“Mess!” Chloe shouts near the woods where she’s congregating with Bree, Em, Lex, Michelle, and Nat, and it feels like a strange relief to see those girls in the same small space. I’m not sure why. It certainly almost always spells out trouble.
“I’ll be right back,” I say, excusing myself.
Chloe Bishop gleams like a very sharp knife as a stray beam of sunlight falls over her. It makes me wonder if it’s a message from my mother, a warning.
Her long dark hair kisses the sunlight and glows like a fire.
“Rumor has it, the boys are planning a scrimmage.” She offers an indifferent hike of the shoulders.
Bree hops over and slings an arm around me. “And guess what? We’re getting the band back together! We’re going to put on our old West uniforms and cheer. Are you in?”
I grab that budding beach ball at the base of my torso. “What the hell. I’m in. My uniform might need a little altering though.”
Michelle shrugs. “Don’t worry, Skyla. You won’t be the only one knocked up.”
A collective gasp goes off in our small circle.
Nat leans in. “Michelle Miller! Who knocked you up?”
Michelle clucks her tongue. “Who do you think?”
Lexy squeezes her eyes shut. “The same person who knocked me up.”
Emily and Bree cackle up a storm because God knows they’ve both been there. The two of them were both knocked up with Drake’s kids at the very same time.
“Wow,” I say, unsure whether to join in on the laughter. “It looks as if Liam has been a very busy, busy boy. I guess the more Olivers, the merrier.”
Chloe pretends to gag. “Please. We’ve set the next generation up for a veritable incest fest. Get ready for some serious inbreeding to occur. God knows none of us are getting off this overgrown rock.”
A spark of light catches my attention in the woods behind us. A pink glow that only seems to grow.
Gage and Logan come up and nod to the thicket.
“What’s going on?” Gage doesn’t take his eyes off the glowing aura.
Logan takes up my hand. “Let’s go have a look.”
I take up Gage’s hand as well. “Let’s.”
The three of us head into the woods where that pink hue grows with a rainbow of lavender and blues intermingled. A spray of stars glitters through the forest like a comet, and with each step we take, we feel the world melt to nothing beneath our feet until Ahava materializes around us—and we’ve been fully transported. Not just the three of us, but every last person at Mia’s wedding reception—and judging by the sea of bewildered faces, perhaps every Nephilim in all of existence.
Ahava glows a steel shade of blue, the water sparkling pale as glass.
The Falls roar in the background, but I’d swear they were making music. I spot five celestial bodies out in the middle of the lake, my mother and her cohorts, and one extra Sector that I happen to be very, very familiar with.
Marshall looks our way and heads over, walking on water much to the delight of the women in the crowd.
“Skyla!” Mom—Lizbeth Landon—cries out as she runs my way with Jaxson in her arms, along with all of the little Olivers and Landons running around her like moons orbiting a planet. Nathan and Barron look particularly thrilled to be here. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t know,” I say, unable to take my eyes off of Marshall.
Logan leans in. “I think I know. And I think deep down, you do, too.”
A breath hitches in my throat. I don’t dare think it. But my God, I pray it’s true.
Gage steps away, his dimples digging in deep as he motions me toward Marshall, and my feet don’t hesitate to head in that direction.
“Ms. Messenger,” Marshall calls out just as the sky opens up above the lake and the throne room shimmers in the distance. An emerald rainbow spans over three thrones, and I see them—God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and I am filled with the light and love from their glorious presence.
