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“Ariella,” Adona said as I reached her side, “your journey has been unlike any other in our history. Falsely accused, exiled not by decree but by necessity, you could have turned your back on Elysium forever. Instead, you returned to us in our darkest hour, bringing the truth, bringing allies, bringing hope when we needed it most.”

She lifted a medallion that gleamed more brightly than any of the others, its surface etched with intricate patterns that seemed to shift and change as the light hit them.

“For your courage, your commitment, and your unwavering loyalty to the true spirit of Elysium, I name you Archangel of Truth, with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that come with such a position.”

A ripple of surprise ran through the crowd, followed by a surge of applause that seemed to shake the very foundations of the hall. I stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened. Me, an archangel? It was beyond anything I had ever imagined for myself.

As the applause began to fade, Adona raised her hand once more. “And there is one more recognition I wish to make.” She gestured toward Levi. “Leviathan, please step forward.”

Levi's surprise was evident in the brief widening of his eyes, but he moved with characteristic grace to join us on the dais. He stood tall and proud, somehow managing to look as if he belonged there despite being the only demon in a hall full of angels.

“Leviathan,” Adona said, her voice carrying the weight of history, “never before has a demon been honored in the halls of Elysium.

But never before has one proven himself so worthy of such recognition.

Your loyalty to Ariella, your willingness to risk everything to protect our realm from Rhodes's corruption, and your actions during the battle have earned you a place in our history and our future.”

She presented him with a small, intricate pin—a symbol I recognized as one of Elysium's highest honors, rarely bestowed even on angels.

“I name you Friend of Elysium, and grant you the permanent right to enter our realm freely, without the need for elixirs or special permission. Additionally, you will hold a position of honor on the Inter-Realm Council, representing the demon community in our new alliance.”

Levi accepted the pin. “I am honored,” he said simply, his voice carrying just enough sincerity to mask the irony that I knew was bubbling beneath the surface.

As Adona concluded the formal portion of the ceremony, the string quartet resumed playing, this time with livelier tunes meant for dancing. Servants moved through the crowd with trays of food and drinks, and the atmosphere shifted from solemn ceremony to celebration.

Ezekiel approached Adriel, offering his hand with a shyness that made me smile.

She accepted, and they moved to the dance floor, their steps slightly awkward but increasingly confident as they found their rhythm together.

Nearby, one of the newly appointed archangels—a dignified older angel with kind eyes—asked my mother to dance, and she accepted with a gracious smile that reminded me of happier times before Rhodes's betrayal.

“May I have this dance, Archangel?” Levi's voice came from behind me, warm with amusement.

I turned to find him watching me, his hand extended, his eyes dancing with the light that always seemed to spark between us. “Are you making fun of my new title already?”

“Wouldn't dream of it, sweetheart.” He drew me into his arms as we joined the dancers, his movements surprisingly fluid and graceful for someone who had likely never attended an angelic ball before. “Though I have to admit, it has a nice ring to it. Archangel Ariella.”

I laughed softly, letting him guide me through the steps of the dance. “It feels surreal. All of this does.”

“Second thoughts?” he asked, his tone casual but his eyes watchful.

“About the title? Definitely. About being here?” I glanced around the hall, at the familiar and unfamiliar faces, at the crystal spires visible through the high windows, at the home I had lost and found again.

“I don't know, Levi. Part of me feels like I belong here, like this is where I was always meant to be. But another part…”

“Misses Earth?” he suggested. “Or maybe just the freedom to choose your own path, without the weight of all this history and expectation?”

I looked up at him, struck by how well he understood. “Yes. Exactly that.”

He spun me in a graceful turn, then pulled me closer than was strictly proper for an angelic dance. “You know,” he said, his voice dropping to a low murmur that only I could hear, “I could always stay. Here in Elysium. With you.”

I stumbled slightly, caught off guard by the offer. “What? But you hate Elysium. All the rules, the hierarchy, the angelic-ness of it all.”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “True. But I love you more than I hate any of that.”

The words hung between us, simple and profound, a truth we had both known but neither had voiced until now. I stared at him, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure everyone in the hall could hear it.

“You… love me?” I whispered.

“Is that so hard to believe, sweetheart?” His hand tightened slightly on my waist. “I thought I'd made it pretty obvious by now.”

“I just… I didn't think…” I took a breath, trying to gather my scattered thoughts. “You'd really stay here? For me?”

“If that's what you want,” he said, his expression suddenly serious. “I meant what I said about loving you, Ariella. And if staying in Elysium is what makes you happy, then that's where I want to be.”

I swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the enormity of what he was offering, by the depth of feeling behind it.

In that moment, looking into his eyes as we danced beneath the crystal chandeliers of Elysium, I knew with absolute certainty what my answer would be—not just to his unspoken question, but to the choice that had been haunting me since our victory.

“I love you too,” I said softly, the words feeling both new and familiar on my tongue.