by Laura Kaye
Anna gasped. “Ereb—”
The primordial god raised a hand that had her swallowing her words. Erebus tilted his head and narrowed his gaze. An eternity passed while Anna waited for his reply. He couldn’t have brought Devlin back to life just to see him punished, could he? Finally, Erebus said, “No. Because the lie saved not only your family, but mine. And without you finding her, I would never have known Annalise existed.”
Relief rushed through Anna so hard she felt a little dizzy, and the look on Devlin’s face told her he felt the same way.
Erebus extended a hand. “Rise, son.”
Devlin’s gaze went wide as he accepted the older god’s hand and rose.
“Do you promise to take care of her?”
Devlin’s reply was instant and strong. “On my life.”
Erebus nodded. Then he extended Devlin a hand.
Eyes going wide, Devlin stared at Erebus’s offering, and then he grasped it and rose to his feet. Erebus tugged him in and said, “You are worthy.”
Tears pricked at the backs of Anna’s eyes, but they were born of happiness, especially given the look on Devlin’s face. Like the satisfaction of a man finally given a morsel to eat after years of starvation.
For a moment, Devlin gathered himself, and then he turned to the husk of a god still kneeling on the ground before them. Crouching right in front of Eurus, Devlin stared at the god for a long time, and then he released a sigh. “Be free of this life you have so hated. I hope you find some peace.”
No one would’ve blamed Devlin, least of all Anna, had his parting words been filled with vengeance and accusation. But her god had a good heart and a kind soul, and it made Anna fall in love with him even more.
And then Devlin tilted his head back and heaved a deep breath. When he released it, a strong, cool breeze surged from behind them. Slowly, bits of Eurus floated away on the wind. Zephyros joined him, and the breeze strengthened. Chrys fell in line next, then Owen. And together, the four gods joined their winds and scattered Eurus to the corners of the world.
Amazed, Anna glanced at Erebus, who gave her a nod and pulled her in against his side.
By the time they were done, most of the clouds of the hurricane had scattered, leaving the hesitant light of the sun just peeking through after a storm.
“It’s finally over,” Zephyros said, his voice tight.
As Devlin rose and nodded, Zeph threw an arm around him.
The Anemoi stood there together for a long time, as if they could still see the remains of their fallen brother drifting off on the wind.
When she couldn’t stand the distance any longer, she came up behind Devlin, laid her head on his back, and wrapped her arms around his stomach.
He turned in her arms and kissed her forehead. “None of this would’ve been possible without you. You saved me, and I don’t just mean here,” he said, nodding at the crater in the road behind her. “I love you, Annalise Fallston.”
Her heart couldn’t have been any fuller, even as an old, familiar ache settled into her back and chest. Proving that what Iris had said about the curse was true. “I love you, too.”
“Annalise?” Erebus said.
She turned to him, surprised to see such a sad expression on his shadowy face. “Yes?”
“We should return to the Realm of the Gods now.”
“I know, but first I need to find—”
He shook his head. “He’s waiting for you.”
She frowned. “What?”
“He’s waiting to say good-bye.”
…
It was the only time Anna had ever flown in the wind that she hadn’t enjoyed the experience. Because it was taking too long, yet at the same time, it was going by too fast. Her father being in the Realm of the Gods waiting for her could only mean one thing.
And her heart was shattered.
How could this have happened? How could they have defeated Eurus, saved Devlin, and lost her father? Where was the justice in that?
Finally, Aeolus’s compound—or Zephyros’s, now—came into view, but the restoration of her colored vision held no joy for her, because it only meant she was that much closer to having to say good-bye to her father for the very last time.
They entered the Hall of the Winds and found a group of people awaiting their return, just like before. Except this time, everyone was happy. Because a tall man with brown hair was talking a mile a minute and telling stories that had everyone laughing out loud.
Anna came back into her body—there was no adjustment time at all anymore—and saw the splendorous room in full color. It took her ears less than ten seconds to realize the voice telling the story of how Anna had once caused a blackout in a hotel when she was six and having a temper tantrum was her father.
“Daddy?” she asked, stepping closer, but not believing what she was seeing or hearing.
He turned around, and Anna gasped. The father of her youth stood before her. Twenty years younger, happy, talkative, and fully in his right mind. “There she is,” he said, holding out his arms.
Anna ran into his embrace. “I’m so sorry,” she said, trying and failing to hold back a sob.
“There, there,” he said, stroking her hair. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
She pulled back and looked into his kind eyes. “If I had been there—”
“Then you might’ve been lost, too.”
Another thought crashed into Anna’s brain, stealing her breath. “Evan and Jake—”
“Are both fine. Injured, but they’ll be good as new. They worked so hard to save me. Those god fellas, too.” Her dad shrugged. “But I was ready to go.” He held out his arms and grinned that old grin she remembered so well. “And look at me now.”
“Daddy,” she said, torn between sadness at his loss and happiness at how he was now. Just the way he used to be.
“You’re gonna be just fine, Annalise. You have this big family here who will take care of you.” He smiled and squeezed her hands.
“You’re my family.”
