Page 34 of The Survivors (The Children of the Sun God #4)

Lena

“From frayed tents to carved dreams, this house is more than walls—it’s the promise of everything we never dared to hope for.”

“There’s room for everyone until you can build your own home,” Isaak tells Colin before opening the door to the place he built for the family he hoped to have one day.

“Thank you, Isaak. I don’t know how we will ever repay you,” Colin says with his head bowed.

“Repay me by making your momma proud.”

He’s already done that. He tore himself from Ioannis and Ambrose’s clutches. He found his mate, whom Helios blessed. He never stopped fighting against becoming the monster Ambrose wanted him to become.

“Let me show you around.”

The door creaks open, and I suck in a deep breath at what’s in front of me .

Sunlight streams through wide, open windows, bathing the wooden floors in a golden glow. The scent of fresh cedar mingles with something faintly sweet—lavender, perhaps—like Isaak had prepared the space just for this moment.

It was a home built with love. I saw that immediately. The smooth, clean walls look solid and safe—nothing like the patched canvas of the tents Colin, Serafim, and I had lived in for all our lives. Those tents, with their frayed edges and sagging poles, barely kept the rain out during storms, and the cold always found its way in during the long, bitter nights.

“Come. See what I built for us,” Isaak says invitingly.

He leads us to the kitchen, and my eyes widen. The polished countertops gleam, reflecting the light of a single hanging lantern. Hand-crafted cabinets line the walls. I run my fingers over the beautiful designs carved into the doors.

“Did you do this yourself?” I ask.

“Carving is a hobby of mine,” Isaak tells us with pride.

There is a large basin sink. Its brass fixtures shine like they’ve never been touched by dirt or rust. And the oven—oh, the oven! A place to bake real bread, not the charred lumps they’d managed over open flames, proudly sits in the corner.

Serafim darts forward, and his fingers brush the surface of the table. “This is where we’ll eat?” he asks, trembling with awe.

Isaak nods, and his expression warms. “Every meal, together.”

He leads us down a short hallway, opening the first door to reveal a bedroom. It was small but cozy with walls painted a soft, calming shade. A bed big enough for two sits neatly in the corner. A vibrant and thick quilt covers the mattress—more comfortable than I have ever dared to imagine. A wooden chest rests at the foot of the bed, waiting to be filled.

“There’s one for each of you,” Isaak says. He opens another door to show a similar room, though this one has a pair of small beds. Serafim immediately climbs onto one, bouncing lightly on the mattress as if to make sure it was real.

“Is this for me?” he whispers softly.

“It’s all yours, Serafim.” Isaak’s eyes shine with his declaration. “Soon we will fill it with toys.”

“Really? How soon?”

Isaak throws his head back and laughs. “After we are all comfortable.”

Colin stands in the doorway, clutching Circe’s hand tightly. “This is… this is a dream,” he murmurs, shaking his head. “We’ve lived with the earth beneath us and the stars above for so long… I don’t know if I can get used to this.”

“You’ll adjust,” Circe tells him with a smile.

My throat tightens with emotion, and I glance at Isaak. This wasn’t just a house—it was a promise. A sanctuary for our family, who had spent our lives fighting to survive. “It’s beautiful,” I whisper.

Isaak’s gaze melts. “It’s not much, but it’s a start.”

My heart swells and I shake my head. “It’s everything.”

Serafim’s laughter echoes down the hallway as he bounces from bed to bed in his new room. Colin lingers by the doorframe, running his hand over the smooth wood.

“I’ll let you three get settled,” Isaak says gently. “Come with me, Lena. There’s more to see.”

I hesitate, glancing back at Colin, who nods reassuringly. My heart warms more as I follow Isaak down the hallway.

He pushes open a door at the end, and I step into a room larger than I expected. This bedroom is simple, yet beautiful. The bed looks like it could comfort me through anything. The headboard is intricately carved like the kitchen cabinets with flowing patterns—the kind of detail that only came from hands pouring love into their work.

A plush rug stretches across the floor. The soft and inviting weave is the opposite of the cold dirt floors that I’m used to.

“This…” My voice falters as I take it all in. “This is yours?”

“Ours,” Isaak corrects tenderly, meeting my eyes with his.

My stomach flips at the word, and I pretend to study the dresser on the far wall. I walk over and run my hand over its surface. The smooth wood cools my fingers. “It’s… perfect.”

“There’s more,” he announces, gesturing to another door on the side of the room.

Curious, I follow him into the adjoining bathroom. For a moment, I can only stand in the doorway, stunned.

The bathroom is like nothing I’d ever seen. A large clawfoot tub with gleaming brass fixtures sits beneath a small window.

Nearby, a washbasin rests on a sturdy stand with a mirror above it—clear and polished, not the cracked shards I was used to.

A small shelf holds neatly folded towels. The fabric thick and soft—a far cry from the threadbare rags I had known.

“There’s running water,” Isaak says almost hesitantly, as though he thought it might overwhelm me.

My brow furrows in disbelief. “Running water?” I repeat. “I don’t have to carry buckets of water anymore,” I mumble under my breath.

“Never again, Lena. Never again.”

He steps forward, turning a small lever on the sink. A steady stream of clean water pours out.

My hand flies to my mouth, and I gasp. “You’ve made a home fit for a king.”

Isaak chuckles, stepping closer to me. “No, Lena. I made a home fit for a family. For you. For my queen.”

With misty eyes, I turn to him. “I don’t deserve this.”

“You deserve more than this,” Isaak says firmly. He reaches out, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. “You and Colin and Serafim deserve a place where you can be safe. Where you can dream.”

My throat tightens. A single tear slips down my cheek, and I nod.

Isaak lets his hand fall, stepping back to give me space. “Take your time. This is your home now.”

I glance around the room once more. My heart swelling with emotions I can’t yet name.