---Thorn's POV---

Years slowly passed without my noticing, where we settled into a comforting pattern. The Earth slowly but surely recovered and flourished under the watchful gaze of the Precursors.

The few humans that had survived were now vastly outnumbered by the supernatural creatures, but, they were safeguarded from harm.

After all, my father and Ye'iitsoh had traveled all around the world to snuff out the monstrosities that were still willing to kill the last humans.

Not because of humanity's past of destroying their own world, slowly but surely, but simply because they were different.

Ironically, once the supernatural world had been called out, that their actions were exactly what the humans had been doing, they had balked.

Before realizing we were right.

Still, it would take many more years before the Earth would fully recover. And it would never change back to how it was like humanity remembered.

New animal species had evolved from the harsher conditions, new plants sprouted in corrupted soil and took roots.

Life would always find a way. In a sense, the world had indeed ended, but not in the way it was predicted. Humanity had spent ages attempting to predict the end of the world.

But what exactly was the definition of the end? The world blowing up? A vast change in society that ended the world as we knew it, warped it into something new?

A smile slid on my lips as my eyes landed on my parents, seated on a couch swing in the garden. Mum had taken quite a liking to Bidziil's home and had, with his permission, started expanding on his garden until it flourished beautifully.

Strong hands caged me in on either side before a warm chin rested on my shoulder. I shivered when Bidziil's stubble rasped against my cheek seconds before he pressed a gentle kiss against my jaw.

"My brother is late. Something about having to deal with unruly pups." Bidziil snorted, making me chuckle softly. Ah yes, that was indeed an interesting situation.

To be honest, I was more than grateful that Ye'iitsoh had the self-control to wait, as Blake had still been underaged when they first met.

From what I've heard, it hadn't been easy, especially not after Blake's wolf had been awakened. As soon as it had manifested, his body has a massive growth spurt, adapting to the usual build of natural werewolves.

And consequently, flooded the boy with hormones. I snickered at the memory of Ye'iitsoh's flustered attempts to keep Blake and Cole in line.

Their wolves were demanding them to mate, to seal the bond between the three. For werewolf society, it was normal to mate within the day of finding the other half of the bond.

So it was only natural that their wolves lashed out, pushing and shoving at every chance they got, even if all three of them agreed that Blake was still too young.

Luckily, after we sat both Blane and Cole down and basically told their wolves that, if they weren't going to behave, we'd forcefully split the three of them apart, they calmed down.

So naturally, the second Blake's eighteenth birthday hit, Cole had instantly jumped on the opportunity to mark Blake. Neither of them had cared that they were in the middle of the group, celebrating Blake's birthday.

Ye'iitsoh had only groaned and rolled his eyes before teleporting them to his own home and away from prying eyes.

And now I hadn't seen them for a few days. True, they had visited from time to time but Ye'iitsoh let us know that they were still working out the pack mechanics.

Seeing that the Precursor wasn't a wolf to begin with, both Blake and Cole's inner wolves naturally felt the need to try and push their way up in the hierarchy.

Which meant that Ye'iitsoh had his work cut out for him, always having to re-establish that he was the Alpha male in their pack.

"Will they be in time for the BBQ?" I questioned, leaning against Bidziil and baring my throat as he pressed another kiss on my cheek. He hummed in delight, nipping playfully at the revealed skin before sighing.

"Depends on what those two are up to. If it's anything like last time, I very much doubt it." He barked out a laugh, drawing several gazes towards us.

I grinned as dad just shook his head slightly while mom chuckled, playfully swatting his shoulder. Judging by the slight smirk on dad's face as he accepted the scolding, he had said something about us.

High-pitched laughter reached our ears, wings fluttering in the air before Lyra zipped past. She had grown so much in the past six years, now entering the more rebellious stages in her life.

A little frustrated shriek came from within the house and I grinned, already anticipating the mess of feathers that hurled outside, golden eyes searching the sky before they found Lyra.

"Babe, that was the last bagel! I was saving that for lunch!" Circe screeched in annoyance, cheeks flushing as Lyra giggled, holding the bagel in her hands.

The pixie grinned as she flapped her butterfly wings a few times, lifting herself higher in the air as she teasingly finished off the last few bites of the bagel.

Circe balled her fists in annoyance, her own feathered wings flexing uncontrollably as if wanting to give chase. But she was restraining herself as best she could.

"You know, the donut was better." Lyra snickered and both Bidziil and I snorted as Circe's wings instantly took flight.

"My chocolate caramel donut?! YOU ATE IT?!" A screech slipped from the harpy as she bolted after Lyra, who was laughing like crazy.

Even with the sudden change brought over Circe, legs turning into a bird's, adorned with wicked talons, I knew she wasn't a threat.

Lyra had bumped into the harpy a few years after we settled here. Back then, Circe didn't have the self-control to change to her full human body, which didn't go unnoticed by most of the immortal community.

We had been shopping, looking through the stores for both groceries and clothes. Lyra had been holding my hand, bouncing up and down while letting her delicate wings float her back down.

And then suddenly, I had felt a tug on my hand as she paused, head tilting to the side. I had followed her gaze to the harpy that was seated at the edge of the market, kicking at the dirt and cringing whenever passerby's scoffed at her.

The girl had her fare share of doors closed in her face, simply because of the way she looked. And yet, with her golden, birdlike eyes, silver-blue hair framing a narrow face, she reminded me of myself.

