Chapter Thirty-Eight

**Enid**

We took our time getting out of bed and getting dressed. I chose a hooded sweatshirt that covered the bruising that was left on my chest. Eris was a worrier.

She always had been, especially for me, and I didn’t want to have her getting worked up over the bruising. She’d want to heal it even though it wasn’t necessary.

Leo wore a black t-shirt and black jeans, his usual, and offered his hand to me as we walked. I took it, interlacing our fingers and leaning my head against his shoulder.

When we got to the dining room, I took a deep breath. Why didn’t I want to be around anyone? I didn’t know. I knew we couldn’t stay locked in the room forever, but I would’ve preferred it.

We walked into a quiet dining hall. Kat, Finn, Gideon, Eris and Cass were the only ones inside. My heart beat in a leap of joy when I saw Cass looking very much alive and well. No one else I knew could’ve ever survived being crushed like that, even with Eris to heal them.

Everyone looked so tired. But I noticed something else in the air as well. Gideon, especially, looked a little lighter today. Besides myself, I felt that he’d shouldered the most of the burden of the last few years. He had worked tirelessly, endlessly, to protect his family and our pack.

And now it was finally over.

Of course, his job wasn’t any easier in these next few days. There would be many funerals for those who died, and he and Eris would attend every single one. It was a great and awful job to ask others to follow you into battle, knowing some would die. I didn’t envy them for that, and I was glad that most likely Leo and I would never have to be Alpha and Luna.

“Enid,” Eris said, standing and coming to me.

She hugged me tightly, and I felt hot tears in my eyes again. I was all over the place, emotionally. Numb, crying, angry, numb. It was a vicious cycle.

Eris was a lot taller than me, so I hugged her back and buried my face in her chest like a child would their mother. She was the closest thing I had to one since our mother was taken. Her scent comforted me. It was a soft and familiar place that reminded me of our time together in the cabin. She, Hades, and I, alone in the world.

“I’m okay,” I told her again.

I wiped at the tears on my face and tried to force a smile.

“Don’t,” she whispered. “Don’t do that. You don’t have to do that anymore. It’s okay to feel and be upset. A lot happened in the last few days.”

I was a little stunned by her words and only nodded.

“Enid. Hades…” she sobbed loudly. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t save him.”

I could see she meant it, too. She felt guilty about not being able to heal him. They’d never been close, but Hades had been a constant in her life as well, and he’d trusted her.

I shook my head, unable to answer unless we were really going to have a full on breakdown right here in front of everyone.

She nodded, understanding, and wiping at her own tears.

She turned to Leo next and hugged him tightly.

“I can never thank you enough,” she told him.

For saving my life, she meant.

He blushed a little, glancing at Gideon. Werewolves didn’t do well with sharing their mates, even in ways so small. It was just in their nature. Gideon was unaffected though, and maintained a steady control, as always.

“Come sit,” Eris said, grabbing my hand.

We walked around the back of the table, and Cass stood. He bowed slightly, which was odd.

“I understand I owe you my life, little witch,” he whispered to me.

I blushed slightly. “No, Cass, we would’ve never made it this far without you.”

Plus, he’d help me exact the revenge I needed on Nox. But I didn’t say that out loud. I didn’t want Eris or anyone else, besides Leo, to ever know about what happened during those three days the dragons had me. Cass had understood immediately though, without me even having to tell him. It made me sad for him, because after three days with three dragons, I couldn’t imagine what his life had been for two hundred years with six of them.

“He figured out the riddle,” Leo said. “He found you.”

I didn’t know what that meant exactly. A story for another time, I guess. But I smiled and said, “See? We’re even.”

He shook his head and answered, “We certainly aren’t.”

He took a cigarette out of his shirt pocket and put it in his mouth. He didn’t light them anymore because Gideon scolded him every time, but he seemed to take comfort in having it there.

“He’s right,” Gideon interjected. “We are all indebted to you. Forever.”

“You’re incredible, Enid,” Kat said from behind him.

She had a hand on her belly when she said it, thinking of her child. I could sense him there. He was strong and healthy.

“Wait, did you just agree with me?” Cass asked, turning to Gideon.

