Page 5

Chapter Five

The crowd erupted in cheers and screams as I fell to my knees, my magic beyond expended. I started to fall to my back, but Jol caught me with an arm around my upper back.

“Well done, Goddess,” he whispered.

“Not so bad yourself, King Jolmach,” I whispered back, smiling as much as I could. It had been a long time since I’d felt so utterly exhausted and weak. In fact, I couldn’t feel my magic … at all. “Why aren’t you exhausted?” I asked, trying to distract myself.

“Because you simply took magic from me and others. I was just a conduit,” he explained.

Mom scooped me out of Jol’s arms, hugged me to her chest, and sobbed loudly. “Lily! You did it! I’m so proud of you!”

Dad patted my head and smiled wide as he said, “I always knew you would accomplish great things. Becoming a goddess is totally a dramatic flair that fits you.”

Kayden took me from Mom’s arms and rested a hand against my cheek. “You scared ten years off my life.”

Mason and Trey knelt on either side of me. Mason set his head against my shoulder and exhaled harshly. “I think twenty off of mine.”

Trey smiled and patted my other shoulder. “You never cease to amaze me, my beautiful mate.”

“Glad to keep you all on your toes,” I teased.

Dhun whined and I pushed away my mates to hug him, being careful of his spines. “Thank you, friend. You helped win this war and ensure casualties were minimal.”

He vibrated his spines and yipped happily. Once I released him, he walked over and sniffed at the silver lily that had grown and looked back at me.

Jol walked to it, knelt, and gently touched one petal. “You really were the prophesized one.”

Mom and Dad knelt to examine the flower as well.

“It’s full of magical power,” Dad commented.

“You think it’s safe to leave here?” Mom asked.

Dad tried to pull the flower from the ground and was thrown back by a powerful magical explosion.

I gasped and started to stand to go to him, but he hopped to his feet and shook his entire body, like a dog shaking off water. “Yeah, no one’s going to be able to move that.” His hair stood on end, looking like he’d been electrocuted.

Laughter bubbled out of me until I was on my hands and knees laughing so hard tears streamed down my face.

Nana Jolie, Great Aunt Leona, and all of their mates joined us, joining my laughter soon after hearing what happened to Dad.

Wiping my eyes, I turned to Mom and requested, “Mom, can you create a portal?”

“Where are you going?” Mason demanded and hovered at my shoulder as I stood, his hands moving erratically, like he was worried I was going to fall.

To be fair, I did wobble a little as I straightened, so the worry was not unfounded.

“The demons here need to return to their world and Jol and I need to go check on things,” I explained. “With the Grand Advisor gone, we need to assess the world with fresh eyes. To see where things stand. Where the people stand. To see what’s actually real.”

“You need rest,” Talrinir said as she approached us. “The females will assist King Jolmach in assessing the status of our world.”

Azgon joined us, nodding. “You’re not in any shape to face any further challenges. You have done more than enough today.”

Mom created a portal to the castle. “Use the stone to communicate when you are ready to meet,” she told Jol. “We will begin the steps to draft a peace treaty agreement so we can figure out a trade agreement and develop identification for your people to be able to visit here without issue.”

Jol’s eyes widened. “You will allow us to visit here?”

Nana Jolie and her mates had joined us at my back and Nana said, “Of course we will.” I turned to look at her and she smiled softly as she added, “You are my granddaughter’s people, after all.”

My eyes welled with tears, and I threw my arms around her neck, sniffling loudly. “Nana.”

She patted my back and whispered, “You did great today, Lily. You showed the world what you are capable of. Well done.”

“I will be in touch,” Jol said. I turned to face him and he bowed to me. “Goddess.”

I would need to convince him to stop calling me that, but that wasn’t a fight for today. “Your Majesty,” I said and returned his bow. I started to stumble a step forward, but Trey wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me up so it hid my stumble.

Maya pushed her way through, my brother, Jaeden, and elf Tony on her heels. She hugged me tight and sniffled. “I was so scared you were going to explode.”

Laughing, I patted her back and said, “Me, too.”

