I look down at the glow coming from my chest. Back up at him. “What does this mean?”
His grin is pure Remus—wild and unrepentant and absolutely thrilled with himself. “You will now live forever with me.”
I nearly choke on my tongue. “Forever? As in...foreverforever?”
He nods, then does something I’ve never seen him do before.
He bows his head.
“If you’ll have us.”
And from the back of his bowed head, I see Romulus’s eyes open. Blinking at me.
“We love you,” Romulus says, his voice quiet but clear. “It can be us. Together. Forever.”
I stare at them.Bothof them.Awake. Together.
Something huge must have happened up there in space—something that changed everything. Because this is not the Remus who left. And this is definitely not the same dynamic between the twins.
“Well?” Remus peeks up at me, and for the first time since I’ve known him, he looks uncertain. Vulnerable. “Will you have us?”
And here’s the thing.
Six weeks ago, I was unemployed, living in my mother’s house, being reminded daily that I was a disappointment and a failure. I had no prospects, no hope, and the biggest risk I took was waving at a winged man in a plaza.
Six weeks ago, I believed I was powerless. That I had to accept whatever scraps of affection people threw my way. That I had no right to ask for more, to demand better, to use my voice to stand up for what I wanted.
I believed I was fundamentally unworthy of love.
But standing here, glowing like a firefly with my chest full of divine power, staring at two immortal beings who just offered me forever?
I realize something.
Ichoseto wave that day. I volunteered. And ever since, I’ve continued chosing to stand up to both of them when they tried to make decisions about my life without me.
I’ve been choosing all along.
And I’m choosing now.
I throw my arms around Remus—around both of them—and pull them close.
“Forever,” I say, and my voice is strong. Clear. No hesitation. “I chooseforever.”
Because I deserve to be loved. I deserve to have a voice and be heard and be treated like I matter.
And anyone who says otherwise can fight me.
Well. Me and my two immortal god-boyfriends who can fly and shoot fire and literally just saved the world.
Remus sweeps me up in his arms, spinning me around, laughing that wild, joyful laugh that makes my heart soar.
When he sets me down, we’re both glowing. Both grinning like idiots.
Both choosing this.
“Come on,” I say, grabbing his hand. “Let’s go tell everyone the world didn’t end.”
“Yet,” Remus adds with a mischievous grin.
