Epilogue

Gabby's eyes slowly blink open, pale light beckoning. Sounds slowly filter in.

A gentle breeze.

The cry of a bird.

The gentle crash of waves.

The gentle push and pull of the tide tugs at her toes, each wave a soft caress against her skin. She opens her eyes, turning to see Colt beside her on the shimmering white sand, their secluded haven untouched by time or turmoil. Palm trees whisper secrets in the breeze, an orchestral rustling that seemed to celebrate their respite from a world that was almost ripped from existence.

Gabby trails her fingers over the pristine white sand, a soft sigh escaping her as she contemplates the endless blue horizon. The ocean whispers promises of peace, its rhythmic waves lapping at the shore like the gentlest of caresses.

"Can you believe it? Two whole weeks without an apocalypse to thwart or a cataclysm to prevent," she says, the corners of her lips quirking upwards. She glances over at Colt, who's deliciously shirtless and sun warmed. "Maybe we"ve overstayed our welcome here. It"s almost too tranquil."

"Too tranquil?" he echoes with mock incredulity, lifting his gaze to meet hers. "And what would you suggest? Shall we brave the frozen tundra next, or perhaps the scorching desert?"

"Anywhere," Gabby chuckles, the sound mingling with the whispers of the wind. "As long as it"s another stop on our world-kissing tour."

That was her wish after they defeated the Grigori. To visit every place Colt has seen. To learn everything about it and him. And to press her lips to his, capturing the magic of their union.

"Well, I did visit Antarctica after the Belgians spent the first winter there," Colt says, his lips twitching. "In 1898."

She lets out a light laugh, shaking her head in amusement before her expression softens into something more contemplative.

"Who would have thought, huh?" she muses, her voice barely louder than the breeze. "When I first stumbled into this supernatural chaos, all I ever wanted was to wake up from the nightmare. To be normal again." She turns to him, her smile tender and full of wonder. "But look at what this world has given me. It"s given me you, Colt. You"re not just the calm in my storm—you"re the very heart of my purpose."

He rolls onto his side and props his head in his hand as he gazes down on her, his dark eyes roaming over her face with warm tenderness.

"Being with you," she continues, her hand reaching out to gently brush his cheek, "is everything. And fighting for peace alongside you..."

Images of what was left of Mercy Academy rise in Gabby"s mind. It was the following day that she and Colt stood among the ashes and destruction, gazing at the bunker below their feet. It was a room left over from her father's underground club.

The final resting place of the obsidian.

Gabby"s hands were steady as she placed the final stone over the entrance to the secret chamber. The obsidian, with its dark sheen that seemed to drink in the light, was now entombed within the earth"s embrace, hidden from those who might seek its power. She wiped the dirt from her fingers, feeling the grittiness against her skin, a reminder of what they had just sealed away.

"Are you sure this is enough?" Colt"s voice broke through the silence, his tone carrying an edge of concern that mirrored the tightness in Gabby"s chest.

"Nothing is ever completely certain," she admitted, her gaze lingering on the makeshift seal. "But it"s the best chance we have at keeping it out of the wrong hands. It has to be enough."

Colt nodded, his jaw set with determination. "Ready to bury the past?"

She glanced up at him, his silhouette outlined by the setting sun, and nodded. Gabby felt a finality as they covered the entrance, an end to one chapter and the start of something new. She leaned into his side, finding comfort in his unwavering strength. "It"s hard to let go, isn"t it? To leave behind a place that shaped so much of who I am now."

"Letting go doesn"t mean forgetting," Colt reminded her gently. "We carry every battle, every lesson with us. They become part of our story—part of our strength."

The demon who made that moment possible, who made this moment a reality, who will be there in every moment to come, leans in closer, blocking out the sun. Gabby blinks as she gazes up at him. Colt's wine-colored hair catches the light, framing his head in deep, fiery red. Almost like a halo. A sexy, demonic one.

She reaches up, feeling the weight of loss mingled with the warmth of triumph. The academy may have fallen, but its legacy will endure, just as the ocean before them continues its eternal dance—ebbing, flowing, always returning to the shore.

Just like the deep abiding love she feels for this demon.

After a moment of silence, Colt slides his hand into hers, his touch grounding her restless spirit. "We did it, Gabby. We saved lives."

They saved the three realms and every soul within them.

She leans into him, pressing her hands to his solid chest. "Being with you... It"s everything," she whispers, her gaze finding his.

"Everything," Colt echoes, the words a vow.

Just like Gabby's were.

Her lips meet his in a kiss that seals their shared promise of forever. The sun dips low, casting an amber glow over the fine, white sand—a perfect backdrop for the promise of intimacy that hangs between them like the ripe fruit on the nearby trees. As the kiss deepens, Gabby feels herself sinking into the sensation, her senses filled with the taste of salt on Colt"s skin, the gentle hum of the vast ocean, and the warm press of his body against hers. This is the peace they fought for.

The love they sacrificed for.

The future they almost died for.

A sudden vibration against her thigh jerks Gabby back to reality. Reluctantly breaking the kiss, she fishes the phone from the pocket of her sundress. Her brow furrows as she reads the message from an unknown number, the words slicing through the tranquility like a shard of ice.

Sierra's been kidnapped. Arielle"s in danger.

"Colt," she whispers, urgency lacing her voice.

Their eyes meet, a silent understanding passing between them. Resolve hardens in Gabby's chest. She didn't ask for this life, but she will fight for it—and those she loves—until her last breath.

The colors of paradise drain away to be replaced by a familiar surge of adrenaline. They stand in unison, hands clasping each other with a grip that's both protective and empowering. In a swift, fluid motion, Gabby feels the rush of air as her wings unfurl behind her, a cascade of gleaming white feathers reflecting the last rays of sunlight. Beside her, Colt's own wings snap out, vast and black as a moonless night, the embodiment of his strength and resilience.

Together, they stand on the edge of the ocean, eyes fixed on the horizon and hearts beating in tandem. Their linked hands aren't just a symbol of unity but a declaration of readiness. With wings spread wide, Gabby knows that no matter what lies ahead, their bond is unbreakable.

They will face this as they always have—with courage, with determination, and with each other.