years of him treating me like nothing more than a tool to be honed and shaped for the Templars? Hell yeah. It's about time he started treating me like a daughter."
I squeezed her hand and walked up the ramp toward daylight. "All my life I thought I had the perfect family." My heart sagged. "And in the space of a month, the fantasy shattered. My mom left me to be with Ivy and her family. My dad is marrying a succubus. My sister thinks I'm evil." I forced a smile and looked at Elyssa. "Your family was never close. Your dad sounds like he's always been the commander in chief of the family while the rest of you were trained like monkeys. But now you have a chance. Maybe you'll get the great family after all."
Elyssa stopped and pressed a hand to my cheek. "Oh, Justin, I'm sorry. Even if my family hasn't always been the greatest, I grew up with great brothers." She squeezed her eyes shut. "Jack and Michael were always there for me when my parents weren't." She opened her eyes, wiped a tear away. "We have each other now. We have our own future to make."
I kissed her softly on the lips and smiled. "I know, babe. I just wish—I wish we could have it all. Great families. Huge gatherings for the holidays. No insane angels threatening to invade the world."
She laughed. "One step at a time, honey boo-bear." She pecked me on the nose and we resumed our climb into the light.
We emerged in an area devoid of graves. I looked around the area and spotted Jack's grave in the distance. The large Conroy headstone loomed not far behind it. This insane roller coaster ride had started here. My sister had contacted me here. Deep down, a question still burned in my guts.
Had Ivy been the one to lie about Maximus kidnapping her? Had she sent me into Maximus's ambush?
Another figure emerged from the tunnel. Cinder, still filthy, approached. "I hope it is okay for me to come with you, Justin."
I nodded. "Until the bitter end, buddy."
He tilted his head. "Buddy? Does this mean you consider me a friend?"
A wince almost crossed my face before I stiffened my expression. This man—this thing was a golem. It wasn't even alive. And here I was acting like it was just one of the gang. It wasn't a friend. It wasn't an enemy. It was just a construct of metal and fake flesh, nothing more.
Katie stepped forward and took Cinder's hand. "You're my friend. You kept me safe after we busted out of Maximus's place. You dug that tunnel all the way from one end of the planet to the other so we could get here."
Bella took his other hand. "You were created a slave to serve the purpose of an evil master. Somehow, you've thrown off those chains and taken control of your own destiny, Cinder. You may also call me friend."
They were right. I knew it. More importantly, I felt it. This being had no choice in his creation, no choice in who or what he was. What mattered was what he did now, and as far as I was concerned, he was doing the right thing. I patted him on the shoulder, and nodded. "Yes, Cinder. You're my friend."
Elyssa raised an eyebrow, but apparently wasn't quite ready to give the golem a friendship bracelet just yet.
Cinder nodded solemnly, though he probably didn't know any other way to nod. "I am grateful for the friendship you have entrusted me with, Katie, Bella, and Justin. If it is within my abilities, I will not let you down."
Templars began emerging from the tunnel in single file. People at a nearby funeral looked our way, confusion plain on their faces as more and more figures poured from the tunnel.
We made our way to the cemetery exit where a convoy of Templar vehicles waited. I surveyed the nearby streets and buildings, body tensed in anticipation of a fireball and a horde of vampires. Even when nothing happened, I didn't relax until the driver pulled onto the road and headed out. The others looked tense as well, crowded as we were into the back of a large SUV.
"Well, I guess Daelissa doesn't know about our new mode of transport," Bella said, offering a smile.
"My father asked us to hand over the key and the map," Elyssa said.