Page 368 of The Gods Order

The thought makes me smile. I remember my hundredth birthday like it was yesterday, although it was twenty years ago. On that day, though, it seemed like an ancient age.

My men didn’t let me feel like that for long.

Now I sit here knowing exactly how quickly those years disappear.

All the Akova children are grown. Almost all of them have found their Starwoven and are married.

They have lives of their own now. Partners who love them.

Homes they built.

My mom, dad, Annalise, and Ellian have been living as empty nesters for years and they’ve enjoyed every moment of it. They travel, try new things, and meet new people. Derivius and Meridamus tag along with them from time to time, but the two of them like to tease and say they do too many ‘old people’ things for them.

They’re full of shit.

Regardless, the six of them always come back home and find this.

My house and back porch packed with their “kids.”

They’ve all, together, claimed all of us as theirs.

Sometimes I can’t help but think how wild and different our lives would’ve been had the six of them raised all of us.

Then I take a look around. I wouldn’t have anything any other way.

I wouldn’t change a single thing that led us to this point.

Speaking of parents…

It didn’t take much time for Iric and Prath to come to the conclusion that Calista and Rellannaver were never going to change.

They simply didn’t want to.

So, when the portal to the nonmagical realm opened for us a few years back, we sent their asses right on through. My power can’t fuck with the portals, but I did place a barrier right in front of that one, so if either of them ever decides to come back, I’ll know.

Not all the portals are open yet, and I don’t know when they’ll be. It really isn’t something I worry over too much, though. My responsibility is to the Valorian Veil. Poor Willow’s the one who has to worry about the rest.

Before she reopened that first portal, the two of us went to the Unclaimed region together and spoke with every being who’d been stranded here for generations. We gave them the same choice we’d all fought so hard to protect. If they wished to return home, Willow would take them. If they’d built a life here and wanted to stay, they were welcome to remain.

Some left. Many didn’t.

Once everyone had made their decision, I finally lowered the barrier surrounding the region. It hasn’t been the Unclaimed for years now.

It’s the Sanctuary region. Exactly what it had always been.

She explained to me very honestly that the nonmagical realm wasn’t doing well and, to sustain its life, it needed more power flowing through its soil.

I wouldn’t say she was giving us the option to agree to the portal being open or not. More so, it was a conversation of courtesy. It didn’t bother me one bit, and my power, along with the Gods Binding, agreed.

Not going to lie, though, I was very disappointed when we went to visit the nonmagical realm. All those years of building it up in my mind just for much of their land to resemble what the Abandon did all those years ago.

I was really hoping for more.

Anywhos, if there comes a time for the others to open, she’ll let me know.

We see each other plenty.

“You’re doing it again,” Yemi whispers and I lean into her.