rule on Runevale, as we should have done long ago.”

With his brows raised, Hel swallowed hard. He took hold of her hand and squeezed it.My father is not a demon prince after all.

Out of all their discussions of who they guessed his father was, Era was never a choice. They suspected it was someone powerful, given his gifts, but not Era. Valeen knew him; he was soft-spoken, quiet, kept to himself, and didn’t like fighting or conflict. They were such polar opposites in personality, she never would have surmised. It was also strange that he’d never claimed him as his son before this. The gods, Era included, liked to have powerful children, and Hel was likely the strongest of all his heirs. Which made her suspect Zaelia hadn’t told him for many years.

One day they would learn her story.

The sweet smell of his civar smoke drifted on the air. She looked up at him, his face was unreadable, something torn between relief and sadness. Dried blood was smattered across his cheek. He held the civar between his lips and let smoke roll out.