I went around the living room, making sure everything was where it was supposed to be. Then, I went to the kitchen and opened all the cabinets and the fridge, making sure there was enough food, plates, glasses, and pots and pans. I looked over the steak in the oven, making sure it was cooking well. When I left the kitchen to go upstairs to the bedrooms, Micah stepped in front of me.

“You already checked the place, darling. Twice. You know it’s ready.”

A shuddering breath escaped me. “I know.”

But it was all I could do to try and keep calm—and it wasn’t working.

After the Soul Oath, Micah and I decided it was best to bring back my family after we found a good place for them to live. We searched the United States for a place that hadn’t been too destroyed by the war. We found a small town in Virginia, which didn’t seem too bad. As best as we could, we helped the townsfolk clean it up and rebuild and fix everything in need. In a couple of days, more people arrived, probably hearing the town was prospering.

Micah and I chose a nice house big enough—but not too big—for my family. With four small children, my parents would need a bigger house than they were used to. We fixed the house, decorated, stocked the kitchen, and made sure the basics were all there. My family wouldn’t need anything else to live comfortably for a while.

More importantly, Micah and I agreed that right before they came back to life we had to change their memories of what happened.

This was the hardest part.

The new story was that Troy hadn’t been born after me and had died young. He would now be the last baby—otherwise it would be hard to explain how he hadn’t aged like the rest of them. Also, they would remember my visit before we were all captured, but they wouldn’t remember the demons chasing us. Their memory would be of me going back to school, where I inexplicably found a nice job that paid well, and I was able to buy them this new house in this nice town. We had even found a job for my father with a local farmer, which paid relatively well and would allow my mother to stay home with my siblings. Moreover, if they ever needed more money, I could simply send it to them, saying that with my new job I was practically rich and could afford spending money on them.

Thankfully, they wouldn’t remember much of the violence, the hunger, the despair.

Micah pulled me into his arms and I rested my cheek on his chest, relishing the strong beat of his heart. “It’s okay to be nervous, darling.”

“It’s just … I know each time I look at them, I’ll remember every terror they lived through.” That we lived through.

Micah kissed the top of my head. “It’s all gone now.” He put a hand under my chin and tilted my head up. “Besides, now you’re a powerful goddess. Nothing is going to happen. You can protect them now.”

He was right. If I had been Diana back then I might have been able to free them from Imha and Omi, and they never would have died. I vowed never to let them suffer again.

“How are you going to do it?” I had no idea if he had to open a portal from here to the underworld, or if he had to go there and pick them personally, or how the hell it worked.

“I’m gonna invoke them and they will simply walk through that door—” He pointed to the front door. “—as if they had just arrived from their trip.”

I kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

He turned his head and kissed me on the lips. “Anytime, darling.”

Hands intertwined, Micah and I turned to the door.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

I nodded, words failing me.

The front door opened and my father walked in with a big smile on his face. He was carrying two big suitcases, one on each hand.

“Nad!” he exclaimed. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Hi, Dad.” My voice broke and my eyes filled with tears.

My father grunted with the weight of the bags as he walked in the house.

Micah let go of me and went to him. “Let me get that for you, sir.” He picked up both suitcases from my father.

Then my mother walked into the house with little Troy in her arms. A sob ripped through my chest. It was too much for me. I ran to them, and embraced them both, hooking my arms around their necks and pulling them close.

“My goodness, Nad.” My mother laughed. “I didn’t know you missed us that much.”

“Oh, I missed you. So much,” I whispered.

My mother kissed my cheek. “We missed you too, dear.”

I stifled a sob. She was talking about the last time she thought she saw me, when I was visiting them after New York City was destroyed. Only Micah and I would ever know I was talking about their deaths.

I took Troy from my mother’s arms. He was so little, so perfect, so beautiful. A tear spilled from my eyes.

My father stepped back and glanced at the guy standing behind me. Serious, my father extended his hand to Micah. “Hi. I’m Nadine’s father.”

Micah took my father’s hand and shook it. “I’m Micah, Nadine’s boyfriend.”

