Sin laced his fingers with hers before he spoke to Ash. "Can you locate them?"
"No. They're off my radar. The best defense we have against them is you."
Without thinking, Sin put his arm around Kat. As soon as he did, he saw the look of warning from Ash.
Ash crossed his arms as he approached them slowly. "You ever hurt her, god or no god, I'm going to kick your ass."
Sin laughed. "Don't worry. I'd die before I let anything happen to her."
"You remember that, and you'll have a long and pain-free life."
Kat smiled as love for both of them welled up inside her.
One by one, the Dream-Hunters and Dolophoni left.
"Xypher?" Kat called as he started to leave too.
He turned toward her.
"I'll speak with Hades immediately to get you your freedom."
Xypher curled his lip. "Human for a month. I can't wait." But buried in that disgusted tone, she heard the underlying hope and anticipation.
With a nod to them, he vanished.
Ash held his hand out to Xirena. "You ready to return to Kalosis?"
"Am I ever. The human world just has too many humans in it for me, which wouldn't be bad if I could eat some. As it is, it's just too cruel to be taunted this way. Let me go back to my shopping room."
Ash paused. "I'll check in with you guys when I can. In the meantime, you know where to find me."
Sin turned to Zakar, "C'mon, Brother. Let's go home."
Zakar shook his head. "I think I need some time alone."
Sin frowned. "Where are you going?"
"I don't know. The world's changed... and so have I. I need to find my place in it again. Don't worry. I'll be in touch."
Kat felt the sadness in Sin as his brother vanished. "He meant what he said. He's not out to do harm."
"I know. It's just hard to see him leave like this." He leaned his head against hers. "I only hope he finds what needs."
Kat patted his ribs before she left his side to retrieve the sfora. She closed her fingers around it. It looked so small and insignificant, yet it had held back the destruction of the world. "Well, we averted this crisis. I can't wait to see what comes next."
Kish stepped out from the shadows. "Um, guys, can we go home now?"
Sin took her hand. "Yeah, we're going home."
Kessar stood back as he watched the remnants of his people. They'd suffered an atrocious blow today. But they weren't defeated. Even though this was a hard situation, there was still hope.
And hope had seen him through worse times than this.
Leaving his people to tend their wounds and set up their homes, he wandered through the new caverns they'd found to use in just such a case.
But honestly, he was tired of hiding. If they were to venture out, they would need an ally. One they could depend on who was just as angry and bloodthirsty as he was.
One who hated humans as much, if not more...