“I know I’ve said this before, but congratulations, guys!” Amelia said as she joined the hug. Moments later, the whole crew had piled up, and we laughed our hearts out.

We received gifts from a lot of people, including our friends and their families. Eerily enough, they’d formed a small mountain atop one of the tables, much like in Phantom’s dream. Taeral was the first to notice.

“That is just so creepy. Good thing I’ve got Phyla here, permanently stuck to Thieron,” he said, pointing at the scythe, still strapped to his thigh. He didn’t go anywhere without it, as part of his promise to Death, though he’d already expressed his eagerness to get rid of it. Such a responsibility was bound to weigh down on him, eventually.

My sister, Elonora, and Nevis joined us at our table, along with Douma and Dmitri, Amal and Amane, Ridan, and Fallon. We spent the rest of the evening feasting, laughing, and dancing. The spiced rose water kept pouring, and the joy illuminated the entire party—brighter than the mason jars.

Eva and I were happy together, and I had gone the extra mile to make sure she wouldn’t miss anything tonight, though I had yet to hear from her mother. The relationship between them had not changed, unfortunately. Granted, Eva hadn’t made any effort to resume a conversation with her after the ritual, but Tamara had been quiet, as well. Nevertheless, I’d figured her daughter’s engagement might change her mind.

As the hours went by, and I watched my fiancée laugh and joke with our friends and family, I began to doubt Tamara’s willingness to show up and put that petty feud behind them. But close to midnight, the crowd began to murmur, everyone looking in the same direction, outside the grand hall.

At first, I didn’t think anything of it, as Eva and I were busy talking to Derek and Sofia. The Novaks had arrived, in the meantime, and the party had been kicked up a notch. Ever since the ritual, the Novak fae had become much more jovial, constantly smiling and chortling and hugging everyone in their path. I figured dying must’ve played a crucial part, but I couldn’t say the change bothered me. On the contrary, we needed more light in this world.

“Varga… Is that who I think it is?” Amelia whispered, as if not wanting Eva to hear.

I followed Amelia’s gaze and found myself out of breath. Tamara stood in the grand hall’s doorway, tightly fitted into a long, black velvet dress, her neck adorned with emeralds that matched the color of her snake scales. She glanced around nervously, holding a small gift box in her hands.

When her eyes met mine, she nodded faintly, and I moved away from the table. Eva was quick to notice, and she pulled me aside. “Varga, wait,” she hissed. “You invited her?”

I sighed, preparing myself for the worst. I hadn’t told her, but I also knew she wouldn’t kick me to the curb over it. “Will you ever forgive me?”

Eva softened quickly. “Are you crazy? What’s there to forgive?”

“Well, I didn’t tell you.”

“Well, you had more courage than me, because I wanted to invite her… but didn’t,” she replied, her shoulders dropping.

It wasn’t often that I saw this more fragile side of her, and I loved it. She reminded me that I could still hold her up when she needed my support. This was one such moment, and I had to come through for her, even though she didn’t specifically demand it. I could see it in her eyes.

“Whaddya say, then? Shall we go say hi?” I asked, wearing an innocent smile.

Eva kissed me briefly, then took my hand as we both walked over to Tamara. I felt Eva’s emotions coursing through me. She was anxious and terrified and, at the same time, happy and hopeful. Something told me this would not end badly. Tamara’s aura had shades of yellow and gold in it. She was fearful, but she still loved her daughter very much. Maybe this would put an end to their conflict, after all.

Upon reaching her, Tamara bowed politely. “Your Highness,” she said, prompting Eva to chuckle. “Thank you for the invitation.”

“Pardon the giggle, Mother. Varga and I have an ongoing joke about his form of address,” Eva replied, grinning broadly. I had to admit, I was impressed by her approach. She’d taken the plunge, despite her fear.

Tamara gave her a soft half-smile. “You look stunning, my child.”

“And you’re a timeless hottie, as usual,” Eva shot back.

This was going much better than I’d anticipated. Suddenly, I lacked purpose in this conversation. What was I even doing here, anymore? Tamara looked at me for a moment. “I suppose congratulations are in order, first and foremost,” she said, handing me the gift box. “This is for you, to get you started in your new life together.”

