Epilogue

C ori

The warmth of the setting sun bathed Cori's skin as she stared out at the glittering ocean. The salty breeze teased strands of hair from her messy bun, tickling her neck. She hugged her arms around herself, not from cold, but from the sheer enormity of the realization sinking in.

Immunity. A clean slate. No more looking over her shoulder, no more suffocating guilt. Cori drew in a deep, shuddering breath, letting it out slowly. It felt like she could breathe freely for the first time in years. The chains of her past had finally fallen away, leaving her unburdened and dizzy with possibility. The Sentinels of Babylon had rescued Yolanda Barrons from a gruesome fate. The CIA and the FBI made progress in both their investigations with Blackwell behind bars and singing like a canary. And true to his word, Harv told her as long as she kept her nose clean, she wouldn't have to worry about her past coming to bite her on the ass in the future.

Remy's solid presence anchored her as he slipped his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her back against his chest. "Penny for your thoughts," he murmured, nuzzling her temple.

Cori leaned into him, savoring his comforting warmth. "Just trying to wrap my head around it all. I never thought I'd get a second chance like this." She turned in the circle of his arms to face him. "I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop."

"Hey." Remy tipped her chin up, his blue eyes fierce and tender all at once. "You've more than earned this fresh start. This is your chance to build the life you want, on your own terms."

Tears pricked the backs of her eyes at the unwavering conviction in his voice. "I want that more than anything. A future not defined by my past mistakes. And I want to build it with you, Remy."

Remy's grin flashed, boyish and a little reckless as he reached into his pocket, his fingers brushing against a small, velvet box. "I have something for you," he said, his voice low and intimate.

Cori's breath caught in her throat as Remy pulled out the box, his gaze locked on hers. "Remy, what ...?"

He flipped open the lid, revealing a delicate gold ring nestled against the black velvet. "Will you marry me?"

"Was there a doubt?" she asked, slipping it on her finger and admiring it.

"I love you, Cori. I always have, and I always will."

She reached up, threading her fingers through his hair and pulling him down into a searing kiss. Remy's arms tightened around her, holding her close as he deepened the kiss.

When they finally broke apart, Cori rested her forehead against Remy's, her eyes shining with tears and happiness. "I love you, too."

"Forever and always."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of gold and pink, Cori and Remy held each other close, their love a beacon of hope and strength in a world that had tried its best to break them. Together, they had weathered the storm, and together, they would face whatever challenges the future held. Unbreakable, unshakable, and forever united.

Hand in hand, Cori and Remy strolled along the sandy shore, their footprints leaving a trail behind them as the gentle waves lapped at their feet. The salty breeze whipped through Cori's hair, carrying with it the distinctive scent of the ocean—a mix of brine, seaweed, and sun-warmed sand. Seagulls soared overhead, their mournful cries echoing across the vast expanse of water stretching out before them.