And it made me so sad that I couldn’t even think about it without my chest hurting, because I knew that pain. I knew it well.

Feeling so out of place.

The feeling of never quite belonging to the place where you were born To parents who never truly wanted you for you.

And just like that, the loss of my own parents washed over me again.

They had been my all.

And they hadn’t even told me the truth in their deaths.

I choked back the giant ball in my throat that demanded I burst into tears and kept walking.

Mason held my hand tightly.

There was a large crack like the sky had opened, and Cassius appeared, dressed in a tux with Stephanie by his side.

Followed by Alex and Hope.

And Ethan and Genesis, sans their twins.

I exhaled a sigh of relief when I saw them — my friends — my new family, here at Mason’s side.

His hold on my hand relaxed as Cassius walked up to us and very slowly eyed the room around him. Then with a small smile on his lips, fell to one knee and hung his head.

The room erupted into gasps and wonder as Mason stilled next to me. “Cassius…”

“Bless me,” Cassius said. “It is what the King of the Earth does to the King of the Immortals. Is it not?”

I felt the rage of his father.

The rage of others as well.

This was not how things were done. I knew that and was sure the rest of the Immortal Council did as well as the men all very slowly — Alex included, even though he was smirking the whole time — fell down to one knee and waited.

Mason held out his hand. “It has been a long time. The power has not been transferred…”

“The power has never left,” Cassius whispered under his breath.

Mason’s eyes widened as he held his hand over Cassius’ head, and very slowly, pieces of diamond-like dirt fell from his palm over Cassius like a small rain.

And when Cassius lifted his head, the pieces of dirt melted against his skin and twinkled so brightly I almost had to look away.

He stood.

The council followed.

And I attempted to close my mouth.

“Now,” Cassius turned to everyone and leveled Mason’s father with a glare. “Since that’s done, I’d like to vote.”

“Vote?” I hissed under my breath.

Mason paled. “Cassius—”

Cassius wouldn’t relent. “As King of the Immortals, the archangel to the humans and Heavens, keeper of secrets and rightful king of this world until it burns into the next, I demand a vote.”

“Nae.” Tarik’s eyes glistened with barely restrained hatred as he looked from his father back to Mason. “I demand a fight.”

Tags: Rachel Van Dyken The Dark Ones Saga Paranormal
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