You have changed.
I nodded and stood. "Yes, I was reborn in the last battle. Death apparently did not want me this time."
You are important to the worlds still. Death knows that, as do I.
The wordimportantrattled around my brain for a moment, and not because it surprised me—all transcendents were important—but because it had a different meaning now. I was important for more reasons than just keeping the balance and saving worlds.
I had a family again, and I liked to think that the reason death had passed me by, was to give me a chance to really live my life. Maybe they thought I deserved this second chance.
Maybe I even thought so too.
3
The Tholi didn’t ask any more questions as I stood in its presence for what felt like hours, absorbing every ounce of the soothing and cleansing power that trickled across my skin.
I didn't feel physically stronger when I was done with my blessing, but I felt more at peace. And if I'd learned anything in my long life, it was that often, peace trumped power. Power could be stolen, earned and rewarded. It was everywhere for the taking.
But peace… was far harder to come by.
By the time I returned to the meadow land, I felt recharged and ready for what lay ahead.
It was time for me to head back to the Library of Knowledge.
First, though, knowing how difficult it could be to pull energy into an ancient and powerful world like the deserts, I decided to add a few extra layers of my family power into the well inside me—not as many as I’d taken to the Shadow Realm, but enough that I’d have reserves if needed.
The realm battle had cost me about a third of my power, but I still held thousands of layers, leaving plenty to go around. Hopefully, there was nothing of great concern in the Delfora, for it was there that the ancient gods slept and none of us wanted them to awaken. Reece’s connection to that land was in and of itself unusual, but not even he could stem the tides if the gods returned topside.
Once I'd taken a few layers of power, feeling them sink deep into myself, the light from my blessing mingling with the white force that was the energy I controlled. It had been a long time since I’d felt so strong, free, and weightless. A great start to what would be my new future.
As long as the ghosts that rested in the deserts left me be.
Once I was done taking power, I returned to the highest level of the meadows and opened a doorway to the library. The swirling portal now evoked feelings of home and love.Mera’s magic.It was the sort of magic that I wished could be replicated across many species and worlds. Her mouth might be sassy, but her heart was pure and, most importantly, her soul was open and loving and kind, drawing all of us weary vessels into its warmth.
Stepping into the library, the scent of Shadow’s magic engulfed me along with the parchment and ink. I'd been utilizing this space for what felt like lifetimes, and even with its current Christmas décor, every part of it was filled with familiarity and warmth.
The lights and tinsel now extended out into the shelves and around the doorways. Mera had been hard at work. Well, at least the goblin population—headed by their fearless leader Gaster—were hard at work bringing Mera's vision to life.
It did feel homey with peppermint and spruce scents joining the others, along with the fire that still burned in her makeshift fireplace. As I walked along, I ran my hands over the decorations, particularly loving the red and gold tinsel mixed with twinkling white lights.
Mera had taken a room already magical in nature and really dialed it up a few notches.
Using our connection, I followed her energy to where she was sprawled across a red chaise positioned near the tree. Our bond, still so newly formed, was somewhat muted between worlds, but here it thrummed in my chest like another line of power. There would come a time when we'd be able to find each other no matter where we were in the worlds, but for now, just feeling her presence was enough.
"Angel!" she shouted, her head lifting as she smiled at me and ate the last chocolate ball that had been in the bag resting on her chest. As she pushed herself awkwardly to her feet, I was surprised that Shadow wasn’t hovering nearby in case Mera broke a nail. I was protective too, but these males thought that being pregnant made her a porcelain doll instead of the badass she was. My best friend was growing an entire god in there, and that was the greatest magic of all.
"Where's your entourage?" I asked, looking around like they might jump out of the shelves the moment I got too close.
"Would you believe that they were stuck to my ass all morning," Mera said with a cheery smile, "until I lost my ever-loving shit, and now they're lingering nearby pretending to work when I know they're silently 'protecting me' in their over-the-top ways."
There was a slapping sound behind us, and I heard Lucien snarl. "I told you so!"
Len snarled back. "You. Fucking. Idiot. Now she knows for sure we're here."
Mera rolled her eyes at me before shaking her head and raising her voice. "This is really getting old. Don't make me remind you who I am. I will literally fry your asses and give them to Midnight as a snack."
Shifting my stance, I examined the shelves closest to the Christmas tree and found the fae and vampire a few seconds later. I hadn't sensed them, so they were masking their energy. I could have sniffed them out if I’d dialed up my power, but I hadn’t thought I needed to.
Before Mera could say anything else, Len and Lucien strolled out, dressed casually in their normal silver and black attire. The fae shot his brightest smile at Mera. "You know that Shadow will murder us if you're unsuper—"
