Chapter 73: The Dinner They Deserved

Korrin found the kitchen.

"GODLIKE PANTRY!" he shouted. "There's like, fifteen kinds of cake!"

Elyse blinked. "That's excessive."

Naia shrugged. "Not if we eat all of them."

The group cooked. Or rather—Naia caused several minor kitchen explosions, Korrin summoned floating ladles, and Elyse conjured healing herbs that also tasted like lemon.

Thessaly grilled fish over divine firewood. Liss set the table. And when they all sat down, it wasn't grand. It wasn't epic.

It was family.

They toasted to victory. They toasted to survival. They toasted to Bob—who played a hauntingly beautiful tune before fainting into mashed potatoes.

Liss raised her glass.

"To memory."

Korrin added, "To friendship."

Elyse whispered, "To love."

Thessaly looked at Liss.

"To us."

Naia threw her arms around all of them.

"To every dumb decision that got us here alive!"

And laughter filled the house.

The laughter of people who had earned their peace.