Page 267 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

Both realms were healing, balance had been restored, my group was alive, and my best friend survived.

Sure, there was still a lot to work out, but we had eternity to figure it out.

Harlow

Dark Haven Institute

More time had passed than I’d expected when we stepped through the portal into Dark Haven.

Already the courtyard was full of lush green grass and repairs were well underway.

We’d been so busy in Helheim, it had fallen to the bottom of the list.

“Drake!” Sarah’s voice was strong and excited as she ran through the doors. “I was waiting for you!”

“Mom,” he breathed out as he wrapped her in a hug. She didn’t flinch at his demon appearance, she just held her sonlike a mother should, dancing around with him as she excitedly whispered how much she loved him.

Then she was moving on to me, hugging me tightly before going down the line.

“My babies, I’m so glad you’re all okay,” she ended, clapping her hands together and fighting tears.

“You look great, Sarah. How is Dark Haven treating you these days?”

“Well,” she said, ushering us inside as she spoke, “as soon as you closed the portal, it was like a fog lifted. I could think and speak clearly. Even my exhaustion ended. I’m not perfect, but I’m normal again.” The relief in her voice was loud and clear.

“She’s perfect,” Elkan said as he joined us. “Welcome back.”

He hugged Drake, offered a handshake to the rest of the guys, then bowed for me.

He showed me respect as the Queen of Helheim even when he no longer belonged to that world. It was such an Elkan thing to do and I smiled back, happy to see them thriving.

“And how are you coping? I’ve been worried,” I admitted. He shook his head in exasperation at my words.

“I told you I’d be fine as long as I had her. Let’s have some tea, the cafeteria always serves it at this hour,” he told us, leading us downstairs.

I half expected a room full of patients, instead we foundfamilies.

“Um?” Hiro said. “What happened here?”

“We’ve made a few changes,” Sarah said proudly. “This is the new Dark Haven. A safe place for families, teens, individuals.... anyone who needs it.”

“I managed to get us some amazing funding and grants and now we feed and room anyone who needs it. We set low rent for those staying long term and that helps bolster the funds we need.”

“This is incredible,” I said, looking out over the faces, then back at the two who made it possible. I knew that everything had happened this way for a reason.

Dark Haven had not only been their home, but mine, and I was glad to see it become that for even more people who needed it.

“How are things back home?” Elkan asked, not bothering to call Helheim by name in a room full of unsuspecting humans.

“They’re changing,” I admitted.

“For the better,” Drake tacked on, giving me a look that said he didn’t approve of me downplaying our efforts.

He was right, things were crazy, and settling in wasn’t easy, but we’d found a way to make Helheim our home.

Hel had demanded accommodations for the afterlife the moment they’d recovered. But I no longer owed her anything. She was given what everyone else was, a place of peace where the other souls resided.

After realizing there’d be no special treatment, her demands stopped and she focused on her partner.

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