Page 121 of In the Ravenous Dark

I reach for Lydea’s other hand, as well as Ivrilos’s.

“You’re bound to all of us,” I say. I can’t help smiling again, like a fool.

Japha eyes Ivrilos. “At least he really is something to look at. And if he’s your family, he’s mine.” They take Ivrilos’s free hand, startling him—and me. I shouldn’t be surprised. Not only is Japha touching Lydea and Ivrilos touching me, but shades can interact with one another without any help. And Japha has always been affectionate.

We all form a circle. Our strange little family. Only two related by blood, two of us dead, and two of usundead. And yet, despite our deaths, we’ve been reborn, more vibrant than ever before.

Like Japha said, I don’t mind this new arrangement. Not anymore. Not alongside them.

“You were there for me,” I say, squeezing their hands. “And I’ll be here for you, forever.”

“Until the end and after,” Lydea says seriously.

I just say it outright. “I love you. All of you.”

“I love you,” they all say back, nearly in unison. Japha and Lydea laugh, and Ivrilos smiles. “Forever,” he adds.

He’s so beautiful it’s heartbreaking. Except my heart can take it now. It feels unbounded instead of dead. Expansive and free.

And maybe even strong enough to face what I’ve lost. My father. My mother. The life that I once had. But I’m not quite ready yet. Because now is the time to celebrate what I’ve gained.

Blinking bloody tears from my eyes, I blurt, “Where to next?”

“I’ve always wanted to sail on a ship,” Lydea says, and then arches her brow. “Maybenowyou’ll come with me?”

“Of course. And I won’t even ask you to go to Skyllea.” I grin. “Yet. I still want to see it someday, but I’m in no rush.”

I still can’t let go of that memory of my father, telling me of its beauty, and my desire to see it for his sake.But ever since I caught aglimpse of it through that magical window, I wouldn’t mind seeing it forme.

We have time, though.

“Weshouldbe able to visit without trouble,” Japha says, and then grumbles, “The queen better keep her promises, or I swear to the goddess I willhaunther.”

I laugh. I’m just sohappy, I could almost split with it.

“Across the sea, then?” Ivrilos asks, that boyish gleam of excitement in his eyes. It would be something new for him, I realize, in four hundred years of the same scenery. I want to give him all of that and more.

Speaking of scenery…

I drag whomever I can reach into a hug. Even Japha and I can touch now, because they’re touching Lydea. I give them an extra-hard squeeze, like I couldn’t earlier, pressing my forehead to theirs before pulling Lydea and Ivrilos into the huddle.

“Let’s go,” I breathe. “The world is ours.” I withdraw a little sheepishly. “And I’m also hungry.”

There’s a wicked glint in Lydea’s beautiful red eyes. It promises lifetimes of adventure. “Me too.”

“What do we even eat, as shades?” Japha asks.

Ivrilos only laughs. The sound is delightful, even if edged in darkness.

Just like my family. I hope the world is ready for us.

“You’ll see,” I say.