Queen Ama’s hand moved to cup my cheek. “We may not be blood, but I promise you the way our family loves and protects each other is thicker than blood, and you have a spot in it with us.”
Tears welled in my eyes. Okay, so it wasn’t just wishful thinking. Shewastalking about me.
Tears began to spill down my cheeks, despite trying my best to not sob like a baby. My voice was hoarse as I choked out my response, “I…I can’t put into words what it means to me to hear that someone wantsmeto be a part of their family.”
I sucked my bottom lip, that was quivering like crazy, between my teeth as I glanced back at my mates, barely able to see through the blur of liquid obscuring my vision. I could just make out all three of them nodding their approval.
They were my family, but Kylo was right when he said it didn’t have to be just us against the world anymore. It wasn’t just me that needed a family, though. They did too, and I’d never accept being included in one if they weren’t as well.
“Don’t think I forgot about you three, boys,” Queen Ama called out, as if she read my mind. “You will always have a place in our family and home as well. Just know that all of my mates are going to grill you and make sure you’re treating our girl here with the utmost respect and love for the rest of your lives. Can you handle that?”
This couldn’t be real. This was too good to be true.
The thought of having anyone care so much about me and the three monsters who held my heart and soul…It was overwhelming. After being so damned alone throughout my life, I’d already felt beyond blessed to have my mates and to have met Alora. This addition to our family was more than I could have ever dreamed to have.
“They won’t find us lacking,” Lucien answered, confidence in the way they treated me clear in his tone.
He was entirely right. There wasn’t a single thing these monsters did that was wrong.
I swung my gaze back to Queen Ama as my tears began to slow and found her grinning and nodding at him. “That’s what I like to hear. We’ll have to do a family dinner when you’re done with Aunt Zurie so we can introduce you all. I don’t think I can wait for winter break to have you all home.”
Home…Something we’d always lacked. DIA was the first place to resemble it in the slightest. Was it possible that Hell could become our new, permanent home?
Alora scoffed at her words as my monsters moved closer to me. “You can’t keep the secret of adopting four new kids from Dads for that long.”
Her mom pursed her lips before blowing a raspberry at her. “Maybe I’ll let it slip at the same time I let it slip that you went on a date.”
She reached out to ruffle Alora’s hair, but she quickly dodged mom’s hand.
I took a moment to soak in each of the faces around me.
I was certain there had never been a point in my life when my heart felt as full as it did right now. Renewed determination to figure my powers out once and for all and end this battle with the curses filled me.
We deserved to feel this love.
We deserved to have a family.
My mates and I deserved to build a life together.
“Oh, and one thing, Alexandra. Stop calling me Queen Ama. I would never expect Alora to refer to me as that, and you won’t either.”
My heart hammered in my chest as my eyes widened in alarm. As much as I loved her sentiment of being my adoptive mom, there was no way we were at that level just yet, and I refused to rush into saying something like that. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, though.
“What should we address you as?” I questioned softly, my fingers coming to twine together in front of me as I took a step closer to my mates.
Her head cocked to the side as she let out a little laugh, brows furrowing slightly like she was perplexed by my question. “Just Ama will do.”
That I could do.
The corners of my lips curved up as I smiled at her. “In return, you can call me Alex.”
She might not know exactly how much that meant, but one day she would. Alora and I shared a knowing look.
“Alright ladies and gents,” Ama clapped as she took us in, “time for proper goodbyes now. We’ve got to go before eight overly protective demons show up at the academy with more questions than any of us want to answer right now.”
A part of me wished they would show up, just so I could meet them finally, but I knew now wasn’t the time. We needed to focus on our plan, and when we were done with these curses, we’d meet the rest of our new family.
With one more quick hug, we said our goodbyes to Alora. Ama instructed us to grab onto her arms. Nerves fluttered in my stomach, but as I held Alora’s gaze, I let her determined energy ground me until I felt the gut-wrenching pull of traveling between the veils come over me and could no longer see her.
