The city and the fields beyond bore many wounds of war. I kept a tight grip of Astraea’s hand as we walked over the bridge, as she insisted we see it all—that we owed that to them.
I would disagree, but I kept my selfish thoughts to myself this time in consideration of all the sorrow we walked through. Astraea had given more to the world than they would ever thank her for. That’s not why she did it—stayed resilient in her duty as the star-maiden to a world that had all but given up on her—I knew this. She didn’t do it for praise or glory or power. She did it because her heart was too precious for any realm.
So it was my sworn duty until the end of our days to make sure she knew how utterly remarkable she was.
“So many deaths,” she said quietly.
I squeezed her hand, watching her survey the survivors tending to their wounded and mourning their fallen. I couldn’t share the depth of her sorrow for strangers; it would always be a level I couldn’t meet her on, and for a while I’d felt guilty about that incompatibility, believing she might see I was still a monster after all. Until I realized this was another perfect balance between us: as Astraea mourned with them, I was wholly focused on her, soothing her mind without taking any of her emotions, simply wrapping myself around her sorrow and filling myself in every small crack of the heart I swore to protect.
Astraea tugged me toward a grieving mother and her fallen son, a grown human man, but I was beginning to see it didn’t matter how many years passed or what they did in life: a parent’s child was always just that. A child.
My boy,Marvellas had called me. I couldn’t stop picturing her face. Though she didn’t wear her broken heart for the world to see like this human did, I’d never felt a heart so broken that nothing would have mended it.
My mother was at peace now. At least that’s what I chose to believe. As formy father, I hoped his chains in Hell were melting through his flesh for all eternity.
I thought of Drystan, with an impatient glance up toward the castle. My skin itched to confirm he was still alive after all this.
“Go, I’ll be right behind you,” Astraea said gently.
That brought my attention back to her and I smiled. Fuck, I couldn’t stop this new light in my chest from flaring at the mere sight of her, as if it was the first time.
She kneeled by the fallen man, lifting a beige sheet over his body while the mother cried hard with the finality of this goodbye. I slipped into the woman’s mind, not taking her grief but soothing it. Reminding her that he fought valiantly and gave his life bravely for a better world for everyone.
Her crying eased, and Astraea flicked a look up at me, knowing what I’d done.
We continued through the city, stopping occasionally when Astraea couldn’t stand to pass by any citizen alone in their deep mourning or anyone who needed help. She directed many of them toward the castle, where we’d immediately get an infirmary set up and call every healer we could there imminently.
I kissed her head, and we kept walking in silence while she gave her thoughts to the people. She gasped and I turned rigid, but upon spying Rosalind’s distinct pink hair across the torn street of rubble and dust, I relaxed.
I didn’t know how much I’d allowed myself to care about the survival of Rosalind and Zathrian until an immense relief lifted upon seeing them alive. It wasn’t just for Astraea I harbored these emotions either, and it would take time to let myself acknowledge—whether they tested the very limits of my patience or inspired bouts of amusement—that Iwantedthese people in my life.
When Rosalind spotted Astraea, I thought I’d never seen such relief and joy over Rosalind’s face before. I had to let go of Astraea’s hand as they jogged to meet each other, colliding with bright smiles and soft laugher; it was impossible not to find it contagious.
“Look at you,” Zath mused, catching up to me. “I think that’s the most expression I’ve ever seen on you.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
I scanned him subtly; he appeared unharmed for the most part, save for a few superficial wounds. He caught my assessment.
“You do care about me; I knew it!”
To my complete dismay, Zathrianhuggedme. He was almost the same height as me, with a broad build, and his embrace was far more aggressive than a woman’s.
“Hug me back, you bastard. We just survived war against fucking gods.”
I couldn’t help the single laugh that escaped me; then I allowed the embrace. It was a strange feeling.Friends.
Zath pulled back, or rather pushed me back, jostling me a little and patting my shoulder because I was starting to get offended.
“You’ll get better at it,” he said, not dropping his beaming grin in the slightest, so I relaxed.
When Astraea returned, Zath’s playfully aggressive affection amplified, not giving her a second of warning before sweeping her off her feet. My irritable objection flared until she started giggling, such a beautiful sound, as he spun with her because it was precious to witness.
My attention fell to Rosalind, who was already staring at me. I smirked at her familiar scowl, one that felt unique for me personally.
“Are we calling a truce?” I said.
