“There you are! I was beginning to wonder if you were going to comment on this.”
V, I've been commenting the whole time, he said.
“So, you and Faerie were able to help me?” I asked.
I, more than she, he said proudly. But that's only because you spent most of your time here.
“Well, thank you for whatever you did,” I said.
It was rough, Alaric admitted. And there were moments when I was sure we were fucked. But I think you should be proud of yourself and your lovers; all of you proved that you're meant to be together.
My heart sped up; Al was touching on a question that had been circling my mind ever since I'd returned from Olympus. Both Alaric and Faerie had told me that I was with exactly whom I was meant to be with... except for Toby. When Toby and I had given up our love for each other, the Consciousnesses had said that it was for the best; that Toby wasn't meant to be mine. After we had reunited, they had conceded that Toby might be helpful, but I was worried that I was taking him away from his true destiny; that maybe Toby—like Blue—was meant for someone else. However, if we'd been drawn together during other timelines, then maybe we really were meant to be.
“All of us?” I asked hesitantly. “Even Toby?”
Even Toby, Alaric admitted. You'll get those memories back, I'm sure, and then you can see for yourself.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
Vervain, you need to stop thinking that you're doing them a disservice by loving them, Alaric chided me. They are lucky to be in your life and to be loved by you; you love passionately and fiercely. Sure, they may have each found a woman to love only them, and she may have been good and true and all of that, but I can guarantee that she wouldn't love them as you do. You may care for more than one man, but you love each of them completely; beyond completely. You would do anything for them; walk through Tartarus, fire, or even that horrid snake shack in Niflheim.
“I would do anything for them; even the snake shack,” I agreed. “But how is it possible to love someone beyond completely?”
How is it possible for you to be fully Fey, Human, and God? It simply is. It's simply you, Vervain.
“Thanks, Al,” I said. “I needed to hear that.”
Welcome home, Godhunter.
Chapter Fifty-One
After lunch, I kissed my daughter, husbands, fiance, and boyfriend goodbye and then went to Faerie. Admittedly, using my ring to travel through time worried me a little after the whole debacle with Aion, but I came through it just fine. I reappeared before Arach with a smile on my face, and he shouted in relief as he hugged me tightly. My boys cheered, and Dexter yipped in happiness; even Blossom danced in her tall pot.
Our world was safe again.
“You did it,” Arach declared.
“I didn't,” I said with a self-deprecating smile. “I tried, but I failed. It was Chronos who saved us.”
“Chronos?” Arach asked. “The Greek Primordial?”
“He stepped in and put Time back the way it was supposed to be.” I nodded.
“Put it back?” Arach gaped at me. “Are you saying that Nyx succeeded in rewriting history?”
“Nearly succeeded,” I corrected. “Three times, evidently.”
You'll remember it soon, Fire King. Faerie said.
“Mommy was our mommy in another way,” Brevyn said serenely.
I gaped at Brevyn. “Do you remember that?”
“No.” Brevyn sighed in disappointment. “But I see it now. You were sad and happy to see me.”
“I was happy to see my friend,” I explained. “But sad to lose you.”
“I know,” Brevyn said with a smile.
Rian just scowled at us along with his father.
“What happened to Nyx and that time god?” Arach asked.
“Hades beheaded Nyx,” I said. “And I executing Aion by transferring his magic to Chronos. The High King will receive a message from Olympus soon; outlining the whole situation and the way we resolved it.”
“The High King? Why?” Arach asked.
“Because Chronos pointed out that what those Greek gods did nearly changed the history of all the realms,” I explained. “The Olympians want the Fey to know that the criminals were punished.”
“Ah; they're afraid of us,” Arach concluded. “As they should be.”
“Yes, darling; I'm sure that's it.” I rolled my eyes.
“You didn't forget me, Mommy,” Brevyn said solemnly.
“I told you that I wouldn't.” I crouched down to kiss his cheek and then hugged both of my sons together. “Neither of you.”
Dexter yipped again, and I pulled him into the hug.
“I'm so happy to be back home with all of you,” I said.
Arach knelt behind the boys and laid his hands on their little heads. Then he looked up at me with tear-filled eyes.
“Not as happy as we are to have you home, A Thaisce,” Arach whispered.
I leaned forward and kissed Arach quickly over the heads of our boys, and then he sank down beside me and pulled us all close; even Dexter got to nestle in with us.
We are most happy, indeed, Faerie said. May that happiness never be threatened again.
I couldn't agree more, but it seemed as if every step I made brought new threats into my life. As I looked over my fey family, I felt a twinge of fear for what may come.
Let go of it, Daughter, Faerie spoke gently into my mind. Whatever comes next, you will face it with courage, skill, and wit, and you will triumph. That's one thing that I'm certain of.
A feeling of peace came over me then, and I'm not sure if it was from Faerie or from what she'd said. It didn't matter; I've learned to take peace wherever and whenever I
