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“You came,” I whisper.
“I would never abandon you. Not now, not before. I was just a stupid, stupid man, who couldn’t see past his nose. I thought you needed space to process things back when Lavender fell, but that wasn’t it, was it?” His voice is so soothing and so full of regret.
I look up to meet his eyes. They sparkle with unshed tears.
“I wanted you to hold me while I processed. I never really needed to be alone. I didn’t know any better. I thought the darkness had to be faced alone, or not at all.”
Something moves in the corner of my eye. I look at the door and the people who are now running toward me.
“We’re here.” Damien drops to his knees near the bed and takes my bloody hand. He grasps it in both of his and squeezes.
Someone puts a blanket over my shoulders, covering my arms and bare legs. Mathias. I feel vulnerable under Ben’s T-shirt, so I’m thankful for the additional barrier between me and the world.
“You’re all here,” I whisper, a tide of emotion rising and constricting my throat.
“You’re part of the family,” Sophie says. “We will never abandon you.”
I look past her shoulder, noticing the little crowd that has gathered in the room. Members of Sophie’s gang and the Arcana all stand there, some observing us, some chatting to each other without regard for their different affiliations.
The crowd parts and I see an older woman with her arm over Jenya’s shoulder. They’re both slowly making their way to the bed. I shift and clutch the blanket tighter, making sure my bloody body is covered. I don’t want my little sister to suffer any more than she already has.
“Comet International was supporting the Red Rad Ron orphanage and the cult associated with it,” the woman says. “We’ve cleared the compound. The CEO got caught in the crossfire, so we consider the threat removed.”
I look at Ben, unsure of what to say. Who is this woman?
“We haven’t been officially introduced yet,” she says as if she’s read my mind. “My name is Emilia Rogers, the leader of the Arcana gang. You might have heard of my alias, the Empress.”
“Oh!” I fumble on the bed until I’m standing in front of her. “I’m Tanya. I—”
“You must be the woman who made my Hermit fall in love.” She casts a sly glance Ben’s way, who immediately jumps up and straightens.
“I’m sorry, Empress, this was not merely a personal matter, it was—”
“You have nothing to worry about,” she says with a smile, interrupting him. “I’m happy that you were able to forge a connection despite your different associations. I have enjoyed having an ally in Damien and Sophie. I know you already belong to Sophie’s people, but when it comes to family, you can never have too many. Welcome to the Arcana family, Tanya.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. My tears are silently streaming down my face, dampening my neck.
Ben puts his arm around my shoulders and squeezes, letting me process the moment.
In a circle around me are people I thought my darkness would destroy. My savior Damien and his lover, my friend Mathias, my half-sister Jenya. The Empress and people from two gangs that I’ll maybe get to know in the future.
And Ben.
He came into my life like a beacon of life and he stayed that way. In my eyes, he shines brighter than everyone, like a guiding light, illuminating my dark soul. He taught me so much about the world without realizing. Simple things I never truly knew before I met him—joy, mischief, curiosity.
And now, love.
“Do you want to explode some buildings?” Ben whispers into my ear, producing an iPad from somewhere. There’s a big red button in the middle of the screen.
“This building?” I ask.
“Not this one, but all the adjacent ones,” he replies.
I haven’t even seen what’s outside. I had a hood on when they brought me here. Do I even want to know?
The answer is easy. No.
“Let’s do it,” I say and lift my hand to the iPad.
