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“You look even more badass now than you did before.” Cruz complained and I shoved his shoulder as hard as I could. Which unfortunately, wasn’t very hard at all.
“I see that cut on your face. I bet it’ll scar. Then you’ll look more badass.”
Cruz beamed at my words, causing us all to chuckle. The things that mattered to teenage boys were laughable most of the time.
Giving my family one last round of hugs, I followed Halley and Wilder through the crowd, where the other four waited. Knox’s chest had three long gashes across the width, but the blood had stopped spilling. Eli didn’t have a scratch on him, but I saw the dark look in his eyes, and I knew he was struggling with what he had done. Kalani stood at his side, holding his hand tightly, no scratches on her. I was proud of the little Shifter for holding her own. And I knew she would make a damn good Alpha. Maeve was at her side, a little worse for wear, but overall, we were all alive.
The Darkness was gone and we were all alive. I knew we had a long road ahead of us. Regrowing Agrum Di Vinum after it had been destroyed. Integrating the Divines that had been trapped for centuries. But we could begin our lives of peace. And that was a reason to smile. Because we had fucking won.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Knox
After Halley healed everyone that needed it, the five of us got to work. If we had thought that the Divines from the human realm would regal us as their leaders, we hadn’t expected the Divines that were centuries old to hold us in the same regard. However, they had grown up in a world that held tight to its traditions. And once Halley restored the energy to Agrum Di Vinum, they had all turned to her. And when they realized that we were the remaining four Heirs, the five of us had become the ones in charge yet again.
I was flattered by their belief, but it was a heady task. Looking around at the clearing, I knew this was our first mission. We needed to clear the bodies or else we would never be able to rebuild. Instructing a group of men and women that had not been badly injured during battle, we began moving the bodies into a large grouping in the woods.
According to some of the older Divines, when there was death in the community, they performed a ceremonial ritual. They would build pyres and burn the bodies, believing that their ashes would be consumed once more by the land. Their energy returning to the power of Agrum Di Vinum.
For the next several hours, we all worked together, moving the bodies and gathering wood. I realistically knew that this could wait, but I think we all needed this ceremony. A reminder that no matter what had transpired, we were all from the same place. We were all Divines. And this was everyone’s realm once more.
Grabbing the last piece of wood, I laid it on top of the growing pile, looking away from the hundreds of Divines whose lives were lost today. I was thankful that those I cared for were safe, but I couldn’t help but think about the families who lost their loved ones. Not wanting them to miss out on the chance to say goodbye, Wilder had sprinted back to the castle, gathering the remainder of our people and bringing them to the funeral site.
As the pyre was done, the crowd gathered around the site, tears flowing freely from many eyes. The elders had informed us that the leaders of the realm usually performed the ritual, but since none of us knew the words, we had told them to perform it themselves.
The crowd quieted as an elderly woman stepped forward, a flame in her palm. When the Dark Divines had lost the effects of the shadows, Halley was ecstatic to learn she was no longer the only Enchanter. There were dozens waiting in the shadows. People she could continue to learn from that knew how her power worked.
The Enchantress that currently stood before the pyre, lifted the fire in her palm, speaking in their ancestral language. I didn’t understand the words, but I felt the power behind them. Turning to our language, she continued to speak.
“We will not mourn these lives before us. Instead, we will celebrate their sacrifice. We will relive their memories. We will cherish all they have given us and left behind.”
Setting her palm on the pyre, the flames spread, a large fire burning brighter and brighter the longer it lived.
“In this fire, allow their souls to find their next path. In these ashes, allow the land to reclaim their power. And in this smoke, allow their energy to flow through us all.”
She closed her eyes as she finished speaking, and as I watched the other Divines follow suit, I closed mine as well. And I hoped her words were true. That their lives were not taken in vain and in time, they would look down at us, proud of the peace we had created.
???
After the funeral, we had all congregated back to the castle. For now, it was the only area of Agrum Di Vinum that had livable shelters. The Divines cursed by the Darkness had been simply living in the forests, not caring where they slept. They had salvaged food from the forests, but they hadn’t been truly living, only surviving.
As others went to rest and mourn the people they had lost, the five of us had called a meeting. The committee members we had chosen joined us, as well some of the Divines that had been on the council before the Darkness had taken over.
Sitting at the head of the table, I took in the people surrounding me. Halley sat on my right, her eyes bright. Pride beamed through me whenever I looked at her, knowing that she was the only reason we were all alive today. Eli sat on my left, refusing to make eye contact with any of us. I knew that he was regretting all he had done. But I wouldn’t let that last for long. After this meeting, we would be speaking. Wilder sat at Halley’s side, a confidence in him I had never seen before. I felt that he finally knew his place in our world. Madden was at Eli’s side, his newly amputated arm wrapped in gauze, although Halley had already healed the cut. I knew that he would probably have new struggles to face going forward, but as he smirked, I knew he didn’t care in this moment.
The rest of the table was compromised of each Sector, men and women, young and old. We made sure that each and every one would get a say through this committee. I refused to let this new leadership become corrupt before it even began.
“Thank you all for being here. I know this isn’t great timing, but I figure the sooner we get started, the better.” My words were met with smiles and nods of agreement, so I continued. “Our first order of business will be to create more shelters. We have over four thousand Divines to house. They all deserve homes.”
“After the homes are built, we will begin building other community buildings. A hospital, a school, the necessities. More gardens will be grown, a system in place for meals until we become more established. This process will not be a short one. But I believe that by working together, we can rebuild Agrum Di Vinum to the beauty it once held.”
As I finished, the small group at the table broke into applause, Halley gripping my hand, pride shining in her eyes. After several questions from the group, everyone left, going to spend time relaxing and with their loved ones.
Kalani and Maeve were the last to leave the room, hugging us each before departing. And then there was just the five of us. My family.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Halley
