Epilogue

Rania smiles down at the children whose bloodline one of us will be reborn into after a hundred years.

"They're quite lovely," she runs her hand over the image in her pool, "they'll do great things."

"Is this a premonition or…

"Call it intuition," she smiles up at me her smile the light to my darkness.

"So, I take it this was the better ending," I take her hand into my own and lead her towards the terrace. The sky is swirling with hues of lavender and pink just the way she likes it.

Rania leans her head against my shoulder and lets out a sigh, "yes."

###

10 years

"Augustus!" Midnight shouts for the fourth time this morning.

"What now?" I ask stepping out of the shadows.

"Papa," they great in unison.

"August keeps taking my dagger but won't let me use his arrow I want to hunt rabbits," Midnight sneers at her brother who in turn sticks his tongue out.

I kneel on one knee holding their faces to eye level, "never hunt a rabbit they are sacred animals to both the Dark Realm and Kingdom of Assassins, do you understand?"

"Why?" August asks.

"In another life, in another time, Deity Cerin our patron Deity of Shadows and Darkness was reincarnated into a snow-white rabbit," I tap their foreheads before rising, "so never eat rabbit meat no matter how hungry you are no matter how good it smells anyone who follows the Underworld cannot eat rabbit meat you'll be denied entrance into the eighth level."

"We will listen, papa," Midnight places a hand over her heart and inclines her head, August mimics the action.

"What I'd miss?" Ruby strides over a Hummingbird in one hand and a Hawk on her shoulder.

"Not much," I point at the birds, "who are they?"

Ruby smiles as she kneels down before the children, "want to see something amazing?"

Midnight nods and August jumps with excitement.

"Extend your hands," Ruby holds the Hummingbird over Midnight's extended hand and the Hawk over August's, "from now on they will be your guardians, your best friend when you can't be together. Hummingbird and Hawk will train with you, grow strong with you and when the time comes, they will be able to change forms."

"Their cultivating," August says, "so they can shapeshift like us."

"You're quite smart," I place a hand on either one of their shoulders just in case.

Ruby smiles and says, "chose, life or death," the children smile as they repeat the words that only Shadows can use.

The Hummingbird flies into Midnight's extended hand a spark of light emanating from them the moment they make contact. Midnight doesn't move as the magic curses through them until Hummingbird is resting on her left forearm body wrapped around.

Hawk hesitates before landing on August's extended hand a spark of light flashes as they connect. August's hand goes to his left shoulder as Hawk takes his place.

"Do you know what they've become?" Ruby asks.

"Shadow Souls," Midnight says.

"In a way," Ruby nods, "they are Shadow Guardians they were at the edge of death now their life is tethered with yours."

"Like your wolves," August says, "and Dad's crow."

"Yes," I say, "just like that."

"Never bind anyone to you without consent," Ruby runs a hand down their heads, "and remember it has to be their choice."

"Yes, Mother," the children incline their heads, "we won't disappoint you."

"Let's go see what your Father has prepared for dinner," Ruby takes ushers them forward, "you cooked right I'm starving."

I flick her nose, "you're not the only one running a Kingdom."

She raises a brow magic dancing on her fingers, "no, but you're used to it."

I dodge her attack and summon a lotus seed cake, "do it and the cake gets it."

"You wouldn't be that cruel," she chases after me stopping once we've reached the gazebo where we shared our last meal with my parents, "I miss the garden."

"I do too," I wave my hand over the earth plants begin to sprout, "this is the best I can do," I say as a pomegranate tree and a persimmon tree burst from the earth on either side, fields of lavender and rose to the east, peach and plum trees to the west, cypress north with spider lilies at their base.

"It's wonderful," she leans her head against my chest, "now if only they were here."

"I wish that too," I say, "only ninety years to go."

Ruby lets out a sigh, "let's hope the Celestial Realm doesn't intervene."