The First Tenners flanked her. Dream and Nightmare couldn’t take their eyes off her, constantly checking the seals, likely thinking of ways to break them. Soul, Widow, and Phantom were the most thrilled to be close to her again—unlike the others, they’d served her until the moment we’d freed them from Eirexis, Zetos, and Phyla. Thieron rested under my thigh straps, still glowing in her presence.

“Thieron reversed the last stage of the ritual,” Death said. “After the five million fae were taken, their life-chains were broken, their bodies hijacked by the Hermessi. From there, a deadly pulse of energy would be released. Specifically, the energy which the elementals had been locked out of for eons.”

“So, they had limits placed on them,” Amelia concluded.

Death sighed. “Pretty much. I cannot tell you how that happened, because the affairs of the universe shouldn’t even be your concern. Anyway, Thieron simply overrode the ritual. It sealed the energy back where it belongs, away from the Hermessi’s reach. And thanks to you wielding it, Taeral, it sealed it for good. The elementals will never be able to reach it again. There will be no more ritual attempts.”

“Of course, there won’t be a Brendel to keep that particular fire burning,” Kabbah added, his arms crossed as he stood to the side. “I doubt the others will try to continue her legacy after what just happened.”

Death shot him a cold stare. “You had better keep them in check,” she said. “They’ve had their fun, but now things are back to normal.”

“Rest assured, they can no longer harm any living creature. The power they drew from the five million fae was gone the moment Taeral swung Thieron against the ritual,” Kabbah said. “We’re all awake now, but not like before.”

“So we’ll never see the rebels again? We’ll never hear from Ramin or Inalia or all the others who’ve fought against the ritual?” I asked.

Kabbah smiled. “You’ll feel them in the wind. In the burning hearth, perhaps. In the sound of waves crashing against the shore. In the rumble of a volcano. But that is it. The Hermessi have been brought back to where they belong. In their planets, nurturing the elements.”

“What about you?” Amelia replied. “You’re still here.”

“I’m hanging by a thread, and it’s only thanks to Fallon’s hybrid body. I’m not juiced up anymore.” Kabbah laughed.

Nethissis and Lumi were still glowing, under the Word’s direct possession. “Maybe it’s time you return to Nevertide, as well,” the Word said. “You’ve been away for long enough. Surely, your planet misses you.”

Kabbah rolled his eyes, the green flames of his hands dimming. “Relax, I don’t plan on sticking around much longer. I’m tired. I need to sleep. I just wanted to say goodbye to these cool kids, that’s all.” He gave us a warm and broad smile, then pointed a thumb at Nethissis, Lumi, and Death. “Make sure the forces of the universe here fix the mess my brothers and sisters made. I’ve done my part.”

Raphael grinned. “Oh, don’t you worry about that. We’re not done here. Not by a long shot.”

“Will you do me… well, us, a favor?” I asked Kabbah, and he eyed me curiously. “Will you tell Inalia, Ramin, and the others thank you? I’m hoping you still have your primordial connection, or whatever you call it.”

“I’ll let them know,” Kabbah said. “Just remember to pay attention to the world around you, kid. A Hermessi will always smile at you. Keep that in mind.” He gave Eva a playful wink. “And you, sassy little copperhead, you had better not change. That courage of yours, as reckless as it may seem, will take you places.”

Eva grinned. “It’s a shame we won’t see you again. You were kind of growing on me.”

“The feeling is mutual. Alas, order must be restored in the universe…”

Without another word, Kabbah exhaled and vanished from Fallon’s body. The vampire-fae hybrid wheezed and coughed, blinking rapidly as he tried to readjust to reality, to his existence without a Hermessi nestled inside his body.

“Jeez. That was the longest ride ever!” he croaked. Raphael and Herakles moved quickly to his side.

Riza took out a small knife and cut into her wrist, hissing from the pain.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Herakles blurted, his eyes wide enough to pop out of their orbits.

“Hold your horses,” she said. “Fallon hasn’t fed since Kabbah took over, and our vamps here finished the blood supplies a while back. Unless you want him to go Bloodless, let me feed the fella’.”

