Chapter Thirty-Nine
Draco
I saw the war in his eyes: the pain, the hope, and the fear.
“We have to make it right. For them. I don’t care what I have to do, I’m willing to give her better than this.” I looked to my love who lay on the cold ground.
Phillip and I both watched Dorian as he sorted through his mind.
“It’s not possible.” He deflated, and I knew he felt as I did. Love had finally wrapped itself around his heart, driving him to make things right. For Esme.
“Between you two, we have the blood of the actual gods of ancient Greece. All we need is a little magic.” Phillip looked down to Asher, who was holding Echo in his arms.
The few that were left in Dorian’s crew had left when they saw the war raging inside him, the turning of change stirring in the air.
“It’s going to take a lot of power what you’re asking of me.” Asher’s eyebrows narrowed but he kissed Echo’s head before giving her his torn leather jacket to cover her up and headed toward us.
Dorian and I both exchanged confused glances.
“We have the power of the gods right here. Can’t get any more powerful than that.”
“Explain,” I asked, since there seemed to be something I wasn’t aware of.
“Asher is spotty in all the visions of future. I can sometimes see him, but sometimes I can’t. He and I had an in-depth conversation weeks ago about his people, and magic. I believe we can turn back time with his help. It’s hard, but not impossible. You both have the gods inside you, unlike us, that just host their powers. Your blood and Asher’s magic can go back to before this began. Before Rose wound up in your coop, or before Esme and you got together. Before this whole war.”
Phillip spoke with complete confidence, but there was more to this whole situation—I could feel it.
“What’s the catch?” Dorian asked first, voicing what I was thinking.
“Draco becomes mortal, and everyone we bring back might not remember any of this. All these months could be gone from their mind.”
My whole body froze hearing his words.
Mortal.
Rose might not remember me, her husband.
I shook myself out of it and answered quickly.
“Let’s do it.”
Immortality was nothing without her, and if there was a chance she wouldn’t remember me, I’d be there to remind her that she is mine. She would remember me, though. I had faith in love. Love was going to be what saved us all, including Dorian.
Dorian looked angry but nodded.
“This isn’t going to be pleasant—in fact, it’s going to feel like fire in your blood and your muscles are being pulled from your bones,” Asher said flatly and walked over to Dorian’s sword that was lying on the ground where Phillip had tossed it after pulling it from my chest.
“Or at least that’s what the legends say it feels like. Could be worse.”
Asher was in no mood for joking. Couldn’t say I blamed him. Our family was broken, and we were joining sides with the man who caused it all, to bring them back.
But I knew the heartache that Dorian was suffering from. He’d kept Esme’s death inside, unwilling to accept what he felt. Seeing my pain and Rose die in my arms brought it all out for him as if it was happening in the present.
“See you in the past,” Phillip said as he took steps back to stand next to Echo, wrapping his hand in hers. I could see them both sending us prayers of hope that this would work, that we could right our wrongs, both Dorian and me.
“Fuck, I’m glad we are going back because I would probably be murdered by my old coven for doing this.” Asher looked at the sword and cursed.
Dorian looked at me, and I saw he would do whatever it took to have Esme back, his hatred for me and whatever bitterness he had held on to for so long was nothing compared to his love for her.
