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“I’ve confirmed our flight home. Though I don’t know how we’re going to explain your appearance; you guys look like you’re from a different world,” Jack says into my ear.

“We could say we’re cosplayers,” Calli says.

“Good idea,” I say, nodding my head.

“Really?” She looks happy—surprisingly happy.

“Are you okay?” I ask casually.

“I’m not dead, thanks for that by the way.” Calli’s tone is annoyed.

Annoyance is good, it could have been far worse.

She continues, “I’m also free.” I see her smile in my periphery. “We both are.”

Her words hit me: I’m free.

Suddenly, I realize, my mission is over. They are gone. No more sacrifices, no more looking over our shoulder. Calli can finally live.

And I am free to find you.

“I have a feeling we couldn’t have done this without you, Angel,” Calli says.

My head whips to her, in surprise.

“What? It’s your guardian angel. I thought it fit.” She smiles and shrugs.

“Yeah, me, too.” I return the smile. “You’re uncommonly quiet back there,” I say, looking at Kai in the rearview mirror.

He slides behind Calli’s seat, wrapping his arms around the seat and her waist.

“Your hair looks like mine,” he whispers seductively. Calli blushes.

“Please, not in my truck,” I say, my face twisting in disgust.

“Too late for that,” Kai replies, smirking at me.

CHAPTER 45 CALLI

We pull up to the airport and jump out of the trucks. I hear Jack as he walks up to Cade.

“So, about the…” He trails off, pointing to Cade’s eyes.

I hurry over to them.

“We’re cosplayers, of course,” I say with a smile.

“Right…” Jack says, pulling out his phone as he takes a call.

I look over at Cade; he looks different, but the same. I wonder how he sees me. I feel good, powerful. Like something has been unlocked within me and opened my mind up to a new world. I suppose that is exactly what happened… I tried to hate Kai for all of two seconds. But when I was scared and weak, thinking it was all over, he was all I wanted.

It seems love really does blind you.

I feel my smile soften as I gaze over at Kai, leaning on the truck. Seeing him like this, his white hair a contrast to the night sky, his horns making him tower over everything—he’s ethereal. He’s beautiful, and mine.

I inhale a deep breath until I fill my lungs, letting the cold night air fill me. I lean my head back and exhale. Looking at the stars, my hand reaches up behind my neck. The scar is gone.

I’m free. I’m alive. Tears begin to stream down my face as the past week fades away.