“Thank you, Mother,” Eva said, staring at the box. She knew what was in it, and she was blushing redder than poor Eira during the awards ceremony that Derek and Sofia had organized in our honor.

“What’s in it?” I asked her.

Her eyes widened, while Tamara chuckled. “It’s a… Um, it’s a…” Eva didn’t manage to say much, but her mother beat her to it anyway.

“It’s a love stone,” the Lady of the Lamias said.

“A love stone,” I repeated after her. “What’s a love stone?”

“Oh, we use these when we mate,” Tamara explained. “You put it in the fire, and it releases a pleasant smell. It stimulates arousal, it makes it—”

“Thank you, Mom!” Eva said, a little too loudly, stopping Tamara from going into too much detail. I’d almost forgotten how passionate and volatile the Lamias were, by nature. No wonder they employed methods such as this love stone to make their bedroom experiences more… amplified. I, for one, was already looking forward to trying it out.

“Thank you,” I added. “And I must say, it’s an honor you decided to join us.”

Tamara sighed, lowering her gaze for a second. “I should have come to see you both sooner,” she said. “I’ve let my pride and stubbornness poison me for too long.”

Eva was speechless. “Mother…”

“I hope you can forgive me, Eva,” Tamara replied. “You are my only child, and for me to push you away like this… it wasn’t fair. We do not choose whom we love, or who we are, and I should’ve never forced my views on you the way I did. After the ritual, I wanted to see you, to make sure you were all right, but… I was afraid, Eva. I was afraid because you’d gone through so much, already. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

A single tear fell from her eye, and Eva took her hands, squeezing tightly. “Mother, please. It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re here tonight. It’s a big moment for me. For us.”

“Can you ever forgive me?” Tamara asked.

Eva hugged her. “I forgive you.”

Now I was the one tearing up. I had to glance at the mason jars overhead just to stop myself from weeping like a little girl, as the rest of the Death Crew got up and joined us.

“Momma Lamia! Welcome to the party!” Herakles cheered, handing Tamara a glass of spiced rose water. Eva laughed, wiping tears of her own.

Tamara gawked at Herakles, then at the glass, before she chugged it like a professional sorority girl. She handed him the empty flute, raising an eyebrow at him. “Got something stronger?”

Laughter was stifled as Herakles thought about it for a moment, his gaze never leaving Tamara’s. “The Manticores brought in some pitchers of their signature black honey nectar,” he said. “Would that work?”

“By all means,” Tamara replied.

Seconds later, Herakles was back with an entire pitcher, which he used to fill Tamara’s glass, and gave it back to her. “There you go, Momma Lamia.”

“It’s Tamara, please. ‘Momma’ makes me sound so old,” she said, smiling at the entire crew. “I must say, it’s an honor to meet you all. Word about you has spread all over Eritopia. Legends are being spun around campfires along the River Pyro, stories of your bravery. I’m humbled to be in your presence.”

“No, ma’am, we’re the ones honored,” Raphael replied. “Eva has told us great things about you.”

Tamara glanced at Eva, who, in turn, giggled. “She has?”

“She loves you,” Amelia replied. “And she’s very proud to be your daughter.”

“I’m the one who’s proud to have a child like her,” Tamara said. “Eva, much like you all, represents the future. And although it may not be the future I’d want or hope for, I’ve learned to accept that it will be a beautiful future, nonetheless. A better future than anything I might’ve been able to give her.”

“I never told you, but I am sorry I didn’t turn out the way you wanted,” Eva replied. “That being said, I’m definitely not sorry for who I’ve become instead.”

Tamara tucked a lock of hair behind Eva’s ear, her yellow eyes glimmering with motherly love. “My darling… You’ve turned out better than I’d hoped. It just took me too long to realize it. I’ve spent so much time running from Azazel, focused on surviving, that I forgot how to… live. I’m adverse to change, and it’s my fault. Not yours.”

Amelia raised a hand. “Quick question, while we’re still in the awkward stage. What happens now in terms of leadership over the Lamias? I mean, I know Eva is not interested.”