Asher drew me close. “He’s at peace, baby. And he does have a family. He’s found a soul that he spends a lot of time with. Rone checks in on him.”
Rone, the new god of the underworld. Another face crossed my mind, one with an ever changing face.
“Has he run across Heptashia there?”
Asher snorted. “Yeah, apparently he’s seen her a few times. She celebrated pretty hard when Draconis died. It’s just a shame he didn’t procure some photographic evidence.”
I choked on some laughter, trying to imagine her actingmorecrazy. Gods, maybe she would end up in our girl-gang one day. As my laughter died off, I found myself swallowing hard. I’d been wanting to ask Asher something, and I feared the answer, but it was time…
“Are the guys angry with me?” I choked out. “I mean, I just forced the powers on them. Forced godhood on them.”
He laughed, the rich sound cutting out the natural ambient background noise of the island. “Angry? Fuck no. They’re loving being gods, the cocky bastards. They’re doing a pretty good job at it though. Larissa is the only one a little pissed. She kinda wanted to be a god too.”
I shook my head, laughter bubbling out of my throat.
“I told her the next time a god fucked up, I would destroy them and she’d be first in line for the power.”
Turning, I pressed a kiss to his chest. “You’re a good person, Asher Locke. I’m so lucky that you’re my mate.”
His humor faded. “I’m the lucky one, love. And now I think there’s time for one last swim before we head back.”
There was no avoiding it any longer. My escape here in paradise was coming to an end.
But before it did, one more swim was exactly what I needed.
I mean, we’d eventually get around to swimming.
Chapter 39
Stratford, Connecticut, was a gorgeous town. Bordered by forest, it was filled with supernaturals, who for some reason were crowding around us. We were in what felt like the center of their town, near a hall and huge fountains.
When Asher and I got back from the island, I’d gone straight to the Academy, finding myself part of multiple tearful reunions. Jesse in particular had been a fucking mess, holding me tightly, making me promise I’d never leave again.
He was on my left side today, Asher on my right, Calen, Axl, Rone, Larissa, and Ilia behind me. The eight of us had been inseparable since I returned, and at no point did I ever feel anything but love from them. No judgment. No anger. No accusations.
They just loved me. More than I deserved.
Now it was time to see Louis … and my girl gang. I needed to make amends.
“Maddison!” Jessa screamed, sprinting in the graceful way of supernaturals as she ran for me. “You’re finally here!”
Slamming against me, she hugged me hard and I tried not to bawl again at how fucking good it felt to see her. Pulling back, she cupped my face, before shaking her head. “Bitch, you took too long to get here. I was fucking worried something happened to you again.”
I choked out some laughter. “No, sorry. I just … I’m sorry for almost killing you all.”
Jessa scoffed, waving her hand at me. “Dude, that’s fucking nothing. Don’t think you’re the only one that almost killed everybody. Mischa and I are the OG’s of that.”
Her twin snorted from the crowd, stepping through to our side. “I really wish she was kidding.”
She hugged me tightly and I returned it. I felt like I’d been through so much with these supes. The sound of little footsteps had us pulling apart, and I blinked as three of the most perfect toddlers I’d ever seen raced to their mothers, the twins to Jessa and a doll of a girl to Mischa. Neither had to touch their parents before they were flying through the air and into their mother’s arms.
I blinked. Asher stepped forward, his face soft as he stared at the little girl in Jessa’s right arm. “They already have access to their powers?” he asked.
Axl looked even more fascinated as he moved closer too. Brother might be the god of the seas now, but no one could take the genius out of him.
Jessa let out a derisive laugh. “Oh yeah. They basically have no limits. One day they’ll either save or destroy the world.”
I rubbed at my face. “Feeling an urge to fist bump them in solidarity right now,” I muttered.