“What?” Kayden shouted. “You thought you were going to explode, too?”

“For a second,” I admitted. “There was so much power in me, like that time the shadows exploded out of me.” The biggest worry had been for those nearest me.

Kayden growled. “Why do you insist on stressing us so much?”

“I think you just need to be more like Trey,” I teased.

Trey looked down at me, his arm tightening a bit around my waist. “Like me?”

I nodded. “You’re always so calm and collected.”

He scoffed and shook his head. “I was just as freaked out as Kayden. I’m just not as vocal about it.”

Kayden rolled his eyes. “He shouldn’t get brownie points for having repressed emotions.”

Mason snorted. “Yeah, we all know you’d win that battle.”

“What?” Kayden shouted. “Who are you to talk about repressed emotions, bird brain?”

Laughter bubbled up and spilled out of me as my mates bickered with each other. Finally, it was over.

We had won.

The weakness I felt was disturbing, but my people were safe, so that was all that mattered.

“Shall we return home?” Trey asked. “You are in desperate need of a shower.”

Looking down, I realized he was right. I was covered in dirt, blood, and debris.

Dhun yipped bye, and I raised my hand, watching him and the other demons go through the portal that Mom created.

Trey turned me away and we walked slowly towards our car.

Reporters shouted questions at us, but we ignored them, keeping our eyes focused on each other.

“I never would have thought there were multiple sirens,” he whispered. “How did you realize it?”

“It just seemed insane to me that one person could be so much more powerful than Nana and Great Aunt Leona. To make us see different events at the same time is especially what convinced me there had to be more than one of them.” It had been a guess, but it had paid off.

“I’m glad you’re on our side,” Kayden said. “That power was terrifying.”

Taking a breath, I realized that I couldn’t feel my shadow serpent at all. “It may be gone,” I admitted. “Something is gone.”

Mason shook his head. “You used up a lot of magic. I’m sure once you’re rested, you’ll feel her again.”

I hoped so.

“Can we have waffles?” I asked, my stomach grumbling hungrily.

“You can have whatever you want to eat,” Trey said. “You did save all of our lives.”

“What kind of mate would I be if I hadn’t?” I teased and leaned my head against his shoulder.

Once home and showered, I lay on the couch staring up at the ceiling. The battle was over, we’d defeated the Grand Advisor and his assistant.

Yet, I knew this was really where things were going to get complicated.

“You’re already stressing about tomorrow and you haven’t finished today,” Mason said as he knelt beside me. He pushed back some of my hair and kissed my cheek. “Live in the now.”

Sighing, I said, “It’s not that simple.”

“Dinner!” Trey called.

Mason gripped my hands and pulled me to my feet. “For today, let it be that simple.” His grip on my fingers tightened a moment and he whispered, “We almost lost you.”

Throwing my arms around his neck, I buried my face in the crook and whispered, “I thought I’d lost you, too.”

His arms encircled my waist, and he hugged me almost tight enough to bruise. “You’re too reckless.”

Scoffing, I whispered, “Pot meet kettle.”

We both laughed and I felt us both settle a bit more.

He was right, I needed to relax tonight and tomorrow I could face the new battles.

After eating, we lay on the couch to watch comedy movies. Several had come out recently and with my head on Trey’s thigh and my legs on Kayden’s lap, I felt myself fully relax for the first time.

Mason sat in front of me and I ran my fingers through his hair. It was a bonding moment we definitely needed.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

All three looked at me.

“For loving me. For being my mates. For trusting me during the battle.”

“We’re the ones who should thank you,” Kayden said. “For giving us a second chance.”

“Thank you for loving us,” Mason said and kissed the inside of my wrist.

Trey’s fingers traced down my jaw and he said, “Whether we deserve it or not, we are very thankful you accepted us.”

I scoffed. “As if there was ever any doubt.”

“Oh, there was,” Kayden said and Mason nodded.

“However, just know that we love you and we will spend the rest of our lives showing you that,” Trey said. He bent over and kissed my cheek. “I love you, Lily.”

My heart felt like it was soaring. “I love you three, too.”