It’s a long moment in his arms, the rush of power beating around us, and then… The magic falls like rain. I hear it hitting the ground in what sounds like fat droplets and when Roman opens his wings slightly, I can see the magic sinking into the land until it’s completely gone.
Silence falls around us and it’s nearly as loud as the storm of magic had been. I stay wrapped in Roman’s arms, my head on his shoulder, his wings gentle against my back.
“My heart and soul,” he murmurs.
I tip my head back and kiss his jaw, his cheeks, and then his lips, acutely aware that I’m completely naked and I want nothing more than for him to whisk me away from here because…
It’s over.
It’s finally over.
“Clothe,” he whispers, brushing a kiss across the rune on my wrist. My armor returns a moment before he opens his wings.
The demons are all watching us as Roman rises and sets me back on my feet. I find Koda standing only a few paces away beside Wild Girl and Reaper. His arms are folded across his chest, but a slow smile forms on his face. “You did it,” he murmurs. “You fucking did it.”
The energy storm is gone. The hungry souls have vanished. Souls continue to lift quietly from Esta’s body, faster now, and she is gone and so is Crone.
“Wedid it,” I say.
Murmurs grow in the crowd. Demons are rising from their seats and some of them are starting to cry with relief while others simply sit, hugging each other. Their voices grow louder when another group appears in the jagged opening at the side of the stadium.
My father strides ahead of a group of soldiers, including Tyrus, along with at least fifty other demons I don’t recognize. All of the other demons look tired and gaunt, as if they’ve been starved, and I can only imagine they’ve come directly from the prison.
Tyrus is supporting two older demons, hugging them, and I guess they could be his parents. My father must have freed them.
On seeing the gaunt demons, many in the crowd suddenly cry out and clamber over the railings, jumping onto the battlefield and running to the demons, crying as they hug each other.
It’s a sight I never thought I’d see. Such an outpouring of genuine love and happiness between demons.
My father approaches us at a quick stride. His eyes are bright violet and smoky-gray swirls lift off his shoulders and surround his hands. His power is breathtaking, and for a moment, I consider if this is how I look when I harness my nightmares.
My breath catches when Jareth sweeps both Koda and me off our feet into his big arms, somehow managing to hug us both at once.
“My children,” he says before he sets us both back on the ground. Then he acknowledges Roman. “Old friend.”
Roman gives a formal bow. “My king.”
Jareth takes a quick breath. “No,” he murmurs. “Not anymore.”
He turns to Koda and me. “Your power rules now. The Elimination is over. The crown will be yours.”
I step into Roman’s arms, but I already know my destiny, and it’s not on the throne.
“Koda’s power rules,” I say, quietly but firmly, meeting my brother’s startled eyes for a moment before I turn back to Roman. “My future belongs with my pack.”
Roman sweeps me up into his arms, places me on Wild Girl’s back, and swings up behind me. Reaper takes her place beside us, the flock of bats swarm above us, and among them, I finally spot Ingrid, the little bat I bonded with during my stay in the Wilds. She dips down toward me, giving me a joyful shriek before rising up to rejoin her family.
They are, all of them, the creatures of my nightmares.
They live in the shadows.
Just as I will.
Roman plants a kiss on my neck, scoops his arms around my waist, and together, we leave the arena behind.
EPILOGUE
HAPPILY EVER AFTER… DEMON-STYLE