My mother raised an eyebrow at me. “He’s cute.” She turned her shoulder slightly and gave me a thumbs up, hidden from view by her body. I laughed at the absurdity of this situation. A month ago, I was crying because they were dead, and now I was talking about boys with my parents.

“Boyfriend, huh?” My father glanced at me.

My cheeks flushed. “Yeah, Micah is my boyfriend.” The word was still so strange to say out loud. It was so strange, period. Immortals had boyfriends and girlfriends? That sounded so ridiculous.

Micah flashed me one of his old cocky grins. God, how I loved that handsome face.

“Aaaah!” a scream cut through our peace and Nicole, Teddie, and Tommy burst through the front door, running into the living room and barreling into us.

When they saw me, they stopped.

“Nad!” cried Nicole. She threw herself at my legs and held on tight.

My mother picked up Troy as I swallowed another sob and knelt beside Nicole. I held her in my arms, then Teddie and Tommy threw themselves over us and we all fell on the floor.

I laughed, a real loud, belly laugh. I saw Micah watching us, a smile on his lips. His eyes met mine and my chest swelled. This moment right here with my father, my mother, Troy, Nicole, Teddie, Tommy, and Micah. All of us well and smiling. This moment was perfect. I wished it could be like this forever.

For Micah and me, it would be forever. My family wasn’t immortal though. I knew they would die someday, but I would make sure they lived a happy and long life before the end came. It would be hard, but I would let them go in peace this time.

I sighed, pushing those thoughts away. I hoped I wouldn’t have to dwell on that for many, many years.

“Kids, kids,” my father called. My siblings raised their heads. “Let your sister breathe.”

“Why don’t you take your things to your bedrooms, huh?” my mother said, handing each of them a small backpack.

“Where’s our bedroom?” Teddie asked.

“Upstairs,” I said. “You’ll find your names on the doors.”

They raced up the stairs, shouting and giggling the entire time.

Micah and my father went back outside to bring the rest of their things inside. It wasn’t much, unfortunately, and I went to the kitchen with my mother and Troy to check on dinner.

“It’s almost ready,” I said, closing the oven’s door. I turned and found her smiling at me. “What?”

“You. You look so good, so strong, so well. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks. I feel happy.”

“Hello?” a new voice called from the front of the house.

“In the kitchen,” I said, smiling.

Ceris, Victor, Alice, Keisha, and Morgan entered the kitchen. My mother’s eyes widened. Surely, she wasn’t expecting this many people to appear in her new kitchen.

“Micah was outside and told us to come in,” Victor said.

“It’s okay.” I turned to my mother. “Mom, these are my friends.” I told her their names and they all shook hands. “They’ll be staying for dinner with us.”

My mother smiled. “Of course.”

Soon we called everyone for dinner. Micah and my father paused the boring task of moving in, and the kids came rushing from upstairs like a mini tornado.

As we sat at the long dining table—with extra chairs from the kitchen’s table so we all could fit, barely, at the table—my mother served the kids; they couldn’t stop talking about having their own bedrooms, their own beds, and so many toys. They looked so happy that I thought my heart would burst.

My mother talked to Ceris about kids; Keisha and Alice looked like they were expecting orders from me—still trying to get used to the fact that they both were my ladies—and my father talked to Victor and Morgan about farms and crops.

Under the table, Micah took my hand in his and intertwined our fingers. I looked at him and he was smiling at me. I leaned my head against his shoulder and I looked at all the people I loved around the table.

Even Keisha and Morgan were here, after we finally convinced them Micah could trade their souls for two of the people Imha had killed. It sounded so evil, but she had killed millions. And they were family. We needed them here.

Moreover, I knew Raisa and Olivia, my friends from college, were doing well. They had lived through the worst and now they and their families would live in a better world. I hoped to see them again, at least one more time.

One person I knew I would see more times was Neena. Since becoming Diana, Micah had taken me to the underworld twice to see her. The first time was a tear-fest, but on my second visit we were able to talk as we used to, several millennia ago. It was good to know I could still reach her, even if she was tucked away from this world.

“It makes me happy to see you this happy,” Micah whispered in my ear. I let out a huge, relieved sigh, and he kissed the top of my head.

My smile was wide and true, and my heart could burst any moment with such happiness. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect moment.