The Secret of Ashona (68 page)

“Not exactly.” He shrugged. “Jam’s coming, too. He’s bringing the Serving Tray, so we can pig out every day.”

“I’m in!” She gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Erec felt himself blush. “I don’t even want the crown. Seems like I keep getting pushed in that direction by the Fates—doing one quest after the other. I wish they would just leave me alone. Someday I’ll have to find my lost siblings and my birth mother, but I’m through with these quests.” He sat in a chair and watched Bethany stuff more books into her bag. “If only we could have a normal life. No more adventure. All I want is to sit around with you and eat doughnuts.”

“And brownies.”

“And blueberry pie.”

“And those really juicy hamburgers that the Serving Tray makes.”

“Where is that thing? I’m going to have to find Jam. You’re making me hungry.”

“Not yet.” Bethany put a hand on Erec’s shoulder. “There’s one thing we have to do first.”

And she kissed him on the lips. Erec was shocked, but not too shocked to kiss her back. He could feel the last bits of tension leaving him. All of the worrying about the Furies, about the trapped souls, about Spartacus, about his lost siblings, about Baskania, about the destruction of Upper Earth, about his loved ones dying in Ashona. It was all over now. Finally, he knew, everything was going to be all right.