Selena glanced up at me, then headed over to the headmaster of Red Rose Academy. "Costin, do I still have a job?"
"Despite my wishes, Julienne refused to fire you."
I smiled. That was so like Julienne.
Selena didn't miss a beat. "Then I have another proposal for you."
"One I'm not going to like?"
"Probably not. You don't have anyone teaching students how to ward off demons, do you?"
"Not specifically demons. We have the defense against the dark arts class. You know that."
"What about possession?"
His eyes widened. "Possession? No."
She looked at me. "Rocco has been possessed twice and survived. He's part of Michael's team now. And the prince." She let that settle. "Don't you think he'd be an asset to the Academy?"
Costin didn't answer her. He turned to me, his gaze steady, measuring — the look of a man going through every fight I'd survived, every mistake I'd made. He knew it all.
"Tell me, Rocco. Do you want to work at the Academy?"
I nodded, not wanting to return to flipping burgers — a job I sucked at. "Yes."
"I'm not sure about giving you your own class, but you could work with my dark arts professor as his assistant. We'll start from there. This would be on an interim basis." He studied me. "Is that reasonable to you?"
"I think it's fair."
"Good. Come over for dinner tonight. We'll work out the particulars."
"We'll be there," Selena said as she looped her arm through mine.
Costin shifted into a bat and flew out of the bayou, leaving us staring at each other.
Darius clasped Alice's hand. "I think it's time to head back to Colorado before Michael sends us on a mission. I miss the mountains."
"Agreed," Lucien said. He looked at Raven. "You good to fly us back?"
The silver dragon nodded.
Alice and Darius climbed onto her back and Lucien settled in front of them. I stepped forward, looking up at the three of them — people who had walked into hell beside me without hesitation.
"Thank you for helping us. I couldn't have done this without you."
Darius winked. "We know. See you soon."
Lucien smiled. "We're a team now. Michael's team."
Raven launched into the air, her wings catching the light, and they disappeared into the sky.
"We can give you a ride back to Selena's," Valentin said.
“Our home,” Selena corrected.
Home. A real home. Not a hotel. A home.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