“Of course I am. But so are they.” He nodded to the group around them.
Amazement at his easy acceptance of all this flashed through her. “You know, then? About all this, I mean?”
“Your mother and I always knew something was different about you, Annalise. No one else in our family has your pale blond hair, or gray eyes, or is color-blind. You know I’m hard-pressed to even draw a stick figure, let alone create the amazing art that has always come so naturally to you. Your mother used to joke that she would’ve thought the angels had dropped you in a basket on our doorstep if she hadn’t given birth to you herself. Miss Iris over here filled me in,” he said, smiling at the pale-haired goddess Anna so much resembled. “So now I know.”
The moment he spoke the words, Anna recalled the sound of her mother’s voice saying that jokingly but with such affection. “You’re still my dad.”
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “You better believe it. Nothing could ever change that. Now, introduce me to all these fine folks,” he said in his old, jovial style.
She went around the room making introductions, her heart so, so happy to have this moment with him, but absolutely dreading saying good-bye. Why couldn’t she have this forever? Couldn’t he be saved the way Devlin and Megan and the baby had been?
Finally, she came around to Erebus and Devlin, whom she’d saved for last. She stepped in front of her biological father, and seeing the two men face off was like seeing two worlds collide. Except, the meeting wasn’t a collision, it was gentle, friendly, respectful. “Daddy,” Anna said, “This is Erebus. My, uh—”
“Your biological father,” he said, extending his hand. “Pleasure to meet you, sir. And might I say it’s been an honor to be in Anna’s life.”
Anna simply couldn’t hold back the tears anymore.
Erebus returned the shake with a warm smile. “You’ve raised a beautiful, accomplished woman. I’m honored to know you, Mr. Fallston.”
Anna blinked. “Wait. What?”
“Oh, you didn’t know?” her father said. “After I passed, Erebus guided my soul back here.”
Anna’s gaze cut between her fathers, and in that moment she couldn’t decide which one she loved more. And the best thing about it—she didn’t have to decide. She could love them both, and she did. “Thank you,” she managed.
Erebus bowed. “My pleasure, Annalise.”
“And who’s this young man, then? Not Michael,” Dad said with a wink.
Devlin blanched. “No sir. And I apologize for—”
“For what? Making an old, confused man feel better?” He shook his head. “It was a great kindness.”
“Daddy, this is Devlin. My…uh…” Anna looked among the three men as her tongue got tangled on the words.
“Groom-to-be, sirs,” Devlin said, glancing at Dad, then Erebus. “That is, if I have your blessing.”
Anna’s face went hot. Groom-to-be? He was going to…he was asking for… Anna put her hand to her forehead.
“Hot damn, Devlin,” Dad said, extending his hand and pulling Devlin into a hug once he held it. “Now I really know my girl is cared for.”
Devlin pulled back wearing something close to a smile. “Our girl, sir.”
“Ha!” her father laughed. “I like you, kid. You take good care of her, treat her right, make her laugh plenty, and say ‘yes’ to everything she wants. I was married a lot of years, and I’m telling you that’s the formula to success.” Dad clapped him on the shoulder, and Anna couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Yes, sir,” Devlin said, his smile growing. And, oh, God, the happiness shining from his eyes made Devlin almost too gorgeous to look at. And he was all hers. He turned all that happiness on her, causing Anna’s heart to skip in her chest. Then he took her hands and knelt in front of her. “Annalise Fallston, you are my savior, my heart, and my light. I love you more than I ever thought possible, and I cherish you as much as any god has ever cherished any goddess. Would you do me the greatest honor of my very long life and become my wife?”
Anna’s heart beat so hard and so fast she was almost light-headed. Or maybe that was the incredible joy flowing through her and lifting her up. She looked from Devlin’s expectant face to her father, who was absolutely beaming with pride and joy, to Erebus’s, who gave her a nod and a smile. In that moment, Anna felt so surrounded by love and support that every bit of sadness and guilt fled, leaving only a woman who didn’t know how she’d gotten so lucky, but who was beyond grateful.
“Um. Anna?” Devlin said.
“Oh my God,” she said, squeezing his hand to her chest. “I’m sorry. I’m just so happy, I blissed out for a minute.” Everyone chuckled, including Devlin. “It would make me the happiest woman ever. Yes.”
And that was the first time Anna ever saw Devlin truly, freely, joyously smile.
In a fast motion, he rose to his feet, lifted her in his arms, and kissed her right there in front of two fathers, a mother, and a bunch of…well, in-laws, she supposed. Not that she was paying them any mind. Because just then, she was lost in the ecstasy of her eastern god and the deep satisfaction at bringing him the same joy he brought her.
The best part? For her and Devlin, happily ever after was going to last for all eternity.
Epilogue
One month later
If Annalise Fallston thought rough, tough Devlin Eston was hot, that guy was nothing compared with the god at the height of his seasonal power standing at an altar waiting for her to be his forever and wearing an all-black tux. Holy hell, Anna could barely stand it in all the best ways.
Standing at the end of the aisle, Anna smiled up at Erebus, her dashing divine father who gave Devlin a run for his money in the handsome department. Almost.
