Epilogue

" I congratulate you all on being the first class to graduate from The United Triaedian Mage Academy. A special congratulations to all the females in the first class for blazing a trail for all females to follow. It is my honor to officiate your ceremony this afternoon as it has been a lifelong dream of mine to provide magical education to any mage that wishes to learn."

A round of applause followed her words as Liana gazed over the crowd in the auditorium of the Academy. Damien sat behind her with the rest of the professors on the stage.

"Six years ago, during The War of Unification, Triaedian proved that we are stronger together. We are stronger when we accept each other wholeheartedly and without restrictions. Just as we fought to unify the breeds, you all have fought to unify the mage. You are paving a new path for the future of all. No longer will anyone be denied their right to an education based on status or gender. I trust in you to keep the ideals of this academy alive as you venture beyond your studies. Good luck and thank you for believing in this academy."

The entire auditorium stood, cheering for her. Liana beamed, letting this moment sink in. She'd done it. She created a place where all mage felt safe to learn. And this was only the start of her plans, including the creation of many more academies throughout the kingdom.

Wherever her father was now, she knew he would have been one of the first in line to be a professor or help her in any way. She knew he was proud of her. Even dared to imagine that Luciano was proud of her.

After the ceremony, Wesley hosted a party at his home, her childhood home. It no longer felt like home to her, it hadn't for a while. She'd made her home with Damien and that was where she felt safest and most loved.

Liana stood on the patio with everyone else, the evening air quickly cooling. Spring was on the way, but not quite there yet. Wesley's two kids were running around the yard while Henry chased frantically after them, the older boy carrying a familiar priceless vase. William, grown as he was, stood by and cheered the little devils on. Carlisle, a man now, sat with the rest of them but still smirked at the chaos unfolding.

Molly Monroe sat peacefully in a rocking chair with Hannah's second child, a little girl not yet six months old. Liana rocked in place with Hannah's first, a boy of two years, trying to soothe him after he took a spill and bumped his head on the ground. She used a bit of magic to calm him.

She'd come to appreciate her magic in the previous years instead of loathing or fearing it. Once she accepted that there was nothing to be done about it, that Juno's power resided in her, the same magic that Zatar possessed, Liana had no other choice but to live with it, and that would be an easier thing to do if she accepted it. Magic had always been her first love, and she wouldn't let the goddess or Zatar take that from her either, they'd taken too much already. So, she embraced the excess power and put it to good use.

The family chatted for hours, breaking out a card game when the children were put to sleep.

Liana missed Charlotte but knew she was happy in Sapphire Cove with Elias. She had been thrilled when they finally got together. She knew they belonged together, and Charlotte deserved a happy ending.

It was nearing midnight when they finally called it for the evening. After their farewells, Damien offered to run her back to the castle instead of taking the carriage which would take an hour.

"Can we go to the temple first?" she asked.

"If that's what you'd like," he said, then picked her up. They arrived quickly to an empty temple. Two mage lights lit the entrance but no further, so she lit her own to lead down the aisle of pews.

Hand in hand, they walked. When she stopped beneath Juno's shrine, Damien lifted a brow.

"You haven't prayed to Juno in six years," he commented.

Smiling, she nodded. "Yes, but now we have a reason to. I have some questions."

His face turned serious. "The baby?"

"I just need to know if they will inherit her power or if it all ends with me."

He gave a brief nod and squeezed her hand. "Do you think she will answer? Should I leave?"

Liana felt in her bones that Juno would answer. The goddess owed her that much. "You stay at my side. Always." Closing her eyes, she prayed to the goddess. She felt the moment the air changed and opened her eyes. Damien's hand tightened on hers as he stepped slightly in front of her.

The goddess smiled. "I am pleased to see you again, Liana. And you, Husband of Liana."

He grunted. "First time anyone ever called me that," he mumbled.

Liana bumped his shoulder with her own while smirking. It dropped when she focused on Juno. "I hope you'll give me some answers, Juno."

The goddess spread her hands in supplication. "Whatever you need, Liana."

She glanced at Damien out of the corner of her eyes. "She seems too agreeable," she said into his mind.

"She owes you far more than answers. It's the least she could do."

Liana shrugged and returned her attention to the goddess. "What power will our child possess? Will your power transfer or will it just be plain mage power?"

"Your power is not separate. Your mage power and mine merged when you fully accepted it. Your children will get a portion of my power, which will decrease with each generation until it dies out, leaving the mage power alone."

She didn't like that answer. "Can you take your power back? I don't want them to have to deal with this. I want this all to end. No more gods and goddesses."

"I cannot take my power back. It is enmeshed in your own. If I take it, I take all your magic and your immortality. You would live a normal human life."

Damien growled softly beside her.

Liana huffed. "Fine, I will keep it. I want your promise that our children, and generations to come will be safe from you though. They may have your power, but they are not here to be used by you."

Juno's eyes dimmed. "I understand, Liana," she replied softly then turned away to look out at the empty temple. "All I ever wanted was to experience what you two have. I wanted a human life, someone to love me, and a family. There is a reason gods do not get to have those things though, and I had to realize that for myself, in the most painful way possible. I caused so much pain and heartache. I truly am sorry for all that I did to this kingdom and to the first Triaedian. My intentions were pure, if not a bit selfish."

Liana kept her thoughts to herself on that front.

"You have my promise that I will never meddle with your family," Juno pledged, looking back into Liana's eyes. "Do you think you could ever forgive me?"

Liana marveled at this powerful being before her, so contrite and regretful. "I suppose I could. We all make mistakes."

Juno shook her head, closing her eyes. "That is more than I deserve." She opened them, so full of sorrow. "Your daughter will make an equally fierce and powerful queen as you, my child. I am so happy for you."

The goddess disappeared, leaving a heavy silence in her wake. Liana could only imagine the depth of guilt and sorrow the goddess must feel. Her son killed an entire kingdom and tried to imprison another. She had to sentence an innocent soul to death just to kill her own son, countless other lives lost in the process. She had done so much wrong, but perhaps Liana could find some forgiveness for her.

"Of course, I'd get stuck with an equally stubborn and powerful daughter," Damien teased to break the silence. Liana whacked him on the arm.

"You mean you are so lucky to have such strong women in your life."

Chuckling, he pulled her into his arms. "I am incredibly lucky." He sighed, resting his forehead on hers. "How am I going to survive a daughter?"

Laughing, she agreed. "We will figure it out together, just like everything else in this life."