Gideon rolled his eyes at him.

“Can you be serious for five minutes?”

“I am being serious. It’s a serious matter. You just agreed with me.”

Gideon stared stubbornly at him, and I chuckled softly. I was thankful for the distraction away from me. And I think Cass knew that. He was an incredible friend.

I felt a little uncomfortable with the praise. I’d just done what I had to do, but I wasn’t exactly happy with having to do it. I wasn’t proud to have killed thousands. I understood why the dragons were locked away by our ancestors. They were responsible for so much death.

“Wait,” I said to Cass, “what about Edana? Did someone kill her?”

He turned back to me, his gaze darkening. It hadn’t even occurred to me I never learned the fate of the red dragon.

“No, she escaped,” he answered. “With Morga and two of her daughters. The little lion killed the other one.”

I felt discomfort from my mate on that subject. It obviously wasn’t something he was happy to have done.

A beat of anger and disbelief coursed through me. I felt a spiral of despair wrap around me.

“If Morga is alive, it will never be over,” I said grimly.

She could break open more vaults with other dragons. She could free them all and unleash them on the world.

“That’s why I’m going to find her,” Cass said firmly. “River and Rhia are going to help me. We won’t rest until she’s taken care of. You don’t need to worry about it. You’ve done your job.”

I nodded, feeling unsure and upset. I took my seat next to Eris and stared at the food. My appetite, which had been nonexistent, roared to life in its presence.

Gideon pulled out his phone after it dinged and looked at me.

“River would like to see you in the garden after you’re done eating,” he told me, looking curious.

“Okay.”

We ate the rest of the meal in a mostly comfortable silence. No one really knew what to say. Even Finn was unusually quiet. It was going to take some time adjusting to this new life when all we’d focused on for years was the artifact and the war.

Gideon broke the silence once to ask Leo, “So where are you going? To college?”

A few shocked expressions rounded the table, especially Finn, who obviously had no idea about this.

Leo looked surprised by the question and mumbled, “Uh, I don’t know yet.”

“Well, you better hurry and decide. Enid graduates in a few months and then I figure next fall you guys will be going. She doesn’t have to stay with the pack anymore.”

A beat of excitement pounded in my chest and I looked at Leo, a little stunned. It was a future I’d never imagined. I always thought I’d be here, guarding the artifact. I could feel his own excitement and happiness through the bond. We were free to go, knowing when we were ready, there was a place for us here.

Afterwards, Leo and I walked to the garden. River and Rhia were on a bench together, laying against each other in one of the more intimate gestures I’d ever seen from them. They were a very private couple.

When we approached, they stood and hugged me together.

“We’re so proud, Enid,” River said. “We know how much it cost you, and we’re so sorry.”

They understood the relationship between a witch and their familiar. It was an unbreakable bond of loyalty and love.

River reached behind her and grabbed a small bundle off of the bench. It was a witch’s blue silk ceremonial funeral cloth. I knew he was wrapped in it before she told me.

“We couldn’t bear to leave him there,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “He should be here, in your garden, to rest.”

A sob broke through my lips, and I grabbed him from her gently. I held him and cried for a few minutes, while everyone else gave me that time. Leo was sniffling too, probably overcome by my own intense emotions.

When I was ready, I picked one of our favorite spots. It was in the tulip bed. Tulips represented unconditional love, which I thought was fitting. It was also directly across from the bench that Leo and I always sat on.

I nudged the earth away, careful not to disturb the bulbs too much, and placed him there.

“I love you,” I told him. “Thank you for being my best friend.”

I didn’t know what else to say. Words couldn’t describe my love or despair, so I moved the dirt gently back over him.

“Farewell from this world, but not from the Circle, loyal companion,” River said, placing her hand on his grave.

She put her hand on my shoulder and squeezed. She and Rhia then took their leave, walking hand in hand down the garden path.

Leo sat on the ground next to me and we stayed for a long time. We talked about Hades. Funny and joyful memories. I laughed when I told him how Hades had scratched Gideon that first day in the cabin, protecting me.

I felt more at peace afterwards, with him at least resting close to me now, and good memories brought forth in my mind.