A few feet behind them, arms wrapped around each other, stood Callum and Regan.

And we stood behind Callum and Regan. Me. Leah and Lucien. Jian-Li, Xun, and Chen, the boys holding up Wei who, even with his injuries, refused not to come. Dad, Ursula, Moose, Poncho, his auntie, Josefa, and Jabber. Aurora’s witch buddies. Ryon, Calder, and Caleb.

All of us held hands (except one of my hands was unavailable since my arm was in a sling, so Leah held me about the waist at my other side).

The rest, there to pay respects, stood to our backs.

Our eyes were on the Viking ship drifting peacefully on the waves.

Abel’s guitar was joined with another, the power of the strums reverberating through our bodies.

And as Abel’s voice rang out, the strings of an orchestra joined him.

In his baritone, he sang John Denver’s “The Eagle and the Hawk.”

The words tore through me as tears raced down my cheeks.

But I listened.

I listened to every beautiful word.

As the final notes drifted through the still air, hundreds of flaming arrows arced their buttercream light through the dark lavender blanket of sky.

Some hit the water.

Most hit the boat, and it and its precious cargo, taking its final journey, burst into flames.

I failed at swallowing back my sob and Jian-Li’s hand in mine tightened.

The boat burned.

No one moved.

I felt Abel push in beside me and take my hand from Jian-Li’s to hold in his.

“All that we can be,” Leah whispered.

At her words, more tears slid down my cheeks. The burning boat was blurry, but I kept my eyes to it.

Soar, Gregor, I prayed. You’ve done your job. We’re safe now. The whole world is safe now, because of you.

Sparks shot to the heavens on my thought.

I tasted salt as I smiled.

Aurora lifted her head from Yuri’s shoulder and we all heard her say quietly, “I’m glad I got the chance to know him, Yuri.”

With his gaze straight to the sea, Yuri dropped her hand and curled an arm around her shoulders.

But he made no reply.

Callum did.

“You will never meet a stronger man in your life,” the king of wolves declared, his eyes on the burning ship. “With eternity lying before us, not one of us will.”

Sonia looked back at her husband and smiled through her tears.

I dropped my head to Abel’s shoulder and gave him my weight.

And Abel, my mate, he stood strong and let me.

* * * * *

Lucien

“Where were you?” Lucien demanded.

“We were there,” Avery replied.

“You were? You were where?” Lucien clipped.

“We were there. The Ancients are everywhere. Do you think the insurrectionists had the ability to hack satellites?’ Avery shook his head and his eyes claimed Lucien’s in an unbreakable hold. “The humans, Lucien, they had to see.”

“You televised it?” Lucien hissed.