Happy.
Joyous.
Content.
Those are three words I never expected to say about myself, yet here I am, looking at my reflection, and that’s all I can see.
Because of them.
But even more so, it’s because of me.
Old me would have run from every single one of them, my walls firmly intact as I hid behind the mockery of life that I was living, hellbent on staying at Walker’s side.
One butterfly effect and I’m on a completely different course of life.
It makes my cheeks ache and I have to look away. Instead, I snag the hair tie from the stand on the vanity and run my fingers through my hair, dragging it back off my face into a high ponytail before securing it in place.
It makes my smile look bigger now that it’s not hiding behind my hair.
A knock sounds from the bathroom door, which quickly opens just enough to reveal Rion’s face.
“We’re being summoned, Petal. Ready to be all kickass, crazy, and shit?” he asks, wiggling hiseyebrows like it might not be the end of our world, and I shake my head at him, grin firmly still in place.
“I’m good to go,” I breathe, hating that this moment is over. But I take a deep breath, encapsulating it.
Besides, I ache in all of the right places, and that’s going to stay with me far longer than stepping out of this room, that’s for sure.
I move toward him and he drapes an arm around my shoulder.
Stepping back into the bedroom, I realize it’s just the two of us, but before I can ask, Rion offers an explanation.
“Your mom let us know. They’ve gone with her to see what information they’re sharing.”
“So they’re in charge now?” I ask, and he frowns.
“What do you mean?”
“Just that they seem to have some kind of plan now, are we supposed to trust in it?” I clarify, and his lips pinch as he thinks for a moment.
“I think it’s good guidance at this stage, but if we ever feel like it’s not our path, we can switch it up real fast.”
I nod, the knot forming in my gut settling at his words as we head out into the hallway, following the noise coming from down the small flight of stairs. Light beams from the open door, and when we reach the opening, I get a full view of everyone waiting inside.
My eyes widen as I step inside, taking everybody in.
Kael’s parents stand against the far left wall, deep in conversation with my parents, along with Rikard and Rory. Ocean, Thorne, and Kael are hovering by the arsenal set up along the far right wall, while the rest of the space is filled with every single person I only know from crossing paths with them in Jude’s room of captives.
“What is this?” I blurt, earning everyone’s attention.
A flash of recognition washes over many faces in the center of the room, earning me a mixture of apprehensive looks and small smiles. Regardless, I suddenly feel the weight of what we’re doing, and I need more information before I even dare to move.
“Elodie, you look rested,” my father says, a gentle smile on his lips, and his ease makes me a little more comfortable. “Come, we’re about to goover it all,” he adds, and I move toward him, Rion remaining at my side with his arm tossed around my shoulders.
Thorne, Kael, and Ocean join us as Kael’s mother clears her throat, drawing everyone’s attention to her.
“Thank you for gathering here. I never imagined it would be under these circumstances, or at this time, but when an opportunity presents itself, it’s important for us to take it,” she starts, earning a few nods from the gathered crowd. “We never imagined this venture would excel based on our children,” she continues, waving her hand in our direction, and the smile on her face is warm. “But here we are. We’ve been waiting, biding our time, and now here it is. The strongest people are in this room, and I believe we have the strength to face not only my son, Jude, but The Sanctum. Actually, I believe facing the latter will draw out Jude, creating one final war before we face retribution, and hopes of a future that looks nothing like the one we’re currently lost in.”
“And what does that look like to you?” Kael asks, his eyes boring into his mother’s, who smiles under the intense stare.
