But the darkness started to close in on me. It felt like I was suffocating.
Until I realized the reason why. My husband was crushing me to his chest and I couldn’t breathe.
“Xander?” I mumbled against his neck.
He had been rocking me and went completely still. “Lia?”
“You’re holding me too tightly.”
“How are you alive? How did this happen?” I heard the awe and the remnants of fear in his rough voice. He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care how it happened. I only care that you’re here. I’m never letting go of you again. I love you.”
“I love you, and I still need to breathe.”
His arms finally relaxed and I rolled back so that I could look him in the face. He had tearstains down his cheeks. My heart melted at the sight—that he had wept for me. I reached up to trace those tearstains, evidence of how much I meant to him. There was so much love in his eyes, so much joy.
And I knew that he would see the same in mine.
My adelphia gathered around us, all asking questions. Telling me how happy they were to see me.
Ahyana said, “When you said you’d see us again, I didn’t know you meant a few minutes later!”
“Neither did I,” I said, and she laughed.
Xander kept touching me, as if to reassure himself that I was really there. This went on for a little while. We both ignored everyone else talking and focused on each other.
“What did I tell you about dying?” he asked.
“Not to.”
“You never listen. You are not allowed to die again. Do you understand?”
“I swear that I won’t.”
“My sweet oath-breaker,” he said with so much tenderness that my heart ached. We both knew I couldn’t promise him that. “Does this mean the prophecy has been fulfilled?”
“The part where I endure trials and die? Yes, that’s over.” The rest of it still needed to happen. I had to save Ilion.
Then he announced, “You need to rest. I’m taking you to our room.”
I tried to get up, but he wouldn’t let me. He stood with me in his arms.
“You can’t carry me all the way back to our room.”
“Don’t impugn my manhood, wife.”
“Put me down for a moment,” I said. “Let me say goodbye to my sisters before we go upstairs.”
He did so reluctantly, and I was surprised to find that my limbs worked well. I felt worn out, but good. I went over to hug my adelphia.
“I’m so glad you’re alive,” Io said.
“Me too.”
Zalira handed me back the goddess’s sword. “This belongs to you.”
“Thank you.” I took it and put it into my sheath. I looked over my shoulder and saw that Xander was being congratulated by Thrax and Stephanos, so I took the opportunity to lean in and say, “I saw the goddess. I spoke to her. I will tell you more about it later, but Lysimache made up the celibacy vow. We are allowed to love.”
“Here’s a restorative potion,” Io said with a small smile, slipping a vial into my hand. “I think you’ll need it.”
