Ruhn clapped Brann on the back, and Lidia’s chest filled with so much brightness she could barely contain it all. “No worries,” Ruhn said. “All in a day’s work for us Aux grunts.”
Brann grinned, then walked back to his parents, hugging Renki again.
Lidia glanced to Ace, who was watching her warily. Knowing he wouldn’t rush into her arms as Brann had, Lidia walked up to him. Slowly. Giving him time to decide what he wanted to do.
Ace held his ground, but his eyes weren’t cold as he said, “Thanks for coming for us.” His mouth quirked to the side. “Take care of yourself.”
“I’ve got Ruhn watching my back,” Lidia said, glancing to Ruhn. “I’ll be fine.”
“He shot you,” Ace said, frowning at Ruhn.
“I shouldn’t have told you that,” Ruhn muttered.
Lidia smirked, but faced Ace again. “He’ll pay for it, don’t worry.”
Ace didn’t look so sure, staring Ruhn down for a moment. But when he began walking toward his dads, he stumbled, as if …
Lidia glared at Ruhn, who whistled innocently at the sky. Fine—let him keep his mind-speaking secrets.
Ruhn slid a hand around her waist as the boys and their parents boarded the pod. Davit slid into the pilot’s seat, flicking on switches, and Brann claimed the seat beside him. Renki and Ace took the back seats, and as the pod whirred to life, they all looked at her.
Lidia offered them a small, hopeful smile. Her fingers found Ruhn’s, and she gripped his hand tightly. Ruhn didn’t let go.
Her sons were alive, and free, and in her life again, and it was more than she’d ever hoped for.
So the future, whatever it held … she’d cherish every moment of it.
* * *
Bryce was thoroughly sick of Nena’s endless chill when she opened the Northern Rift again. Not to the home world of the Fae, but to Hel.
Only blackness awaited the army marching through. The beasts and flying things and the princes, who went one by one, Thanatos giving her a look that said she might have destroyed the Asteri but he was still mad about his dog, until only Apollion and Aidas stood before her in the ice and snow.
They did not seem to require coats or hats or gloves. They didn’t even shiver.
Apollion said to Hunt, “Hel has no hold on you, and you have no obligation to us.”
“Uh, thank you?” Hunt said. “Likewise.”
Apollion threw him a half smile, then glanced to Bryce. “You did better than expected.”
Bryce snapped her fingers, the sound muffled by her gloves. “That is what I want on my new business cards. Bryce Quinlan: Better than Expected.”
Apollion just smirked and walked toward the dark.
“Hey,” Bryce called after the Prince of the Pit.
Apollion paused, raising a brow at her.
Bryce threw him a grin and said, “Thanks for not giving up on Midgard.”
She could have sworn a kernel of compassion warmed Apollion’s face before he glanced to Aidas and said, “I shall be happy to lay the matter to rest. And to see my brother at peace.”
With that, he strode through the Rift.
Bryce’s teeth were chattering now, but she faced Aidas. “Will we see you again?”
Aidas smiled wickedly. “Do you wish to?”
“No,” Bryce said, and meant it. “Grateful as we are … I think we have different definitions for the word pet.”
Aidas smiled fully this time. “Then I shall give you my gratitude, Bryce Quinlan. And bid you farewell.”
“I’ll be forever grateful,” Bryce said to the Prince of the Chasm, “for your kindness that day at the Oracle.”
His smile turned gentler. “Theia would be proud of you.”
“And of you,” Bryce said, the only gift she could offer to a Prince of Hel. She refrained from saying that Theia’s pride meant shit to her, though. “I think you might get to hear it from her lips one day.”
Aidas angled his head. Bryce had told all of them about what Jesiba had claimed. What she’d seen in that land of glowing light. “You think a Prince of Hel shall be allowed in?”
Bryce walked up to him and kissed his cheek. Icy skin met her lips. “I think a good male, regardless of where he is from, will always be allowed in.”
Aidas’s eyes glowed bright blue—with gratitude or longing or love, she didn’t know. But the prince only nodded to her, then to Hunt, and walked through the Northern Rift into the dark.
Apollion was waiting just inside, and he took up a place beside his brother. Bryce’s hand slid into Hunt’s, and she lifted her other hand in farewell.