Fallon bowed politely. “Thank you. I’m famished.”

“Yeah, yeah, just don’t take too much. I’m not in the mood for lightheadedness,” she replied, raising her wrist to his lips. He drank with remarkable restraint, and I could see the glimmer returning to his fiery eyes. Even his fae glow had returned, the skin shimmering in the twilight.

Phantom cleared her throat. “I think it’s time we address what comes next.”

“What do you mean?” Seeley asked.

“Well, where do you want me to start? The five million fae that died unnaturally? The ghouls we used as weapons against Spirit’s specters? The fact that Death is still locked under 999 seals, weakened by them, and is thus unable to even take Thieron back?” she retorted. “Putting the seals on wasn’t the hard part. Taking them off is.”

My heart jumped at the mention of the fae. At least Phantom was on my side, regarding this. I took it as a good start, because I’d already prepared a speech in favor of resurrecting them all. There was only one challenge to this.

“How can you bring back five million fae, if Death is under the seals?” I asked.

“First and foremost, I need you to do something for me, before I answer that,” Death said. “I need you to hold on to Thieron until I am free. I will come to you when that happens.”

“Wait, what?!” Widow croaked, downright shocked. “What the hell?!”

“Why me?” I replied, my face burning as the Reapers’ eyes drilled holes into my head.

“It has to be you, Taeral. Someday, you and I will sit down and discuss this in greater detail. But until then, I hope you can accommodate my request. You did not use it selfishly when you had the chance to revive your father. You stuck to the mission. You are loyal and noble beyond words. I trust you, and I want you to keep it close to you. Without my knowledge, you cannot use it the way you’d probably want to, anyway.”

Breathing out, I glanced down at Thieron. Its glow dimmed softly, as if telling me it was perfectly comfortable staying with me for a little while longer. I knew that, because I could feel its eternal consciousness resounding through me.

I looked at Death. “Okay. Now, please… help us. Five million fae—”

“Hold your horses. That’s next on my to-do list. But you’ll need to follow my lead. I can’t revive the fae. But you can help Seeley do it.”

“Oh, come on!” Widow snapped. “This is the second time you’re snubbing us, your most loyal subjects. It’s insulting!”

Death laughed. “I have work lined up for you and your siblings, too. You can thank me later,” she replied, and shifted focus back to me. “Are you ready, Taeral, Crown Prince of the Fire Star?”

Ready as I’d ever be. This was it. My chance to bring my father and the others back. I was as giddy as a child on his way to the fairground. I’d promised my mother something, and I was finally able to come through for her.

For our family. Our friends. Most importantly, I was coming through for myself.

Amelia

Death taught Taeral another spell from her arsenal—or perhaps “spell” was too strong a word for what it looked like. It sounded closer to a command given to Thieron, as Taeral whispered it into the blade. The scythe’s handle symbols lit up green this time around, a bell-like chime emanating from it.

“Now, touch Seeley with the blade,” Death said.

Taeral gave her a frown but followed her instruction, nonetheless. He carefully pressed the blade against Seeley’s shoulder. As soon as he was touched, the Reaper gasped, his skin glowing in soft flashes of green. The color faded, leaving a delicate shimmer in its wake. Seeley took several deep breaths and smiled.

“This feels rather amazing. What just happened?” he asked, glancing at Death.

“I taught Taeral to give you some of my permissions,” Death said.

“What permissions are those, exactly?” Taeral replied.

“To raise the dead. The five million fae you so desperately want to save will be brought back, thanks to Seeley’s enhanced Reaper protocols,” Death explained. “Your father, your friends, your allies, and the many others who fell under the Hermessi’s influence. What the elementals did was against the natural course of life. We all know that. So, you have a chance at fixing it.”

Taeral’s eyes were glassy, tears welling up. His lower lip quivered. I could only imagine the kind of relief and joy he was experiencing at the thought of seeing his father again—this time, alive and unharmed. “Thank you,” he said to her. “Thank you…”