Epilogue

 

The majestic trees of Serena stood grander than the walls of any palace, and the blue-and-purple leaves gleamed brighter than stained glass. Instead of the flying buttresses of a temple, rich brown branches arced toward a clear sky. The sun peered through them, gilding their edges.

A breeze sent a wisp of hair fluttering across Jane’s face. She’d never been the kind of girl who fantasized about her wedding—of fancy gowns or floral arrangements. She didn’t care to have hordes of people she barely knew watching. In fact, she’d spent a good amount of time convinced that she’d never fall in love, let alone get married. She’d never been so glad to be wrong.

If someone had told her a year and a half ago that she’d be marrying a seminary student in a backyard ceremony at her childhood home, she would have smacked that person for mocking her. Yet there she stood, holding Adam’s hands and preparing to swear her eternal love. There was no need for altars or ministers or any of the trappings she found so tiresome. In fact, the only thing her wedding had in common with the kind her schoolmates used to swoon over was the snowy color of her dress, which hugged her shoulders and flared from her waist. She’d even ditched the idea of an updo, choosing instead to let her hair hang freely down her back in a neater version of her usual waves.

Adam had sworn his vows before the Absolute, but to borrow language from a religion she didn’t really believe in would have felt dishonest. And on that day, Jane just wanted to feel like herself. That was why she’d chosen Serena’s lush forest as a venue instead of a temple or grand hall. It was the only place she’d ever truly considered home. The only people in attendance were those she considered family—her brother, of course, and Riley. Plus Ines and little Anouk. Jane couldn’t exactly leave them out when, she suspected, they’d be family soon enough.

Her gaze locked onto Adam’s, and she opened her mouth to speak the few, simple sentences she’d prepared. They seemed so trite compared to what he’d said. Still caught up in the beauty of Adam’s words—the flowing language and honest passion with which he’d sworn, by all he believed in, that he’d love her for all eternity—she could barely even remember those.

“I…” She trailed off. The vows she’d prepared sat in the back of her head, feeling too dull and clichéd to express all she wanted to say. She tried to come up with something better, but her mind didn’t seem capable of forming any clever thoughts when all she could see was Adam. She savored the touch of his hands in hers. She yearned to kiss him already rather than choke out the awful, boring snippet of a speech she’d memorized.

Well, it was her damn wedding, and she’d do whatever she pleased.

“Oh, screw it, you know I love you.” She pulled him close and pressed her lips against his. She felt his arm encircle her waist and his hand run through her hair. All the light of all the galaxies in the universe seemed to shine within her. After the last shred of life gasped its final breath, after the last supernova consumed the stars, somewhere, beyond the world, she would still love him.

The sound of a few hands clapping drew her back to reality. She released Adam with a grin. “I’m not so good at this whole vowing thing.”

Adam placed his hand on her face, meeting her eyes. “You’re perfect.”

She wove her fingers into his. Once, she’d hated that word—perfect. She’d seen it hammered into a stiff mold that no one could fit into, no matter how they contorted themselves. She’d seen it both dangled as a tantalizing reward and hurled in mockery. Yet she understood that when Adam said it, he believed it. No matter how difficult or crazy she was, he somehow found no faults. And it was enough to be perfect for one.

Jane faced the small group standing a few yards away. She hadn’t wanted the fuss of setting up decorations and whatnot. All she’d wanted was Adam and her favorite people there to share in her joy.

Devin gave her a smile. “Congratulations, Jane.”

Jane knew he was trying to be respectful and treat her like an adult and such, but she was still his little sis. Despite her past protests, she had to admit, she rather missed her embarrassing childhood nickname when it was gone. She let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “Call me Pony, bro.”

“Can I call you Pony too?” Riley gave an impish grin.

Jane narrowed her eyes. “If you do, I’ll you kill you.”

“We’re done now, right?” A child’s high-pitched voice shot toward her. “Does that mean we can go?”

“Anouk!” Ines gave the little girl a stern look.

Anouk yanked her hand out of her mother’s grasp and ran up to Jane, nearly tripping over her lacy yellow skirt. “I liked your vow. It was quick.” She put her hands on her hips and turned to Adam. “You talk too much.”

Adam laughed as Ines grabbed the child’s hand and admonished her for being rude.

Jane glimpsed Devin watching Ines. His eyes held a strange look. She approached him and, unable to resist a chance to tease her brother, whispered, “So, am I gonna be an auntie?”

He threw her a look between annoyance and amusement.

She widened her eyes innocently. “It’s a legit question. Just don’t expect me to babysit.”

Devin just shook his head with a smile.

Jane had a few more zings lined up but decided not to say them. She knew what would happen next. It had become pretty obvious when Ines had chosen Kydera City—out of all the cities on all seven of Kydera’s planets—as her new home. Ines could say whatever she wanted about better opportunities for her daughter, but Jane knew the real reason was because that was where Devin lived. He’d opted to stay with ISARK, though as an analyst rather than an operative, working out of the Kydera City headquarters. At last, he was spending his days doing something he was both good at and cared about: protecting people. No more corporate offices for either of the last Colts, though Jane supposed she’d have to visit an office eventually if the songwriting gig she’d recently secured grew into more than a one-off contract. Which she fully intended it to.

What would Dad think if he could see us now? She imagined Victor Colt, the illustrious power player, shaking his head at his two foolish offspring for choosing art and ideals over prestige. And if he knew she’d married a penniless seminary student—Jane almost laughed aloud at the look that would have crossed her father’s face. Yet she had a feeling he’d sigh in resignation with an indulgent smile when he saw how happy she was.

If she could have chosen any moment in the history of the universe to preserve, it would have been the present. For once, everything seemed to be going right.

Glimpsing the two hovercars they’d driven to reach the spot in the forest, she felt a chill run down her spine. Wherever there were machines, someone was watching. Even if she couldn’t see them, they could still be imbedded in the trees or even sewn into her gown. The Seer’s presence lurked in every device with a Net connection. No amount of security could keep him from whichever system he wanted to hack. Meanwhile, ISARK would keep an eye on Adam for the rest of his life. Since he’d returned to the seminary, they’d probably set up cameras in every dormitory and every classroom—even in the temple—to watch him. They’d be watching her as well, since she’d be by his side. She would never be rid of those entanglements, especially since Adam had promised to help ISARK counsel any AIs who discovered what they were, as he had with Eli Sanford.

For all she knew, her world would go to hell again the next day.

Feeling someone touch her shoulder, Jane turned and saw Adam beside her. His hand ran down the length of her arm, sending tingles through her skin, until his palm pressed against hers. She closed her fingers against his, her heart swelling with adoration as she met his gaze. Every nuance in his face seemed to say, I love you.

Whatever the future held, she would revel in the present. If her worst fears came to pass, she would face them again, whether they took her into a raging storm or across the astral sea.