The adrenaline from the ritual had barely faded when the world decided not to give them a moment of peace.
The garden still crackled faintly with leftover magic—crystals humming, the air warm, the grass lightly scorched in perfect crescent-shaped patterns where Callum's wings had nearly manifested. Everyone's pulse thrummed in sync, the new bond shining through every breath like a soft internal glow.
Samantha could barely feel her legs, and her hand still tingled from the bloodletting, but her chest felt full—too full—with love and relief and the dizzying sensation of magic still dancing underneath her skin.
Nova let out a happy chirp, completely unbothered by having helped defeat a cosmic entity while wearing footie pajamas with cartoon foxes.
Typical baby genius behavior.
"Okay," Samantha exhaled, brushing hair from her sticky forehead. "Now we can rest. Or breathe. Or—something that doesn't involve screaming or bleeding."
Kai snorted. "I still vote tacos."
