“You are under my protection,” Cupid said.“That is no small thing.”
“I’ll be around,” Raven said.“Getting that damn thing to Ordinary is personal.”
“We’ll help, of course,” Elmer said.
“And so will I,” Cardamom added.“I know Ricky and the Crossroads will too.”
“Me too,” Abbi said.“We have a lot of friends now.Isn’t it neat?”
I wanted to argue, to tell all these people I didn’t want them to risk their lives for us.But looking at the expressions on their faces, I knew I would lose that argument.
“It’s more than neat,” I said.“It’s…” Words failed me, and I gestured helplessly.“Thank you.”
The expressions dissolved into smiles.
“Enough of the serious stuff,” Pamela said.“Eat.Your eggs are getting cold.”
EPILOGUE
Flowers.They were in Lula’s red hair, tucked in the vents of the truck, woven in a chain around her wrist.The wild asters we’d created with the god’s spell were still fresh and alive, swinging from the rearview mirror, sending the sweet scent of honeysuckle into the air.
She’d found the flowers alongside the road, pulled off, and picked them, holding them to her nose to smell, and laughing at my scowl as she tucked them into my buttonhole, and behind my ear.
“We’re running from a god,” I reminded her, as the morning sun drenched her in yellow light making her absolutely glow.
“I know.Oregon.I know where we’re going.”
“You don’t seem worried about it.”She stood on tiptoe to tuck a second flower in my hair.
“He’s dead,” she said.“He’s dead, Brogan.”Her smile was bright, but tears gathered like liquid silver in her eyes.
“Love.”I brushed the tears away.
She huffed a laugh.“I’m not sad.I’m not.I’m happy.It’s just…I didn’t know…for decades…I didn’t know if we’d ever find him.If we’d ever…”
“We did,” I said.“Broke time for it, have the scars from it.No regretting that from me.Knowing that monster will never take another breath…can nevertouchyou again…”
My voice choked on the anger and sorrow rising in my throat.I pushed away the old memories of our attack, focusing instead on the living breathing woman standing in front of me.
“Never,” I said.“He’s dead and gone.If that’s the only thing we get out of this mess, of all the gods and monsters and time andsorrow…it’s worth it.”
She pressed her fingertips gently to the corner of my eyes, wicking away the wetness there.
“I love you, Brogan Gauge.”
“I love you, Lula Gauge.”
She lifted on her toes again, her hand warm and soft against my face.When we kissed, her lips were honey and wine.
“We just take the next step, right?”she asked softly.
“All we have to do is drive across New Mexico, through Arizona, into California, and then leave the Route and get to Oregon.Easy.”
“While gods hunt us,” she said.
“Yep,” I agreed.“While gods hunt us…and help us,” I added a little reluctantly.
She smiled, her eyes crinkling.“Trusting the gods—someof them—” she said, “hasn’t been wrong.Cupid gave you back to me.”
