Nine
Xander and I autoport back to the stadium and are immediately surrounded by our friends.
“Are you okay?” Phoebe asks.
I nod and she smiles.
Stella looks relieved as she launches herself at Xander.
While the pair attempts to make kissing an Olympic sport, Troy steps in front of me and pulls me into a crushing hug. I don’t know if it’s the odd sensation of his strong arms around me or the change to blue-sky Serfopoula from the darkness of the underworld or just the gravity of everything I’ve done—of what I’m about to do—but for a second I can’t breathe. I lift my arms and hug him back. My emotions crash down around me and I lean into him, grateful for his strength.
He has always been there for me, supporting me in whatever crazy thing I’m doing. I don’t think I ever realized how m
