Page 50 of The Quoram Effect

But something flittering through our connection confirmed Torz was still dubious about this revelation. I glanced at him. His frown furrowed as a new wave of guilt and anguish shot from him into me.

“The woman you fed to Quoram,” Torz pushed out. “Was she a part of your plan, too?”

Zuli’s face paled slightly, her smile tightening with unease. “She volunteered. I did not force it upon her. She knew something drastic had to take place for the right people to opentheir eyes. In times of tyranny, sacrifices need to be made. She won’t be forgotten.”

Albeit pretty, if not honourable, her words did not erase the fact Purans were dying to aid their cause. Even the three men I had killed only signed up to stage the attacks in order to keep their families safe.

If only I’d known.

“Hey.” Torz squeezed my hand, clearly following my train of thought. “It wasn’t your fault. They knew what they were doing.”

“I guess.” I swallowed the guilt, but doubted it would ever fade.

His hand landed on my hip and pulled me closer, filling me with a warmth I’d never experienced before. It was love. Hope. But through the contentment swelling between us, I knew there was one thing that still plagued Torz’s mind. We’d also spoken about it earlier, while tangled up in bedsheets and each other’s arms.

“I have to warn you,” Torz lowered his voice, stepping closer to Zuli. “Nikos Russo may cause a problem for everyone.”

“Ah, nonsense.” Zuli flapped her hand at him. “He knows when to step in and when to take a step back. The will of the Gods can occasionally overpower those of the mortal world. Let’s just say he settled for a handsome sum of quin and a dozen crates of Q.” She chortled. “He can be a very reasonable man when he wants to be.”

“I doubt that,” I mumbled, catching Torz’s stunned expression.

“Well, then. Your ship awaits.” Stepping aside, Zuli motioned to the transparent tunnel.

Offering our bewildered and awkward thanks, we slowly crossed the threshold into the tunnel, only to stop and watch the purple-clad woman take the arm of the silver-haired god who had consumed our dreams for so long. They both laughed beforeambling along the corridor, and in the blink of an eye, they disappeared into thin air.

Shaking the fog of disbelief from my mind, I smiled up at Torz. “Was she even real?”

“I have no idea.” He lifted our interlocked hands to his lips and placed a kiss on my knuckles, his eyes sparkling with ease. “Let’s get out of here. I want to see if this planet lives up to the hype.”

I laughed, letting him lead me into the sleek silver shuttle.

We took our seats, falling into a sated silence of companionship as a hum of apprehension simmered between us. With the understanding that deities existed, and despite their arrogance and meddling ways, they clearly encouraged the fight for Pura’s freedom. But they had also believed in our bond.

And now, nine years after it was intended to happen, we were finally ready to start a new adventure. Together.

The End

…for now

Yes, more is coming from Remi and Torz.

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