Defying Destiny (Afterword Academy #3) - Katie May Page 0,71

what they were doing. They were so blinded by her power, that all they saw was a desire for more, a need they were desperate to satisfy.

Hadley rises to her feet from where she lowered herself to comfort a Ghost who keeps flickering in and out of existence. “You guys okay?” she asks, standing before us like a sexy fucking warrior.

“We’re good, Had,” Karston answers. “What about you?”

She shrugs, then turns to look behind her before turning back towards us. “I don’t know, but I know that I can’t just let this loss consume us. If we are to rise from it, then we need to work together.”

“Just tell us what to do next, my beloved,” Caius whispers next to me. “We are yours.”

We are yours…

He’s right, and for the first time, I don’t feel anger towards him, knowing he’s included in the group of men that Hadley loves. Whatever distrust I had towards him has vanished since the battle with Lilith. If he has ulterior motives, then we would know them by now, his cards would have been shown in battle. Not once has he faltered in what he said he would do—redeem himself for what he’s done.

And now, I finally believe him.

An odd feeling washes over me, the hatred festering in my heart vanishing, leaving me almost empty. For so long, I’ve had this darkness inside of me, and whether it was towards my brothers, Caius, or Lilith, it was always there.

And now it’s gone.

But as I watch Hadley give orders and comfort others, as I watch everyone follow her lead and look to her for guidance, a new feeling begins to fill that empty space—love.

Love for her, love for my brothers, love for this second chance at life in the Afterworld that we’ve all been given.

Fate is such an odd thing to believe in. We all hear the word destiny, and some might choose to believe that we make our own paths, while others believe that the path we take is already carved out for us. But watching Hadley makes me believe that we really are just characters in some great novel written by the powers from above. This was her destiny, her role to play in this life. She takes on this part so effortlessly, as if she’s always been in charge.

A glimmering form draws my attention as a pair of Fates whose names I don’t know stroll up to Hadley. “Thank you,” the female gasps out, pulling Hadley into an embrace with tears streaming down her cheeks. “Thank you for saving us.”

“Please, don’t thank me,” Hadley whispers. “Any of you would have done the same.”

The Fate pulls away from Hadley but keeps hold of her shoulders. “That’s not the point, Claire. This is not about what any of us would have done, but what you did. You saved us all. Take credit for that and embrace it.”

“You are welcome to come back with us at any time,” the male says. “You and Caius both.”

I can’t help but bristle at this. I never considered that Hadley could or would leave us to go with the Fates, but now, I suppose that’s not out of the realm of possibility.

“Thank you,” Hadley says, turning towards him. “But I think my place is here.”

The Fate nods and clasps his partner’s hand, and they stroll off together before vanishing out of sight.

My fingers itch to touch my girl, and I reach out, seizing her arm and tugging her into my chest. She laughs and wraps her arms around me as I lean down and kiss the top of her head. “You are so incredible, Hadley. This is your destiny, it’s who you were meant to be. I think it's up to you now, to fix the Academy and take charge of this place.”

“Me?” she questions, looking up at me with wide eyes.

“I agree,” Caius adds, stepping next to me. “Just look at you. Part Fate.”

“Part Demon,” Brax says, curling up behind her, wrapping his arms around her.

“Part Ghost,” Karston remarks, sliding up beside us.

Preston leans in and kisses her cheek. “Part Reaper too.”

I reach out and finger the soft feathers on her wings. “And part Angel. You alone are part of every division and are one of the remaining Fates. You were born for this.”

Hadley stares off, eyes unseeing as the enormity of what we’ve said finally sinks in. She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, then takes a few steps away from us, surveying the Academy