Page 72 of Parrhesia

I smiled as Vada laughed hysterically with Medb, Ma’at, Amayah, Samael, and Sinbad. She’d found her own people, though we were both friends with the same crowds. We weren’t always glued at the hip. It made my heart happy to see that my people were thriving, but no one deserved it more than Vada did. This last century had gone by in a blink, and I couldn’t wait to see what the next one brought.

There were so many other familiar faces, but the ones who stuck out to me most in that moment were Maren and Daphne. I stopped dancing, and Poe turned, curious at where my attention wandered off. We made our way off the dance floor toward the two of them. I hoped that what I was seeing was a sign of things to come, but I couldn’t be too sure. They’d been hot and cold for as long as I’d known them.

“Hey, you two,” I hollered over the music, “I’m happy to see you both.”

They turned around, acting as if nothing was happening. “Hey, Adaela! It’s so great to see you,” Maren said as she pulled me into a hug.

I subtly moved over as Vada joined us. “What are the two of you up to tonight?” I asked as Vada wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her head atop mine.

“We’re, uh…” Daphne started, looking like they wanted to do anything else. They didn’t like crowds.

Poe came back out of a vision, and she smiled in her I-know-something way. I opened my eyes wide in a bitch-you-better-tell-me-later way. As we were silently, but not-so-subtly communicating with each other, Daphne and Maren had made their exit, and I laughed. I had a feeling I knew what they were up to.

I turned around in Vada’s embrace, pulling her down for a kiss. She smiled against my lips as we slow danced to the next song. “I love you,” I said, my heart content.

“Until the universes collapse, and beyond,” Vada replied.