“Garrett would be so proud of you,” he said with a smile. “In fact, I know he is.”
Anna blinked back tears and managed a “thank you.” The only thing that could’ve made this day anymore perfect was if her human dad had been able to be there, too. But his soul had moved on to peaceful rest after they’d said their good-byes that day in the Hall of the Winds. She’d been so lucky to have that chance that she couldn’t bring herself to regret anything about the way that had worked out—the way Erebus had made it work out.
“Before we make this little trip, I have a present for you,” he said.
Anna grinned and glanced at Devlin. “Now?”
“Yes,” he said. “I want you to know that Iris and I had your curse repealed.”
Gasping, Anna’s hands flew to her chest. Not that she wanted to live in the human realm, but if this was true she and Devlin could see the world together. It gave them options that her restriction to the Realm of the Gods did not. “What? How?”
“We paid Iris’s elders a visit. The fears that drove the curse no longer exist, at least not for most. And I was”—he gestured with his hand—“persuasive.”
Anna pressed her hand to her mouth and blinked back tears. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Oh my God, I have to tell Devlin.”
Erebus leaned down and kissed her cheek. “He knows.”
Anna’s mouth dropped open and she cut a disbelieving glance toward her groom, who wore the most adoring smile. She laughed.
“Ready?” Erebus asked, smiling broadly.
She nodded. “A hundred percent yes.”
To the side of the altar, a harpist began to play. Anna wasn’t sure where the waiflike musician had come from, only that Iris had told Anna not to worry about a thing and made all the arrangements like the loving mother she was.
Taking a deep breath, Anna started down the outdoor aisle covered with big, jewel-toned leaves that matched the reds, golds, coppers, and bronzes in the sash on her otherwise white gown. The towering trees around them absolutely blazed with fall color, just like in Anna’s painting, and it made her so completely happy. Not just because it was so gorgeous she would never forget it, but also because Devlin’s ascension to the East Wind had brought his entire realm back to life.
Apparently, everything here in the Eastern Realm had once been gray and brown and in a state of perpetual decay. But when Devlin had returned to the East to rescue his brother Alastor from Eurus’s dungeon, he’d found that Eurus’s evil enchantments had died with him. So the trees danced with the colors of his season and all the old dark magic of his childhood home had disappeared—including the traps preventing Alastor’s escape.
Anna’s gaze cut to the front row, where the god who looked so much like Devlin sat, quiet and shy. Alastor didn’t speak very much, he was jumpy in that same way that Devlin used to be, but much worse, and he’d spent much of the past month recuperating, even after Erebus had taken him personally to soak in the waters of the Acheron. But he was alive and healthy and could be very sweet when he opened up. Anna had loved him from the first moment he’d returned to Zephyros’s compound. Because the sheer joy and relief on Devlin’s face had told her how very important Alastor was to the man she planned to love for all time.
Next to Alastor sat Zephyros and Ella, which pleased Anna to no end. In the past month’s time, Zephyros had taken Alastor under his wing, helping him master the West Wind and regain his confidence. Ella had helped every step of the way and was able to draw Alastor into conversation almost more than Devlin. Devlin and Zeph’s relationship had improved by whole worlds before Alastor’s rescue, but the way Zeph had cared for Alastor these past weeks had bonded the three men in an amazing way no one could’ve ever seen. Anna couldn’t have been happier for all of them.
Breathing in the incredible, crisp air on this beautiful fall day, Anna smiled at Megan, Owen, and the boys. Seeing them now, it was almost hard to believe what had nearly happened a month ago, but she was so happy to see the little family together and thriving. She waved at Teddy as he called out her name at a volume that made everybody laugh.
In the row ahead of them sat Laney and Chrysander, who waggled his eyebrows at her when she glanced his way, making her laugh. The more she got to know him, the more she realized what a huge goofball—and sweetheart—the god was. Laney remained the only human among them, but because of the immortality she’d won and her unique powers of prophecy, Zephyros had negotiated with the Olympians for a special dispensation that allowed her to live in the Realm of the Gods if she wanted. She and Chrys hadn’t decided exactly what to do yet, because Laney had a beautiful horse farm back home that she absolutely loved. The place needed a lot of work after the hurricane, which Seth was overseeing, so right now they were taking it day by day.
Laney had confided in Anna that, in part, she was worried about choosing to leave her home because that would leave Seth alone. But his status as a griffin meant he could visit the Realm of the Gods. And given the way Anna sometimes caught her mother and Seth staring at each other, Anna wasn’t sure Seth was going to be single for that much longer.
Everywhere Anna looked, she found the most incredible happiness shining back at her. As she reached the altar, it was a moment of such pure and perfect joy that she turned and stared at the small gathering so she could memorize every detail of it for all time. Once she had it imprinted on her mind’s eye, she turned to the most handsome groom any bride had ever had.
As she and Devlin grasped hands and faced one another, Iris took up a position behind Anna and Erebus stood up for Devlin. And there in front of their large family, they exchanged words of love and honor and commitment.
And all the hearts of the Anemoi were finally, totally in love and at peace.
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