It turns out, our serum, the one that Ezrina and Wes finally developed to hide the markers, was indeed complementary to the bastardized vaccine that Demetri discovered could expose the markers and heal the Kingdom Virus. All along we were one tweak away from this liquid savior, but we couldn’t find the right antibody. We didn’thavethe right antibody—that is, until Cooper gave it to us.
Cooper Flanders’ allergy turned into a boon for Celestra, for every Nephilim alive. His blood provided the component we needed to build a serum that hides the markers once and for all—despite the vaccine distributed by Althorpe.
Cooper’s unique chemical makeup was the holy grail we needed to fight Demetri’s most cunning tactic. And honestly, we should have figured it out a lot earlier. My mother all but gave us a hint by allowing Cooper to bring the truth of Gage’s deception to light. I have no doubt Candace Messenger had her hand on Cooper Flanders all along. And I have no doubt God Almighty Himself has His hand on my people, too.
Providence directs our paths, it always has. Candace Messenger is simply another cog in the wheel. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t have a heavy hand in it. No. She was, is, and will always be a force to be reckoned with. Right along with me.
Our serum—Cooper’s Cure, as we dubbed it—was rushed into production. Ezrina deduced Cooper’s blood had a unique property to it that held a supernatural edge, and that was the fact Cooper had Sector genetics stamped over his DNA. It made me wonder if that somehow played a part in my mother’s decision to send Marshall down to Earth to procreate with someone in the seventeenth century—diluting his lineage just enough where the Justice Alliance wouldn’t find Celestra guilty of stepping out of bounds and using a Sector to save the day. Whatever the reasons my mother had to allow what she did, I have a feeling her reasons were multi-pronged and that saving the Factions through Marshall’s descendants was one of those reasons.
We were able to distribute the serum to the four corners of the Earth thanks to Gage and his league of devout Levatios. Even though Gage was proven to be a Levatio on a microscopic scale in comparison to his almost pure Fem line, they have given him an honorary position within the Faction. And it warmed my heart as much as it did his.
And thanks to their concerted efforts, not a single Nephilim was exposed as a Stranger to the government—save for Rory. And sadly, I do not know the fate of my brave sister. In a strange way, she fulfilled a destiny that saved our people and enabled Celestra to stand victorious. I tried to speak with my mother about Rory, but she won’t see me.
It’s been a month since that Valentine’s Day massacre, and my mother won’t so much as acknowledge my existence, let alone answer me. She’s not responding to Logan either, but we finally seem to understand that she’ll come around when she wants to. When she’s ready. When it’s right.
“Well, Ms. Messenger?” Marshall stands tall and regal in a dark suit and a red tie that brings out the hellfire in his eyes. “Is it true what they say? True love burns bright and strong as—”
I cut him off with a laugh in my throat, but I refuse myself an ounce of pleasure. “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm, for love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Song of Solomon eight, six.”
He ticks his head to the side. “Impressive.” He cups my face in his hands and brushes his thumbs softly over my cheeks. “But, then again, you never cease to impress me—my love, my eternal immortal, inamorata.”
“All right,” a deep voice calls from behind, and I turn to see Gage coming up the steps.
It’s Saturday, exactly a month from that catastrophe, that victorious day. The entire Landon backyard has been transformed into a rose gold and pink wonderland—the colors Mia has chosen for her official wedding reception. She didn’t ask for it or want it, and Rev wasn’t exactly a fan either. But I insisted, and once I got our mother going, Lizbeth Landon moved heaven and earth—and mostly Demetri’s credit cards—to make this shindig happen. The sky is dove gray. Holden and Serena have been circling high above all afternoon like faithful watchmen, and for the first time in a long while I feel safe, content, comforted by the thought Gage is once again with us in every single way.
It’s a small gathering, just immediate family with a peppering of friends. Mia was insistent in only inviting her Nephilim friends, in the event another supernatural war decided to break out. It’s bad enough those few full humans that were at the Valentine’s Day wedding believe that Mia’s wedding was the epicenter of an alien war—which the government claims to have won. I certainly don’t mind them thinking that. I don’t ever plan on inciting another war, and lucky for me, I won’t have to. Demetri’sFempirehas been wholly decimated. Not a single follower was left once I gave the serum freely.
It’s true, those who defected to the Fems and Steel Barricade can never fully be members of Celestra again. So I did what any good leader would do. I formed a new Faction, the United Factions. And one day, I hope to regain my seat as leader of the Nephilim people. I’m still not sure what needs to be done to achieve that. But as long as we have peace in the land, I’m not too worried about it.
Gage wraps his arms around me as he nods to the bounce houses that are gyrating every which way.
“Those kids are a powerhouse.” He lands a kiss to my cheek and my body warms under Gage Oliver’s love. “How are you feeling?” He lands a hand over my burgeoning belly and the baby gives a light kick.
We share a laugh as she does it again and again.
Gage shakes his head. “I’d like to think that was her way of saying she loves me.”
Marshall’s chest bucks. “She’s certainly saying something, Jock Strap.” He gives a little wink before his expression grows somber. “Have you seen him?”
By him, I’m assuming he means Demetri.
Gage’s monster of a father has been as elusive as my mother these days. My earthly mother has seen him. She claims he needs time. She’s comforting him. Of course, she is. And to be honest, only she truly could.
Logan heads up to the porch with a happy little toe-head in his arms. Jaxson Oliver is the embodiment of love and light. A smile never leaves his face, not even when he sleeps, and he radiates heavenly light that magnetizes everyone in the vicinity. I don’t know what my mother has planned for him, but it’s a good plan. I can feel it in my celestial bones.
“Your mother wants you over by the cake.” He ticks his head down toward that magnificent three-tiered wonder that Emily baked. Mia wanted a unicorn cake, and sure as anything, the top tier has an iridescent horn erupting from it in an almost phallic fashion.
Mom waves us over. “It’s time for pictures!” she shouts. “All of you!”
Mia jumps up next to her. “You too, Mr. Dudley. You’re the reason we’re all here. You helped us do the deed.”
“You heard her,” I say as I link my arm through his, and the entire lot of us heads down toward the cake while Lexy snaps at least a hundred pictures.
“Just the happy couple now.” She waves Mia and Rev toward the woods. “Before the fog rolls in.”
They take off as Emma and Barron head our way.
Mom swoops over with Tad in tow. She’s been fiercely protective over me these last few months whenever Emma is brave enough to show her face.
