As the sun climbed in the distance, Adam and I continued to explore our mutual fascination for each other. But I couldn’t stop thinking about what a miracle my life had become in twelve short months. The road to get there had been twisty and treacherous and downright terrifying, but in the end every heartache, every cut and bruise, every tough lesson learned had been worth it.

I wasn’t sure what the future would bring to us or to any of the beings I’d come to care about during my journey from burned out assassin to demigoddess, but I took comfort in knowing that whatever challenges waited, I’d never face them alone again.

A feeling swirled in the pit of my stomach. Not the foreboding, achy sense of despair that had been part of me for so many years. But something warm, glowy… pleasant, even.

It took me a moment to recognize the emotion because, frankly, I didn’t have a lot of experience with it. But for the first time in my life, I was happy. For the first time in my life, I felt loved and safe and… balanced.

I smiled inwardly and my soul whispered, “Miracle number seven.”