Of the days I had spent roaming the Earth alone, wondering if people would've liked me if I had looked different. If they would've accepted me more easily if I had been normal.

Lyra hadn't cared about that, hadn't cared about the odd looks she got from onlookers. She had simply zipped up to Circe, grabbed her by the wing and introduced herself.

And when she had dragged the stunned harpy in front of Bidziil and I, I knew Lyra was going to get her way in 'adopting' the harpy.

After all, with the stunned yet adoring look in the harpy's eyes as she looked at Lyra, I doubted she truly wanted to be family in that manner.

Now she had shed most of her initial wariness, aided of course by Lyra's inherited sense of mischief.

"Who's going to win today?" Bidziil murmured in my ear, chuckling gruffly when I shivered in his tightening hold. His lips were distracting me, mouthing at the bared skin of my throat and letting his teeth gently sink in.

"Looks like Lyra is winning this one." I spoke after glancing at the two forms zipping through the sky. Truth be told, it was on a very rare occasion that Circe won any of their bickering though the harpy was known to plot her revenge to the smallest detail.

Just as I felt Bidziil's hands reaching beyond the balcony, dipping down to my pants, both of us heard the doorbell go off. Bidziil groaned, dropping his forehead against my shoulder, muttering "Cockblockers, all of them."

I laughed and patted his hair, knowing all too well that it was his mother who was bringing Noah back from his visit to Earth's vampire clans.

"Go let them in, before your mother breaks down the door to see her grandchildren." I snickered, knowing she was all too capable of doing so.

As if on cue, we heard a voice echo through the hall "Bidziil, you better open this door! You're not too old to be pulled over my knee, boy!"

"Coming, momma!" Bidziil called back, eyes glowering as I bit my lip to hold back a laugh. "I'll get you back later." Bidziil promised darkly, pressing us together for a satisfying kiss before he darted down the hall.

I shook my head, hearing her scolding Bidziil while excited feet pattered down the hallway. When Noah darted around the corner, I was already crouched down with arms wide open.

"Hey squirt, how was vamp class?" I joked, watching his chubby cheeks poof up in a wide grin. "You're growing like a weed. Stop that."

Noah chuckled but it was true. He wasn't the cute little baby anymore but a six year old. Well, physically a six year old, as Noah's mental capabilities were well beyond that.

" 'Twas okay... the other vampires behaved, though they still prefer to ignore that I'm a Damphir." He huffed, rolling his violet eyes in annoyance.

Undoubtedly my own eyes flashed in anger, as Noah's hand gently curled against my cheek, eyes softening. "Dad, I told you, I don't mind. Let them think I'm impure because of my heritage."

His eyes glanced pointedly over my shoulder, where I knew I'd find my parents in a loving embrace, simply enjoying their time together.

"Only a fool would dare to anger Death or an angel considered to be close to a Deity himself." I grinned along with Noah, knowing that, though the boy wasn't cocky, nor would he drop our names to get what he wanted.

But vampires were smart. They knew Bidziil and Ye'iitsoh and at least had a notion of what the Precursors were capable of. They wouldn't outright insult Noah, fearing that word would go back to either Precursor.

If only they knew the true danger came from their mother. Well, a select few knew, those seated on the high council overlooking the supernatural.

One of the Vampire Coven Leaders had been seated on his dais, almost as if he was a king looking down at the common rabble.

He had peered down from his sharp nose, scoffing as Bidziil, his mother and I had went to Earth, needing guidance of the covens in order to provide the best care for Noah.

"A Damphir? Why the fuck would we even consider helping the mewling whelp? Toss it aside or give it to us for a midday snack." He sneered, baring his fangs, tongue brushing sickly over the elongated incisors.

Stunned silence filled the room, not due to the rudeness of the vampire, oh no. Bidziil had been standing before me and nudging me backwards with his shoulder.

And as I glanced from the sneering vampire to Bidziil, I saw his mother raise a single finger.

And suddenly, ash coated the dais, staining the silken fabric as clothes fluttered down. All eyes were on the seat where the vampire had quite literally been disintegrated where he sat.

"Does anyone else want to insult my family?" She whispered, her mere anger cooling the atmosphere in the room to the point where everyone shivered. Hell, I had been even able to see the vapors of our breaths.

Everyone in that room had collectively realized that she, as the Precursor to all Mother deities, was the most lethal of them all.

While Bidziil's family and I knew her to be nothing but calm, gentle and caring, she could be as wild, untamed and volatile as any parental instinct that came to mind.

She was the reason of those instincts to begin with. Why demure women would lash out like ferocious tigers, protecting their children. Why fathers, even if they were physically weak, could move mountains to save their children.

"We would be... ecstatic to teach your.... Grandchild whatever you require us to do, my lady." One of the other vampires said, sweet as spun sugar.

And ever since, they helped Noah adapt to the life of a vampire, making sure they didn't insult our son or our family in any shape or form.

A chill an over my spine, eyes flashing before I heard the whispered pleas for help. I shot Bidziil and his Mother an apologetic smile

She instantly smiled back and pressed a kiss to both mine and Bidziil's cheek. "It's all right. I'll watch over the kids. Go save the world, one soul at a time."

I smiled and walked over to Bidziil, joining together for a warm kiss. "Are you going to follow me, big boy?" I teased, elated to hear him chuckle as he shook his head slightly.

"Darling, I'll follow you to the end of the world, and Beyond. Lead the way."