Page 248 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

Hiro picked up a slice and turned to me as I did the same. We inspected the pizza like it was something foreign, but it smelled so fucking good. If my stomach could rumble, it would.

“Are you two ever not dramatic?” Drake questioned. “It won’t do the same as it did in Helheim, but food is food.”

With that, we tapped our slices together and took a bite. I wasn’t sure what I expected but the burst of flavor over my tongue, the gooey hot cheese, and the perfectly seasoned sauce was definitely not it.

I groaned as I chewed, swallowed, then took another slice. Thank the gods Roman made more than one.

“Is it supposed to taste this good?” I questioned with my mouth full. Drake chuckled and took one of his own, downing half the piece in one bite.

“You’re right, it’s just as good as always,” he agreed. “Monty said that we don’t eat now, not that wecouldn’teat. I guess now we just get to appreciate it and our bodies burn it off without much effort.”

“No worrying about cholesterol or calories? Sign me up.” I hummed as I ate the rest of my piece. It wasn’t as fulfilling as eating used to be. I didn’t have a hunger it satiated. But it was no less satisfying in the end.

Honestly, it made this whole strange afterlife a little bit better. Giving up everything that made life worth living on Earth was hard. There were amazing things, like pizza and ice cream,and now that I knew I could enjoy them without consequence, I planned to indulge from time to time.

Hiro didn’t get a boost of power from his pizza but he seemed just as content and happy as I was as he nibbled on his slice of cheesy goodness.

“You three are good together.” I’d almost forgotten about Sarah. She’d been quiet as she ate, and I was enthralled with eating as well.

She dabbed a bit of sauce from her mouth and leaned back, studying us with a proud smile on her face.

“Thanks, Mom,” Drake said. I swear the demon blushed at the praise.

“I mean it. You guys really brought Drake to life, and I know this isn’t the path I wanted or expected for my child, or for any of you, but you embraced it. You didn’t let go of what was important. I’m proud of you. All three of you.”

I’d never had anyone say those words to me. It filled me with unexpected emotion and had a lump rising in my throat and tears burning at my eyes.

I thought that leaving my humanity behind would take the intense emotions that went along with being human, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Honestly, it was nice to be a mix of both worlds, to still hold onto the parts of myself I enjoyed.

“I’d definitely say I’m lucky,” I agreed.

“Things have a way of working out. Just you wait,” she said pointing at me.

She leaned back in her chair and in seconds her eyes were drifting closed. She was still getting tired a lot but I think it had more to do with the constant prophecies she was getting, than her medicine.

Sarah didn’t stir as Drake picked her up and tucked her into her bed. Hiro made sure she was comfortable before we snuck out of the room.

She was safe here now that several gargoyles patrolled the halls, including Stravos who watched out for Layne. After the last demon attack, he’d gone full-alpha mode.

We passed two of the guards on the way out, the gargoyles bowing, and I returned the gesture. It was nice to have them so openly accept me as their leader.

The ones who remained in Helheim did the same, but the demons did not. They fell in line out of fear, not loyalty. One day I’d earn their respect, too.

Hiro’s hand wrapped around mine, squeezing it gently. “I’m sorry that she wasn’t able to give you more information. We’ll figure it out.”

“We will,” I agreed. “I just have to figure out what this even exchange is. I can’t exactly kill myself this time.”

Then my steps faltered as those words sunk in.

“Wait, is it possible to kill yourself in Helheim?”

Drake’s face twisted in anger as he got in my face. “Don’t you fucking think about sacrificing yourself this time. You might not come back again. Even immortality has limits.”

My hand went to his cheek to calm his anger. “I never said I was going to. Stop jumping to conclusions, you psychopath,” I said. “Now answer the question. Is it possible?”

“No,” he answered. “As you’ve seen, if they’re created from Helheim, they regenerate.”

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