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“You can do this,” I said. “Just stay strong and remember the reason why you’re doing it, but also, stick up for yourself and don’t let anyone walk all over you. Make your own decisions.”

He nodded.

“And don’t do the hand thing on people if they don’t deserve it,” I added for good measure.

He cracked a smile. “You know you should stay, right?”

I looked down, then back at Anna. “Yeah, I know,” I said. “If I never see you guys again, thank you for everything,” Bexley said.

I sprinted back to the masked creature and my painting as we all watched Bexley step into his painting, becoming an oil portrait as he went to start his new life in the human realm.

“Now it’s your turn,” the rabbit said to Walter, Eletha, and Anna.

“Wait,” I said, not ready for them to go. “Don’t I need them to get past this tier?”

“No. Though your friends and I have helped you along the way, you are the one who decides what you’ve learned or not. You’re the only one who can decide.”

Again, the voice tickled the back of my mind.

“The three may go,” the rabbit said, dismissing them. “Wait!” I shouted again .

The rabbit let out a huff, putting its hand on its hip, causing me to tilt my head—something about that movement seemed familiar. “It’s time for them to go. Once you complete this realm, you too may go to your destination—the Elysian Fields,” it said, waving a hand toward the portrait.

My heart pounded. Decisions swirled in my head. “How do I leave?”

“That’s for you to decide.”

“Pride,” I repeated, though I didn’t need to. I knew exactly what I needed to do.

“Please leave, or I will make you leave,” the rabbit said to the others.

Walter began to step through the painting. “Wait,” I shouted again. “I know who you are.”

The room stilled. In a fit of stupidity and bravery, I snatched the mask off the creature, nearly falling back when I saw who it was. The others gasped in unison.

“You’re one of the sisters,” I said, recognizing the woman as part of the trio that made up the Fates.

She smiled.

“Why are you here?” I asked, confusion racing through me. “You could say I’m everywhere,” she answered, looking at me intently.

“You said you helped me through the tiers. How?”

She undid the clasp of her black cloak, removed it, and unbuttoned something by her leg, jumping to the ground off a pair of stilts that had made her appear much taller.

My mouth dropped open, wondering how this would play out.

“You didn’t possibly think the tiers were so easy on everyone, did you?” she asked.

“Why would you help me?” I asked. “I haven’t done what you asked of me. Are you here to make me give Anna the pendant?” I clutched it tightly.

“I’m here because you helped me in Moirai when you didn’t need to. You helped me when it wasn’t a part of your destiny. ”

I recalled when Mendax, not knowing who she was, had beaten the crap out of her and I had taken her to get help, believing the whole time she was just a girl.

We stared at each other for a moment.

“You already know what you need to do. The biggest trouble in life is not in knowing what needs to be done but in doing it.” She nodded at the pendant.

My grip tightened. “Is it true that I will lose my connection to Cal and Mendax if I lose the pendant?”

“I’m afraid so,” she said solemnly. “But if it makes you feel any better…I was the one who arranged that special trick with the connection. You’re welcome.” She smiled.

“Does that mean that I’m no longer tied to the pendant? To the magic?”

“You’re still tied to the magic. And likewise, whoever reclaims the magic of the pendant—and may I remind you, there can only be one.” Her eyes shifted to Anna before returning to me. “You will have a deep connection forever and always with them, no matter where you are.”

I looked at the painting of the Elysian Fields, seeing friends I hadn’t seen in ages. I removed the pendant from my neck, and the Fate’s face lit up, though she didn’t say a word. I let out a deep breath, unable to believe what I was about to do.

“There’s just one thing I have to do,” I said, my eyes welling up with tears.

‘Cal, Mendax,’ I reached out.

‘You okay?’ It was Cal.

‘What’s going on?’ said Mendax.

‘I need to say goodbye.’

What? Cal said.

‘It’s time. I’m giving Anna the pendant and her powers. Cal, I’m in love with her,’ I said, grinning like an idiot.

‘Well, good riddance,’ said Mendax.

‘I can’t believe I won’t ever get to talk to you again,’ Cal said.

‘I know it feels like that, but it’s not true. When loved ones die, we don’t ever go away. Even if you can’t talk to us, we will always be there,’ I said, my heart swelling painfully .

‘I don’t think I ever stopped missing you,’ Cal said.

‘It’s okay to miss someone. It means they’re still with you. Tell Tarani that I love her, and, Mendax, keep an eye on her for me, ‘I said to the both of them. ‘Goodbye, Cal, thank you for everything. Mendax, be good to her.’

‘Of course,’ he said.

And with that, I closed the bond for the last time. I turned around and strode to the other side of the room. “Anna.”

“Yes,” she said, eyeing the pendant, her eyes wide.

I cleared my throat. “This belongs to you. I want you to have it. I should have given it to you the moment I arrived in Tartarus and not let my pride get in the way. No one has ever deserved to hold the power that comes with this more than you.”

She slowly held out her hand, tears welling in her eyes. “You’re giving me the pendant?”

I nodded, my own eyes filling with tears.

“But then you will be tied to me forever, and you will not be here,” she said, her last words carrying a hint of question.

“You’re right,” I said, dropping the pendant into her hand and closing her fingers around it, feeling the weight of carrying such a burden lifted. “You’re going to be amazing as Queen of the Underworld.” I wiped a tear from her cheek with my thumb.

Her tears started to flow faster, and it was too hard to look at her. Walter nodded in appreciation, and Eletha squeezed my shoulder.

“It’s time for them to go,” said the Fate.

Reluctantly, I returned to my place in front of the portal to the Elysian Fields—my so-called escape from everything horrible and awful, though it didn’t really feel that way.

