Page 99

Based on the bleak expressions, they all could use some levity.

Merry can always be counted upon. Snuggling into Anger’s arms, she asks, “Does everyone know that myth about the stars shining their greatest?”

Vaguely, Envy recalls thinking about it sometime during their voyage. “The stars will shine their greatest when a deity asks for the truth.”

“But a deity will only receive the truth if he or she is ready to hear the answer,” Sorrow adds while fixated on the grass.

“And that immortal will only be ready to hear the answer if he or she is ready to change,” Merry finishes.

Andrew furrows his brow. “Okay, but what does it mean for the stars to shine their greatest?”

“Answer, and he’ll just ply us with a dozen more questions,” Love joshes, then nips Andrew’s ear. “Years ago, I do remember telling you to—”

“‘Pick your battles, you exhausting creature,’” he quotes in a dramatic voice, kissing her back. “How could I forget?”

“Maybe it means the stars will shine in an unforeseen manner,” Wonder theorizes.

“Or just blind the shit out of us,” Malice says.

“Or cast light from an uncharted perspective,” Anger ventures.

“Can we pick a subject that isn’t ninety-nine percent random?” Sorrow nags, earning a bunch of stale looks.

“You’re a regular ray of sunshine, aren’t you?” Malice remarks.

“Leave her alone,” Envy blusters.

“I don’t need you defending me,” Sorrow pecks at him.

“Is that right? What do you need, my nymph?” He snaps his fingers. “Ah, yes. Nothing at all.”

“What will everyone do, once we’re victorious?” Merry tries again.

That does the trick. Shoulders and heads lift in contemplation while the lantern flickers.

“Go home?” Andrew jokes sadly, while Love rests her head on his shoulder, their fingers threading.

By home, he means Ever. The mountain town where he used to live as a mortal—where he and Love also basked in their happy almost-ending during her temporary stint as a human.

“How you must miss it,” Merry says balefully. “Your family and friends.”

“Everyone,” Andrew’s voice cracks. “Every day.”

“Late night talks over tea with Miss Georgie,” Love says with wistful longing. “Making a home with her.”

“Working in the bookshop with her,” Andrew adds. “And breakfast with my stepdad.”

“Coffee with Holly and Griffin. We had a good life. A really good life.”

“We still do. It just lasts a little longer.”

Chuckling, they tangle themselves up. At least they’re making a good forever. It’s not without eternal pangs, but from what Envy sees, they’re succeeding.

“We’ll ride a carousel,” Merry says to Anger, who cradles her tighter.

“And listen to a record,” Anger replies.

“We’ll rebuild the Archives. And I’ll show you my house in the Astral Sea,” Wonder says to Malice, while resting her head in his lap. “Remember? I promised you that I would.”