Defying Destiny (Afterword Academy #3) - Katie May Page 0,72

through new eyes.

She turns to face us and cocks her head. “I can’t do this without you five.”

“We are with you always,” Caius assures. “In this life, the one before, or the one after, we will always be with you.”

I think I finally understand now, why the big man upstairs decided to bestow upon Hadley five Fated. It was for this exact reason—to tame the darkness, defeat evil, and become the leader the Afterworld needs.

A look of resolve crosses Hadley’s beautiful face, but then a frown pulls at her lips, and for a moment, I wonder if she’ll reject the idea.

Hadley crosses her arms, then states firmly, “But I sure as shit need a cooler name than Administer.”

We all laugh at her proclamation and curl in around her, surrounding her with our love. And for the first time, in the warm embrace of my brothers, my girl, and hell, even Caius, I feel content. All the pain, everything we’ve been through, was for a purpose. Together, we’re defying destiny, and as hope blooms in my chest, I can’t help but smile.

For the first time in two lifetimes, my heart is full.

Chapter 29

Hadley

It’s been three days.

Three days since students slaughtered students and teachers murdered teachers.

Three days since all of the Fates—including my best friend Eve—were brought to Administer’s office and siphoned for power.

Three days since I stabbed Lilith with my Fate dagger, killing her once and for all.

Sleeping is virtually impossible. How can I, when my dreams are full of death and destruction? When the only sounds I hear are heartbreaking screams and cries of sorrow?

My days consist of burying the dead and transforming the school to the way it once was. No new students have arrived, almost as if the Afterlife itself is holding its breath. Waiting. Watching. Planning. It makes me wonder if Administer was behind the decision of which students were admitted. Which means I’m now behind the decision.

It’s on the third day that I collapse on the bed in my shared room with Aggie-slash-Eve. At least, it had been. My Lust Fate roommate has decided to spend her days with Adam, now that she no longer has to hide her identity. She, unlike the rest of the Fates, chose to remain at the Academy instead of traveling back home with them. I don’t know how long she intends to stay, but I’m grateful for her presence.

Even if the crazy bitch still chooses to wear a saggy, eighty-year-old meat suit every damn day.

The door to my room opens and shuts, but I don’t bother lifting my head. Only five people have a key to my room, and four of them are in a meeting with the staff on my behalf.

“My love.” Caius perches daintily on the bed beside me, almost as if he’s hesitant and unsure of his welcome. Which is ridiculous. We’ve all made it known that he’s a part of us, a part of our group. He’s more than paid for his prior transgressions. All of the essences he stole are now in their respective souls, and he saved all of our lives more times than I can count.

I hate the distance between us, the minuscule sliver of space that feels like a chasm, and I work quickly to breach it.

Sitting up, I wiggle my butt across the mattress until my thigh is flush with his. His breath hitches, dark eyes dropping to where our skin touches, but he doesn’t move away.

He also doesn’t make a move to touch me back.

Instead, he clears his throat and runs a finger through his pitch-black hair. It’s beginning to become shaggy, nearly reaching his shoulders, but it only makes him look sexier in my eyes. With the dark stubble grazing his jawline and obsidian gaze, Caius is a masterpiece. A work of art.

And mine.

I never realized how intricately our lives are tied before. How much we need each other. His darkness matches my own, just as my light calls to his. We were put on this earth centuries earlier to be perfect complements for each other, and that hasn’t changed with my rebirth. Caius…he belongs to me, just as surely as I belong to him and my other Fated.

“The school should be functional in a few more days,” Caius states, clearing his throat a second time. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Because the last thing I want to talk about are my duties as the new Administer…though we mutually decided to chop the title. I’ll just