I nodded, and Gage, Drea, and I left. We took the elevator downstairs and stepped out into the courtyard to head for the healing center. My gaze flicked out onto the grassy lawn full of Lumens and stopped on the sight of two familiar hunters in full leather battle gear. A scream of excitement tore from my throat as I broke away from Gage and Drea. “Mom! Gran!”
I felt like such a crappy daughter. I’d completely ditched my mom and Gran the past few days. I’d just been so busy with all of this drama that I’d barely seen them.
My mom opened her arms, and I crashed into her, reaching out to pull Gran in too.
“Ooph,” Gran groaned when I squeezed too tightly.
After releasing them, I took in their outfits. “Looking good.”
They both smiled, and Drea caught my elbow. “Gage and I will go get two healers and meet you back here.”
I nodded to her, and they left me to be alone with my family.
My mom puffed up her chest with pride. “Aurelia asked us to help protect the children while everyone is gone.”
That made me smile big-time. Aurelia was the best. She’d given them an important job but also kept them safe, for which I was grateful.
“Excuse me, Emery?” a familiar voice called behind me and I spun, a giant grin breaking out onto my face at the sight of Indigo and her small golden wings. White swirls danced along her shoulders and she winked at me, but then looked at my mother.
“Yes, dear?” My mom appraised Indigo’s new look with interest. I didn’t know how rare wings were among Lumens, but for Gage and Indigo to get them, I knew it must be very special.
“The archangel Cael says he would like to speak with you,” Indigo said, and all three of us went still with shock.
“To me?” My mom’s hand splayed out on her chest.
Indigo nodded. “Emery Powers. Mother of Tatum Powers.”
My mom swallowed hard, and I couldn’t help but laugh as joy spread throughout my limbs.
“Mom, I think Cael is feeling especially forgiving today. Do you want to renounce your Shade powers and become a Lumen?”
Tears welled up in my mom’s eyes and she burst into a little sob, wiping them away quickly and nodding, seemingly unable to find her voice. After multiple throat clearings, she finally spoke: “I would like that very much.”
Gran was beaming ear to ear with unshed tears lining her eyes as she put an arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “I’ll take you. I’ve wanted to do that since you turned eighteen.”
Now it was Indigo’s and my turn to get misty eyed.
“I can come too,” I said, but they both waved me off.
“You have enough on your plate, honey. We’ll see you later.” My mom shooed me off.
As Gran led my mom to the sanctuary I couldn’t help but remember Cael’s words to me the day I ascended and became a Lumen:
No one is irredeemable.
Maybe he hadn’t just been talking about Gage. Maybe he’d meant my mom too, and Indigo, perhaps even Harley. It might take some time for the latter, but I hoped one day she’d switch sides.
Speaking of Harley, as much as I wanted to stand here and wait for my mother, I had more pressing matters. I needed to go make sure she was okay.
By the time Drea and Gage returned with two healers and heaped praise on Indigo and her new wings, I was ready.
We had a war to win in twelve hours. I wasn’t going to waste a second of time.
* * *
“Harley! Dash!” I called out as I stepped through the portal into the Netherworld. The shallow cave I’d left them in was now empty. My heart immediately started to beat wildly in my chest.
“Don’t jump to any conclusions. They’re probably around here somewhere,” Gage said as he took in the panicked look on my face, but he did immediately engage his weapon storage mark and pull a giant longsword off the tattoo on his bicep, the blade glowing with blueish-white light, so his reassurance wasn’t that convincing.