Anna unscrewed the top of the pendant. Gold vines lifted off the small glass vial. “Feuhn kai greeyth,” she said, reading the edge.

“Eternal love and friendship,” I said with watering eyes. Tears flowed down her face. “It’s fitting,” she said solemnly .

Suns, I didn’t want her to cry. Seeing the sadness in her eyes felt like it would tear me apart.

As soon as the bottle opened, a faint cloud of pale pink lifted out and straight into Anna’s nose. She began coughing, dropping the pendant. I moved to run to her, but the Fate grabbed my forearm, stopping me.

When Anna lifted her head, she wore the second-biggest smile I had ever seen on her face.

“As soon as you return to Eromreven and leave the tiers, your full powers will be restored,” the Fate said.

Anna clapped her hands over her mouth, tears still flowing as if she couldn’t believe what had happened. Her eyes found mine, and the smile dropped.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Congratulations,” said the sister. And I had to turn away to keep from fully breaking down.

I took a deep breath, my heart racing. The portal shimmered behind me, the Elysian Fields waiting just beyond. With one last look at Anna, her tears of joy mixing with sorrow, I stepped forward, ready to embrace whatever came next for me.

“Just as I knew you would, you have passed the tenth tier of Pride in giving Anna the pendant. You have shown that pride does not rule you.” The Fate smiled.

I nodded, unable to speak.

“Say your goodbyes, and you all may leave.”

Walter approached me, pulling me into a tight hug. “Don’t take any shit from your mother,” he said with a grin, his eyes filling with tears as he patted my shoulders. “I’ll watch out for her, I promise.”

I nodded. “You’ve been a good friend, Walter. Thank you,” I somehow managed to get out.

Eletha surprised me, coming up behind me and hugging my back. As soon as Walter moved, she stepped in front and squeezed me so tightly, I felt one of my ribs pop.

“You’re a good man,” she said, a smile on her face. “It’s a shame you can’t come with us to Eromreven. Now Anna will have to end up with one of the Unseelie,” she said with a wink.

She and Walter each gave me one last hug and returned to their painting. Anna remained unmoved, waiting to see if I would go to her.

I dropped my head and turned my back to her, unable to.

The Fate held her hand out, motioning for me to step into the portal to the Elysian Fields.

“Wait a minute,” I said. “Are you not disappointed that she’s not returning to Moirai to ascend?”

The Fate smiled. “Foolish of you to assume our directions are the plan.” She winked.

I nodded, feeling somewhat duped, but knowing it was something I shouldn’t be surprised about.

Without a second look, I stretched my foot out, stepping into the Elysian Fields.

The moment my foot moved into the portrait, I felt the warm sun hit the top of my boot and stepped inside.

As soon as my face pushed through, I saw the real-life faces of everyone I had expected to see.

I waited for the happy feelings of home I’d missed so much to hit me, but instead I was met with grimaces and scowls that reminded me of times with each person I’d tried to forget.

My mother appeared to walk across a golden cloud with my brother, Langmure, at her side.

My body tensed with panic, and as I looked around at the beautiful golden paradise, I realized that it didn’t really matter where I was, what it looked like, as long as the people I loved were there.

I pushed my weight off of my front foot and sprung back out of the painting.

“Wait a second,” I said to the grinning face of the conniving Fate sister as I began to put the puzzle pieces together. “So you did all of this on purpose? All of it?”

“That’s Fate,” she said with a wink. “We put people where they’re supposed to go even when it doesn’t feel like it.”

I backed away from the portrait. “I’m not going to the Elysian Fields,” I said, looking at her.

She leaned in conspiratorially. “I know,” she whispered .

“I’m staying in Tartarus,” I said, surprised at the relief I felt at the words.

I couldn’t help but feel like a complete idiot for not seeing what was so obvious this whole time.

I’d been so busy fighting to fulfill my destiny of staying in the Elysian Fields, I’d missed seeing the beauty and opportunity right in front of my face.

I’d been fighting my feelings for Anna so I could follow my fate when being with her was my fate the entire time.

I couldn’t help but feel like I’d been given a second chance at life all over again, only this time, I wouldn’t fight it.

She leaned in again. “I know that too.” “You’re what?” Anna said from behind me. I spun around and walked to her.

“But you hate it here,” she said. “You’ll never be happy here, and then you’ll never be happy with me.”

I grabbed hold of her hands. “I could be happy with you anywhere,” I whispered.

“But the Elysian Fields, your fate,” she stammered.

“We decide our own fates, and I’m deciding to stay with you,” I said, sparing a glance at the Fate and wrapping my arms around Anna, refusing to let go.

I would never let her go again. She leaned back with the largest smile I’d ever seen on her face, and I vowed then and there to see that smile as frequently as possible.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” I said. “Besides, I can’t leave Thistle behind. She is most definitely too cute to leave the realm without. Do you…?” I trailed off, not wanting to ask.

“Do I what?” she whispered into my ear as she tightened her arms around my neck, holding me tightly.

I kissed her. “Do you think with all that new power of yours, you might be able to do something about the sun in Tartarus?” I said, squinting at her.

Her eyes filled with love and happiness. “I promise I can do something.”

Refusing to let Anna go, I said goodbye to the Fate, thanking her for everything she had done.

I knew, had it not been for her persuading me to let Mendax and Cal stay together and take the pendant to Anna, I never would have found myself here, in Tartarus, with a group of friends and the love of my life—or death.

Relieved to finally be leaving the tiers, the four of us stepped into Eromreven, where I was met with the most frightening challenge yet.

Telling Kaohs I was madly in love with his daughter.