Page 53 of Shannon in Sombra

Nox is looking up at the sky thoughtfully. For one second, he’s in his solid form. He blinks. Shadows. Blinks again. Solid form, and I finally notice that the shadowy bands that always existed around his wrists—a memento of the times he spent in the enchanted gold chains—arehealed.

Marveling at his hands, he shows them to Amy.

She gasps, her eyes shining with unshed tears. They’re happy ones now, and Nox flies over to his mate, embracing her while ignoring the trembling man beside them.

“It’s in their blood,” Damien says, watching them. “Two women, kin from the same line, both with the gift to mate a broken shadow and mate him whole.”

Look at that. I guess now I know why Susanna and Amy Benoit were destined to be a Sombra demon’s mate. If I thought it was a big, honking coincidence that the three members of Thr33peat were, it was even weirder that an aunt and her niece were.

But, like Damien said, if it was in their blood…

Hope makes a small sound in the back of her throat. “Sam? I was just thinking… since Yelios was the shadows and he’s, you know, gone now? Can you open the portal to Earth now? Or do we have to wait until we get back to Nuit?”

It doesn’t take a mage to open a portal to Earth. Mal can do it because I summoned him to me with theverus amorspell; after, there was a pathway open between his world and mine. Same with every other demon and human mated pair here.

Still, Sammael is the first to try because Hope is the first to realize that that might be possible. He conjures with his hand, a small cheer of triumph erupting from our very exhausted group when a fiery portal appears near him and Hope.

“Oh, I’m so glad. I need a shower and bed.” She motions for him to bend down. He does. She loops her arms around his shoulders, hooking her legs around his waist. “Take me home?”

“Always, Hope.”

He nods at the rest of us while Hope waves her goodbye. I don’t blame her for cutting out so quickly, and I only, well,hopethat our trip back to Nuit can be as fast as that.

“Roy knows to check in with Three when I ‘go on vacation’,” Sierra says next, doing air quotes. “I didn’t expect us to be gone this long after checking with Azazel, but he comes by twice a day to feed him, play with him, and scoop the box so I’m sure Three’s good. But I miss him, so I want to go back, too. You ready, demon?”

While he nods, I cradle Alana to me before rushing over to him. I squeeze his muscular arm. “Thank you, Dagon. For everything… I really mean it.”

He bows his head. “Someone saved me in these shadows once before and I was able to find my on true mate. We will have our spawn soon. Without Susanna, none of this would’ve been possible. I never could repay her. Instead, I helped you. And, one day, Alana will help someone else. So the circle goes.”

Alana is going to be lucky if I don’t ask Haures to keep her safe and sound in Mavro once she gets older…

I smile. “Very true. But, still, thanks.”

Like Sammael, Dagon opens the portal that will lead back to Sierra’s penthouse apartment. Before they step into it, Tandy gets Sierra’s promise that they’ll meet up again the next time Sierra has to visit Azazel.

Billie points at Sierra. “Boop Three on the nose for me, Sierra.”

“You got it, Bee.”

And, with that, Sierra and Dagon are gone.

Luckily, the Sombra gods might have decided to throw me a bone here because, once our numbers have dwindled a little, Loki tests his magic. Turns out, he’s able to create a portal that would bring us right back to the village square of Nuit, saving us all that time traveling back.

Tandy, Lucian, and Damien agree to return with us before heading to their enchanted cabin. Billie and Glaine decide to stay in Nuit a little longer so they’re coming, too. Obviously, Loki’s leading his mate and her ungez back, and there’s no way I’m sticking around here with my baby and Mal.

All I want to do is feed Alana, change her, bathe her, and snuggle on the couch with her and my demon. I’m eager to jump right into Loki’s portal, but before I do, Kennedy clears her throat.

“Hey, Amy?” asks Kennedy. “You guys want to come back with us? Or is Nox gonna bring you home?”

Amy and Nox exchange a look before she smiles softly at Kennedy. “Thanks, but we’ll be okay. Besides, I think I’m just gonna sit with my dad a little longer.”

A guilty twinge ties my stomach up in knots. Now that I have Alana, I kinda feel bad for my murderous turn back there. “If you need anything?—”

She nods. “Thanks. And, for what it’s worth, I’m glad your baby is okay.”

Me, too, Amy. Me, too.

* * *

---