Page 62 of Unbroken
Sebastian tightened his grip on Ves’s arm. “I remember. I hope…I hope you’ve changed your mind?”
Ves looked up into his hazel eyes, saw the concern there. The love.
Where would he be without Sebastian and the rest of the Rath family? Still miserable, still hating himself, still longing to be something he wasn’t?
Victoria had no one to support her. The WHS members could have taken her into their homes, shown her compassion, dedicated themselves to undoing what they’d wrought. Instead, they’d done the opposite. Left her to flee to the shadows, to grapple with her new body, with no one on her side. Even now, the thought made his heart ache.
“Yes,” he said, returning Sebastian’s loving gaze. “It’s been a journey, but yes. You, Bonnie, the children…you’ve given me so much. More than I can ever say.”
“We love you, angel.” Sebastian leaned down and gave him a soft kiss. They held each other for a long moment, then finished the maze in silence, holding hands.
The burned oleanders in the central circle had been trimmed back, probably by one of the Endicotts. The twisted wood that was all which remained of Victoria had taken root, and new leaves sprouted from her reaching fingers and the curl of horn. Just a tree now…or so he hoped. It didn’t seem possible any human consciousness could remain, but stranger things had happened. Either way, she was far beyond his help now.
Rupert sat on one of the benches, while Irene and Noct stood by the tree. Noct’s tentacles were entwined with its tentacle-like branches, and Ves smiled at the sight. At least this good had come of everything: they had a new sibling, and it had them.
“It does seem to be a lovely entity,” Sebastian observed. “Tree? Person?”
“Person,” Ves agreed. “And tree, of course.”
Rupert turned at the sound of their voices. “So, the last of the Books is safely tucked away in the library,” he said.
The Endicotts and Noct were scouring every forbidden tome they could get their hands on for some way to destroy the Books. They’d find something eventually. For now, with the Books newly Bound and stored away safely, there was no more urgency. The frantic race to find them before they could unleash some new horror was over.
With the School of Night defeated, Sebastian had casually suggested to Ves that they start looking for an apartment of their own, away from Bonnie and the children. Bonnie and Clara were no worse the wear from the spell, and the truth had been kept from Helen for now. She’d have to know eventually, but in the meantime, there was talk of one of the Endicotts taking over her sorcerous training, since she clearly had an aptitude.
Mother and Grandfather were still out there somewhere. Ves tried not to worry about them, tried not to lie awake at night wondering why Mother had intervened, and what she would ask of him in return.
As for Mr. Tubbs, learning Penelope wasn’t the paragon of all goodness had shaken him. He hadn’t returned to the library after they let him know Victoria was dead and Penelope avenged, but he had sent a brief letter of thanks. He was joining his widowed brother on a European tour, far away from Widdershins and its bad memories.
He’d be back, though. According to Sebastian, few people left Widdershins for long.
Irene’s delighted shriek distracted Ves from his thoughts. She had her hands clasped to her chest, her eyes wide as she nodded frantically at Noct, who was holding something out to her.
“Yes!” she yelled, seeming to recover her breath. “Yes, I’ll marry you!”
They embraced, and Sebastian began to clap. Rupert smiled and said, “Oh, good. I had thought this estate would make a perfect wedding present.”
His heart full of joy, Ves went to embrace his brother and sister-in-law-to-be. The dark days were finally behind them, and the future shone bright as a sunrise and as filled with promise.