“So, here’s a birth certificate, passport, driver’s license, and university diploma—three in fact, including one from Oxford.” She handed him several papers, a hard little rectangle with his image on it, and a small blue book. “You own a highly successful auction house in Connecticut that restores, appraises, and sells ancient artifacts from around the world, particularly the Mediterranean basin. Here’s the deed to the warehouse and showroom.” She handed him something else. “You’re well-known in your field and regularly asked to consult on anything pertaining to antiquities. However, you read nothing but academic works and really need to branch out. I suggest Nora Roberts.” Athena handed him a paperback.

Sophie gasped. “I have the rest of that series!”

“I know.” Athena smirked. “That’s the brand-new release.”

Overwhelmed by gratitude and relief, Piers could only smile and shake his head while the women talked about something called binge-watching. He only partially listened, his mind already focused ahead and happiness welling in his chest. Sophie and he had served their goddess well, and she’d rewarded them. He was still half lost, but he knew he’d catch on fast, especially with Sophie guiding him through every day of this new life.

EPILOGUE

Four years later, Pinebury, Connecticut

Piers rubbed his hands together, smiling at a job well done. The Christmas tree was up, the girls were sticky with candy-cane sugar—including Sophie—and he’d finally gotten that stubborn cord of colored lights to work. Met and Moma, their two Golden Retrievers, had only broken one ornament this year so far with their excitedly thumping tails, which seemed a vast improvement over last year’s carnage when they’d still been puppies.

Met licked sugar off Athena’s face while she giggled, and Moma was doing the same to little Zoe’s fingers. In the grand tradition of the Iraklidis of Connecticut, they’d given their children Greek names. Athena, after the goddess, and Zoe, meaning life. It had seemed only fitting to both him and Sophie, since Athena had given them this life they were living.

“Who wants to put the star on?” Piers held up the sparkly golden topping for their Christmas tree.

Both girls jumped up. “Me! Me! Daddy, me!”

Piers’s heart grew so big in his chest that it pushed against his ribs. He sometimes still wished his Thalyrian family could see who he’d become and what he’d accomplished, but what he had here in Pinebury—including the extended family that would be arriving soon to “bake the boosh” for Sophie’s last week of school before Christmas—made any loss and heartbreak he’d suffered worth it. Regrets were real, especially concerning Griffin and Cat, but he wouldn’t change anything. His choices brought him here. To Sophie. To Athena and Zoe.