“Come here, kid.” My father waves me over, and I jump into his arms with a wild embrace.
I pull back to see Sage standing to the side as if she were ready to bolt. Her dark hair is in two neat French braids, and her white dress is cinched with a glistening gold sash. She holds her father’s dimples and heavenly blue eyes—but that rage… I still don’t recognize it.
“Sage,” I whisper as I open my arms in hopes she’ll come my way. “I love you so much.”
“Silence,” she snaps as she looks to Gage. “How could you?”
“How could I?” Gage steps toward her before dropping to one knee as if he were about to propose. “Because it was right.”
Logan nods as he draws in near. “Sage, your parents—they’ve never stopped loving one another. And they love you very much, too. Open your heart to them. Demetri had an agenda. It wasn’t the right one. It’s okay. Everything on Earth is fixed now. But it’s not here, not without you making amends to your mother, your father, your brothers.”
She folds her tiny arms across her chest and pouts. “I don’t like this feeling. I don’t like that I was led astray. I don’t like any of this.”
I kneel before her. “You don’t have to. It’s okay that we’re not right all of the time. At the end of the day, all that matters isfamily. We forgive one another of just about everything, and we love one another through this crazy life—and afterlife, too. We love you. I love you fiercely.”
Sage sniffs hard. “So be it.” Her shoulders jump. “I love you both.” Her brows furrow. “My sincerest apologies, Mother. The truth is, I never stopped loving you. But I didn’t want Father to be alone. I saw the darkness taking him, and I didn’t want him to be ostracized. So I joined him.” She turns to Gage. “I gave you my fierce allegiance. And I was going to despise who you despised, go wherever you went, whether Heaven or Hell.”
“Sage.” Gage pulls her in close and sobs over his baby girl. “I love you. I love you so much.” He pulls me into their circle and a lavender aura surrounds us, a healing light that fixes all of the wrongs and washes away the pain in a supernatural way that those on Earth wish they could take hold of.
Candace takes up Logan’s hand.
“Sector Marshall?” she calls to him. “Take Gage and my granddaughter back to the festivities.”
“No.” I sniff as I rise to my feet. “Sage may go play with her brothers, but Gage stays for whatever firework spectacular you have next. We three are immovable, inseparable, and our bond will not be sliced and spliced at your whim any longer.”
She bites down on a devilish smile, her eyes sparkling with delight.
“So be it.”
“Come.” Marshall takes Sage by the hand. “Let’s go find the goats.”
“And baby Jaxson,” Sage sings. “I want to pinch his toes until he squeals.”
“Sage,” I call out, and just like that, I am fully in mother mode with her—and I love every bit of it.
Candace takes a breath and motions for me to take her hand.
“My Logan.” She looks to Logan just as transfixed as she was when she was looking at Demetri. “My love for you is immeasurable, my handsome son, my daughter’s formidable lover.”
Gage clears his throat, and I shake my head at him.
Candace laughs. “Yes, Gage, you gave Skyla quite the time underneath the proverbial sheets as well. I suppose it’s fitting you’re here with us. Her heart grafted you onto it when I wasn’t looking. It’s not what I expected. Sometimes, even I can be taken by surprise. And now, here the three of you are—a union, a bond, an inextricable love that none of you will escape.” She nods back to Logan. “Your mission is complete, Logan. I’m welcome to claim you for eternity.”
“What?No!” I riot out the word so loud all of Ahava quiets down a moment.
Candace shoots me a look. “As I was going to say. But I won’t. As in—you’ll live. Logan, I’m gifting you additional years beyond the handful you were promised.” She cranes her neck in the direction Marshall took off in. “Sector will still have his moment, but you, Logan”—her eyes sweep over to him once again—“you will have the lion’s share.” She looks to Gage. “You will remain on Earth, should you choose to. Enjoy your time. You are most certainly blessed, and all you have lost has been restored.”
His eyes widen a moment before he glances to Logan and he quickly looks to the ground.
“Yes.” Candace takes a breath. “You still desire her. Don’t worry. Mortality’s curse will ravage those you love as well.” She nods to Logan and me. “And eternity will be quite pleasant.” She cinches a smile. “Now, let’s get to this party. I hear the guest of honor is missing.”
“You go ahead,” I tell her. “I need a minute.”
She touches her fingers to my cheek. “Have the last word, Skyla. You’ve earned it. Well done, my child. Well done.”
She dissipates before my eyes, and I don’t waste a moment pulling Logan and Gage in close.
“We did it,” I whisper as if it were a secret.
