Page 82 of The Bound Zodiac

I stretched and felt the ache in my bones, the leftover exhaustion that never really went away these days, not even with the best sleep in the world. Noodle was still draped along the balcony rail, his eyes reflecting the starlight, tongue flicking lazily whenever the wind shifted.

Below us, the lights of Aurelian had come on. They glimmered in the crystal towers and the bridges and the walkways, sending ghostly reflections over the river that looped the city in a protective arc. The city was alive, even at night. I could hear voices and the sound of distant music. People lived here. People thrived here, even after everything, and they weren’t afraid of the dark.

I sat up, rubbing my eyes, realizing I wasn’t alone. My shield had claimed the balcony.

Theo and Eris had dragged out a low crystal table and set up an impromptu camp around it, complete with chairs, blankets, and at least three different types of snacks. There was a platter of what looked like candied nuts, some alien fruit, and a wedge of cheese that probably should not have been neon-blue but was.

Phoenix lounged backwards on a long padded bench, his arms behind his head, every muscle relaxed for probably the first time in months, deep in conversation with Rowan seated across from him.

Draco was perched on one of the armchairs, a crystal glass in hand, head tipped back as he studied the stars and talked to Jamie, who reclined next to him, petting Gretchen who perched on his lap.

Lucas was at the edge of the balcony, standing with his arms braced against the railing, glasses pushed up in his hair, eyes scanning the city below.

Aiden was in the lounge chair closest to mine, arms folded, gold eyes reflecting the city lights. He hadn’t spoken much since the day we crossed over, but the bond told me everything I needed to know. He was quieter now, less angry, less desperate to prove himself every second. Now that his father was gone, and wasn’t this looming shadow over him, he was lighter.

Percy was slumped in the chair beside mine, still in the armor, boots propped on the balcony rail, arms crossed over his chest. He looked like he was asleep, but I could sense his awareness, the way he watched the rest of the group, the way he kept checking the bond, making sure I was okay, even as he let the exhaustion drag him under. The lines of tension around his eyes were softer now.

Eris sprawled on the biggest chair, knees spread, a crystal decanter in one hand and an empty glass in the other. He poured himself a drink, took a long swallow, and then passed the bottle to Theo, who accepted it with a flourish and immediately refilled his own. The two of them were deep in conversation about the best way to organize the next portal expedition back to Earth. Particularly to retrieve their mothers.

The night air up here was thin, the wind faster than it had been at sunset. I shivered, and immediately, Lucas detached from the railing, crossed the balcony in three long strides, and draped a blanket around my shoulders that had been draped on the chair next to me. He tucked it around me carefully, his fingers brushing my collarbone, and his lips brushed my temple softly.

Theo got out of his chair and poured me a glass, the wine catching the starlight in shades of burgundy and violet. He handed it to me, fingers lingering over mine, and then leaned in and kissed me.

The taste of sweet berries from his lips lingered as I sipped the wine. It was stronger than anything I’d ever had on Earth, but not in a bad way. It burned a little, but then settled into a gentle warmth that spread through my chest and made my fingers and toes tingle.

I looked at my hands, the silver fissures tracing pale lines over my skin, catching the light. I supposed they were a permanent part of me now. I realized I was fine with that. Noodle slithered off the railing and onto my lap, curling himself into a tight spiral and resting his head along my knee. I stroked his scales and felt the slow, thrumming pleasure in his mind as he soaked up my warmth.

No one was fighting. No one was angry.

I just watched them. My nine bonded mates. My warriors. My protectors. These men who’d been hand-picked by the Assembly to be my partners, my shield, my lovers, my family. They could be bastards sometimes, absolute buttholes, but they were mine and I was theirs.

We had so much work to do. For every moment of peace, there were a thousand threads waiting to unravel. There were more of our people stuck on Earth, people who’d never even dreamed that the home worlds were still out here, waiting.

But in the end, no matter what happened from here on out, this was home. Not Earth, not the dark halls of Dominion or the ancient ones at Imperium. Not anymore. This was home. A place with a night sky so full of stars it made you wonder just who else was out there staring right back.

THE END