Page 65 of Eternal Mate

I understood the gravity of the situation. I felt sorry for Michael and the potential consequences he would face for his actions, but I was determined to meet whatever vengeance Lucifer might seek when he eventually broke free.

"I'll be ready for whatever comes," I said, filling my voice with a steely resolve I wasn’t entirely sure I felt. "I won't let him harm anyone I care about."

Mikey, Neo, and Kiran stepped forward, their own expressions resolute. "We'll do everything we can to keep him contained," Mikey said, his voice firm. "As long as we're here, he won't wreak havoc. We’ll find a way to keep the ritual rejuvenated."

Kiran, always the mischievous one, added with a smirk, "And you know I won't let him mess with your fun. We'll keep him here for as long as possible."

"While Lucifer is contained, I'll take charge and ensure his influence remains limited,” Barimuz, assuming his role, spoke with authority. “We won't let him regain power easily."

Gratitude washed over me as I looked at each of them. I nodded in gratitude.

We shared a moment of solidarity, knowing that the road ahead still wouldn't be easy. Rebuilding a broken world and society would take time.

With their support, though, I felt invincible.

Neo stood tall beside Michael, his impatience evident in his posture while his white wings flexed with restless energy.

"Aria," he began, his gaze focused yet concerned. His voice held a touch of urgency as he addressed me. "Please tell Reese to not feel guilty. I want her to know that I'm with Rory now, and I couldn't be happier. She doesn't need to carry that burden. I never blamed her, not even for a second."

I nodded. I knew how crucial it was to reassure Reese. She’d been faking it pretty well so far, but she wasn’t okay, not by a long shot.

Before I could respond, Michael cleared his throat, his expression becoming more and more annoyed the longer we all lingered.

"I'm sure our paths will cross again," Neo added, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "Hopefully it won't be too soon, though. It’s been… quite the adventure, Aria. Have a good life."

Michael grasped Neo's forearm as he laughed, and in a brilliant flash of light, they vanished from the throne room, momentarily blinding those of us who remained.

Kiran wore a mischievous grin when I turned to face him. I swallowed thickly, already feeling a lump forming in my throat as his eyes met mine.

Atlan should be here. He deserved this closure with his twin.

"If we're sending messages," Kiran teased, his tone lightening the heavy air, "Please let my brother know that everything’s alright. Tell him that I'm okay and that he doesn't need to spend the next six millennia grieving for me. You know how he can be."

His gaze momentarily flickered away from mine, blinking rapidly before refocusing.

"I'll tell him," I replied, my voice cracking. “But he’s mostly over you dying, anyway. He’s been demoted to babysitting my nieces most of the time, so he doesn’t get to mope around.”

A watery laugh escaped my lips. It was a warbling sound that mirrored the emotions swirling within me.

Kiran wiped at his own eyes, a wistful smile playing on his face as he turned away. “Good! Maybe he’ll finally stop being such a grump all the time.”

He cleared his throat, looking anywhere but at me directly. “I’ll see you around, Aria. Stay safe up there.”

With that, I turned to see who else was hanging around.

Kiyomasa stood to the side, his presence both stoic and resigned. When I approached him, he simply shook his head, his eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and acceptance.

“Kiran and I were well past our time,” he explained. “We’re on to our next adventure. I’m afraid I don’t have anything left to say to the living, anyway.”

His words hung in the air for a long moment.

"What about Auren?" I blurted out, immediately mortified when Kiyomasa's expression softened, a flicker of melancholy passing through his eyes.

"Especially Auren," he replied, his voice laced with tenderness. "No parent wants to outlive their child. It is the natural order of things, as cruel as it may seem. Remind him I love him when he needs to hear it. He was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I couldn’t be prouder of who he became, but it truly was my time to go, whether Azazel did it or nature took its course.”

I nodded slowly, not sure I was entirely satisfied with his final words. He gave a small bow and promptly turned to leave.

As I glanced over my shoulder, I caught sight of Kiran giving us a narrow-eyed look, arms crossed. I could only imagine he was hoping the old man had given me something better to tell our fearless leader, but I understood what he was getting at.

---