“Nothing worth having ever is,” I replied.
The sisters inclined their heads in unison as they began to fade, until they disappeared entirely, their purpose fulfilled, their role in my story complete.
The void around me started to collapse, the vast expanse of threads receding like stars at dawn. The golden thread in my hand pulsed once, twice, then pulled taut, as if something on the other end had suddenly grabbed it and yanked hard. The sensation was immediate like being hooked by a fishing line and reeled in.
I slammed back into my body, every nerve ending suddenly screaming to life all at once. The knife wound in my back burned like someone had poured molten metal into it as the fatal wound began to heal. My head throbbed where Trevor had struck me. My wrists stung from rope burns. Even breathing hurt, my lungs protesting as if they’d forgotten how to function.
But I was breathing.
I gasped, air flooding into my lungs in a desperate, ragged inhale that sent fresh pain shooting through my chest. My eyes flew open, vision blurred and swimming with tears.
Magnur’s face hovered above mine, features contorted with grief and desperation. His arms were wrapped around me in a crushing grip. His wings created a dark canopy above us, sheltering us from the harsh warehouse lights.
“—to me, please,” his voice was rough. “Jade. Come back to me.”
“Magnur,” I managed, my voice barely a whisper.
His entire body went rigid, eyes widening in disbelief. “Jade?”
The thread between us pulsed with renewed strength. I could feel him through it, his shock and desperate joy flooding into me, mingling with my own relief and love.
“Hi,” I said stupidly, because what do you say when you‘ve just returned from the brink of death after cutting your fate free from a psychotic ex-boyfriend?
His laugh was more sob than sound, his arms tightening around me as he pressed his forehead to mine. “You were gone,” he whispered. “The thread, it...you were gone.”
I reached up with trembling fingers to touch his face. “I came back for you. To you.”
I looked at him and I knew with absolute certainty this was where I belonged.
“I chose you,” I whispered. “And this time, no one will take that away.”
Epilogue
Jade
The afternoon sun painted the city sidewalk in patches of gold and shadow as Ziggy and I made our way down Fifth Avenue.
“Look at you,” Ziggy said, bumping his shoulder against mine with a theatrical sigh. “All domestic and shit."
I laughed. “Speaking of disgustingly in love,” I said casually, “have you thought about visiting the Moirai? They do have a pretty good track record.”
Ziggy stopped so abruptly that a businessman in a hurry nearly collided with him, earning a glare that he didn’t even notice. He turned to me with wide eyes, one hand pressed against his forehead.
“Absolutely not,” he declared. “Have you lost your mind, did you forget what those three put you through?”
“They didn’t put me through anything,” I countered, pulling him back into motion before he caused a sidewalk traffic jam.
Ziggy resumed walking but maintained his outraged expression. “Jade, honey, no. I am not trusting my love life to three women with scissors and a god complex.”
I bit my lip to hold back another laugh. “They don’t all have scissors. Just Atropos.”
“Oh, well that makes it so much better!” His hands flew up in exasperation. “Only one of them can literally cut my life thread! The others just measure it and spin it while making cryptic comments about destiny!”
“I’m just saying,” I continued, unable to keep the amusement from my voice, “they found me a demon mate who worships the ground I walk on and makes me happier than I ever knew was possible.”
“Yeah, after you nearly died and had to fight your way back from the afterlife.” Ziggy crossed his arms. “I’ll take Tinder, thanks. Less risk of stabbing.”
We turned the corner heading to Magnur's fashion house, I tried to keep the smile off my face at the thought of seeing him soon.
