Evangeline's room is quiet, just the sound of her breathing and the hum of the clubhouse waking up around us.I sink into the chair beside her bed, exhausted down to my bones.
Her eyes open, finding me immediately.
"It's over," I tell her."You're safe now."
"What happened?"
"Morrison's dead.The threat's gone."
"Did you?—"
"Does it matter?"
She studies my face for a long moment, reading things I can't hide."No.I guess it doesn't."
"I'm sorry you have to know this about me.About what I'm capable of."
"I already knew.I just hadn't seen it up close before."She reaches for my hand."Are you okay?"
"I don't know.Ask me in a few days."
"Okay."She squeezes my fingers gently."But Hades?Whatever you had to do to keep us safe...thank you."
"You don't have to thank me for that."
"Yes, I do.Because you didn't just save my life.You saved our future.Mine, yours, and those five kids who need us."
Our future.Something worth building toward.Something worth the dark stains on my soul.
I lean forward, pressing my forehead against hers."I love you."
"I love you too.All of you.Even the parts that scare me."
"Especially those parts?"
"Especially those parts."
I sit with her as the sun rises fully, chasing away the shadows of the night.In a few hours, the kids will wake up.We'll have to explain where I've been, why Evangeline's hurt.We'll have to start building the life we fought so hard to protect.
But for now, it's just us.Two people who've walked through hell and somehow found each other on the other side.
Hell's done taking from me.From now on, I build something worth living for.
Starting right here, right now, with the woman who taught me that love is stronger than violence, that hope is braver than rage, and that sometimes the best way to fight is to choose to keep living despite everything that tries to drag you down.
"Rest now," I tell her."I'll be here when you wake up."
"Promise?"
"Always."
Her eyes drift closed, trusting me to keep watch.To keep her safe.
And I will.For as long as I live, I'll protect this family we're building from the ashes of everything we've lost.
That's my vow.My purpose.My redemption.
And it starts now.
