Phoenix stepped forward.
The Daughter watched quietly while we all said our goodbyes.
My heart felt like a rock. I was all too aware that it was possible we'd never see each other again.
Hansa walked up to Anjani, who stood tall and proud, visibly focused on keeping a straight face despite the sad look in her eyes. Hansa grasped her sister's shoulders firmly, wearing her signature confident smirk.
"You be good, little sister," she said. "Be sharp, be ready for anything, be ruthless."
Anjani nodded, but I could tell she was wary of leaving her sister in these circumstances. The loss of the Red Tribe had taken its toll on both of them.
"What do we say when we go on quests like these, Anjani?" Hansa asked.
"May the sun guide your way."
"May the moon light your path," Hansa added.
"May the wind be your wings," Anjani continued.
"May the earth serve your feet."
"And may your blade keep you safe," they said together.
"That's right, sister," Hansa said. "Be fierce, darling. You've got everything it takes to represent our tribe. You are one of the most promising warriors I've been blessed to raise. I know you will not let me down. You show those Lamias that we're not to be played with."
Anjani laughed, swallowing back tears as her sister hugged her tight.
"Come back in one piece, Hansa," she whispered. "I still need you."
"You only need the sun, the moon, the wind, the earth, and that beautiful blade of yours, little sister. But I will see you again soon. If not in this life, I will find you in the next. That I can promise."
I felt my eyes sting as I watched the exchange between the two succubi. One by one, Vita, Aida, and Jovi hugged me goodbye, wishing me well. Phoenix waited his turn patiently, occasionally glancing over his shoulder at the Daughter.
"You stay alive, you hear me?" Aida mumbled, her lips trembling as she tried hard not to cry.
"It'll take more than a crazy snake dude to take me down, Aida. You know that. I'm like a cockroach, nuclear disaster and all," I joked, even as I squeezed my eyes shut to jam my tears.
She nodded, then took a step back, leaving Vita in front of me. I hugged my little fire fae, taking a moment to sniff her hair, wondering if that's what sunshine would smell like if it had a scent of its own.
"Take care of these kids for me, Vita. You're the only reasonable adult in this house now," I quipped, and she grinned.
"Have you fed?" She asked.
"We just had lunch," I mumbled back, and Vita rolled her eyes at me. "Ah, sentry-wise. Yes, I'm well-fed." I nodded toward Draven, who was engaged in conversation with Bijarki, leaving him some last-minute instructions for his trip.
"My two-legged lunchbox," I smirked.
"You feed off the Druid now?" Vita seemed surprised, knowing he'd pushed me away in the early days whenever I'd tried to syphon off him.
"Yes, and his energy is extraordinary and seemingly inexhaustible."
She nodded and gave me a weak smile instead of a goodbye. I then walked up to Jovi and playfully poked him in the stomach. When I nearly strained my finger, I instantly regretted it. The guy was pretty much made out of rocks.
///
"You'd better come back with all your limbs intact, wolf-boy," I said.
"I know you'd be devastated without me," he grinned.
"Not really, but I really enjoy kicking your ass once in a while."
He wrapped me in a bear hug, lifting me off the ground in the process. Then I made my way to Phoenix, who took me in his arms and held me for a good minute in absolute silence.
"I'll be okay, Phoenix," I said.
"I know you will. There's no way we're not getting out of this alive. Do you hear me?"
We looked at each other and smiled, but I couldn't shake that ominous feeling lurking in the back of my head. I had to let it out.
"But in case we don't, in case I don't, I want you to-"
"Serena, don't." He cut me off, his voice low. "Don't even go there."
"But, Phoenix, I need to say-"
"No, Serena, you don't. Let me be perfectly clear. You're going to sneak into Azazel's dungeon, you're going to get Sverik out of there, and then you'll come back here in one piece. I need you. I need you now more than ever. Don't even think about not making it back. No."
I took a deep breath, swallowing hard as Phoenix gripped my shoulders and put on a reassuring smile.
"You are the strongest, most resilient creature I have ever had the fortune to meet," he added. "On top of that, you are the best sister anyone could ever wish for. I have all the faith in you, Serena. This is nothing for us. Just a crazy snake dude with an army of equally crazy snake dudes. Think of it as real life GASP training."