Kaia buries her face in Kieran’s chest. His hand comes up to cradle the back of her head, fingers tangling in her hair.
The God watches them for a moment. Then he stands.
“Heal,” he says to all of us. “Rest. Love each other. Return when you are ready — not before.”
He looks at each of us in turn. Finn, still crying against Malrik. Torric, fire finally steadying. Darian, whose light finally evens out as he watches Kaia in Kieran’s arms. Me, with the stone heavy in my pocket.
Kieran and Kaia, wrapped around each other like they’re afraid to let go.
“You will see me again,” the God says. “But not soon. Not until it is time.”
He tilts his head, studying us with something that might be fondness.
“You cannot heal on a frozen plateau. Let me give you one last gift.”
He snaps his fingers.
Light flares — bright, warm, gentle — and the worldshifts.
When my vision clears, we’re not on the plateau anymore.
We’re in Japti.
The great hall stretches around us, familiar and impossible. Warm light glows from the walls. The air smells like stone and fire and something ancient. The six bloodline halls branch off in their circle — and at the center, next to the hot spring, soft furs and cushions have been arranged like someone knew we were coming.
Which, I suppose, someone did.
The God stands at the edge of the hall, already fading.
“Rest,” he says again. “You’ve earned it.”
And then he’s gone.
The silence that follows is different. Softer. Warmer.
Mouse pads over to me. Sits at my feet. Looks up with those ancient violet eyes.
They will need time, his voice slides into my mind.But they have it now. Thanks to her.
Walter drifts closer, pulses once — warm, reassuring — and settles at my shoulder.
A weight I hadn’t realized I was carrying unspools from my chest.
We’re not alone. Even with Bob and Patricia and Finnick and Linda and Steve and Carl gone — we’re not alone.
I look at my family.
Kaia and Kieran, still tangled together, centuries of hurt finally cracking open. Finn and Malrik, holding each other through grief that’s turning into something else. Torric, fire steady now, watching Kaia with that fierce protective love he doesn’t know how to hide. Darian, light finally calm, one hand pressed to his chest like he’s holding something precious in place.
We’re broken. All of us, in different ways.
But we’re together.
I touch the stone in my pocket. Feel its warmth against my palm.
Not yet.
Not because the God commanded it — but because none of us are ready to face the world again.
