Zephyr and Niko don’t say anything, but they also don’t shy away from me. Niko holds me tight as Zephyr grabs my waist, resting his head against mine. I’m surrounded by love, and it comforts me, but it still doesn’t stop the tears from falling. They fall and fall, and we’re just standing here. Together. And it’s exactly what I need.
I don’t know how long it takes for the tears to finally dry, but it feels like a heavy weight has been lifted off my chest when they do. Like I can finally breathe again. With reluctance, I pull out of Niko’s grip, making sure not to move too far away from him as I cup his face. “You’re okay? Truly okay?”
Niko’s kind smile melts me, and I’m nearly a sobbing mess again. “I’m good. Better than good. I knew you could do it. The tonic worked?”
At the mention of the tonic, my gaze snaps to Zephyr.His expression is unreadable, but I can tell Finnick didn’t share what happened. That little detail was left for us to deliver.Perfect.I part my lips to speak, to brace him for the truth, but I don’t get the chance. Lady Thalia sweeps in with Finnick at her side, her eyes already glassy with unshed tears.
“Welcome back, dear,” she says softly, her voice thick with emotion. “Finnick told me everything.”
Niko’s brow furrows. Unasked questions dance across his face, and I can’t stand the tension brewing between us. “I jumped into the well,” I blurt out unceremoniously.
Niko’s face goes from confused to surprised to something else entirely. Not quite anger, but close enough. “Let her explain, Niko,” Zephyr says, remaining at his spot next to me. His hand finds mine, and he takes it, locking our fingers together. Niko notices this action, and I swear a smirk crosses his features.
But I don’t get to enjoy his secret smile for long because all eyes are on me, waiting patiently for me to tell them what happened. So I do. It all comes pouring out. Everything that happened when we left. How we faced the Nephilim, but lost the tonic. How I planned to sacrifice myself long before the tonic broke into tiny glass shards—which neither Zephyr or Niko were happy to hear. Actually, they were quite livid about that. Despite their anger, I persist and tell them what happened when I jumped in and how Finnick and Zephyr followed. By the time I finish, I’ve stunned my small audience into silence.
It’s a lot to take in, even for me, and I lived it.
Niko’s the first to find his composure. His gaze goes between me and Zephyr before finally landing on me. “We owe you everything,” he says, but then in the same breath adds, “but don’t you dare ever do something like that again.”
“I already lectured her,” Zephyr pipes in, which makes Niko round on him.
“And you,” he jabs his finger into Zephyr’s chest, “don’t do something so damn stupid and reckless again.”
“You do stupid and reckless things for those you love,” Zephyr says, and the world stills.
Silence ripples through the room like a held breath. No one speaks. No one moves. He said it, right in front of everyone, including his mate. Not hidden in a glance or buried in subtext, but spoken aloud, like it was the most obvious truth in the world.
It’s not a direct confession—notquite—but it lands like one. Heavy. Trembling. Real.
Zephyrlovesme.
The realization crashes over me like a wave. My chest tightens, not from fear but from wonder. My heart swells with something wild and aching and impossibly full. I feel rooted and weightless all at once, stunned by the magnitude of what he’s just admitted.
He said it. Helovesme.
So why the fuck can’t I say it back? I’ve said it once, right before I jumped into the well. The words are on the tip of my tongue, begging to be let out. He needs to hear them. I need to say them. Tell both of them. But it doesn’t feel like enough. I want toshowthem. The words can’t replicate thefeeling, but maybe my actions can. And then maybe I’ll find my voice to say those three words. Because there’s no doubt in my mind that I love these men. Both of them.
Something heavy passes between us, then shared heated glances that have me squeezing my thighs together. I can’t take having them both so close, and yet not close enough. I need them both. Now. There are so many things we need to discuss and do, but none of them seem important right now. I can’t bring myself to care about a single one.
Lady Thalia clears her throat, reminding me she’s still here with Finnick. A knowing smile graces her lips. “There’s a lot to be done, but that can wait a day. On behalf of our kingdom, Evangeline, Zephyr, and Finnick, we cannot thank you all enough. You’ve earned a day of solitude.” With that, Lady Thalia gives me a quick but loving hug and pulls away. “Come, Finnick. We have things to tend to.”
“We? They get a day of solitude, and I have things to tend to? I’m a hero here too, you know. In fact…” His words trail off as he follows Lady Thalia away. The woman is a saint, and her everlasting patience for her younger son knows no bounds. I can’t help but smile.
That is until Niko grabs my free hand, and I look back at him, catching his heated expression once again. “I don’t know if I want to kiss you or lecture you about sacrificing yourself.”
“The first one. Definitely the first one,” I say a little breathlessly.
A wicked grin curls across his face, dark and electric,sending a jolt straight through me. His eyes flick between us—hungry and commanding.
“I need you both,” he says, voice low and laced with heat. “In our room. Now.” He takes a step closer, and my breath catches. “Let meproperlythank you… for saving our people. And saving me.”
I don’t argue. I simply let him lead Zephyr and me to our room, my body buzzing the whole way.
Chapter 41
Niko
Iwas so close to losing them and didn’t know it. It’s a miracle they are even walking alongside me, when they should be dead. The ultimate sacrifice—we all took that for meaning death. This is the only time I’m glad my mother is wrong. Whatever happened between the three of them— Evangeline, Finnick, and Zephyr—was enough to satisfy the ancient well and break the curse. It was a gamble that could have ended terribly.
