I Am Ruined (TDA Lord of Shadows Sequel)

[ EPILOGUE ]

IT IS HERE! Oh by the Angel, I am so sorry it took so long. Please don't hate me! I had a crazy week and it was so hard to wrap this story up, I just couldn't stop writing. SOOO lucky for you, this epilogue is OVER 7000 WORDS! That's like 3+ chapters put together lol. I just couldn't get myself to break it up.
So here you are! Enjoy :)

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One Year Later – Los Angeles Institute

Julian Blackthorn was sitting in the office of the Los Angeles Institue, writing a correspondence to the Clave. It had been a year since the war with the Unseelie King had come to an end and had since been referred to as the Cursed War due to the blight that covered the lands and prevented Shadowhunter runes from working. To the Blackthorns, however, it also was a testament to the parabatai curse. Diana had returned from Idris as interim head of the Los Angeles Institute until Julian's 18th birthday when he officially was established in the role. They were going to be travelling to Idris in a few hours to attend a very special occasion and Julian had to finish his daily tasks. A knock sounded on the office door and he mumbled for them to come in. Diana was standing in the doorway, the light from the large window at the far end of the room illuminating her.

"Julian, I just got off the phone with Lucien and Jia. The portal to Alicante will open at 5:30 exactly in the foyer here. Will they be back by then?" He liked having Diana here, except for the surprise visits from Gwyn. He had nothing against the man, in fact he was quite fond of him. He had shown Mark kindness in the Hunt and he was good to Diana. However, when unexpected, the large 6 foot 8 tall man in the library was enough to scare the daylights out of anyone. Diana had not wanted the position as head of the Institute, she never had, but she loved being a tutor and trainer and so she remained here to do just that. It felt strange, he thought, to be in charge of the woman who was in charge of him for the past 5 or so years. Not that she acknowledged the fact Julian was technically her superior, and he expected nothing less. After his mind came back from its tangent, he registered her words and excitement filled him immediately.

"Of course they will, she said they'd be back by 2:00 pm today." His smile was wide as he thought about seeing her again. He thought since they weren't parabatai anymore that he wouldn't feel that tug when she was gone, but his heart still ached from missing her. Once Emma turned 18, she and Cristina had travelled to the Mexico City Institute as they had planned. She had been ecstatic to go and see everything Cristina had known growing up and Julian was excited for her, but he had to admit he hated the thought of her being gone for months on end. But today was the day she was coming back and Julian had felt like a livewire all day, constantly trying to distract himself.

Diana smiled as Mark came rushing in the room, "Julian! They're here." Julian barely had time to put his pen down before he was following Mark down the hallway and towards the foyer. Not much had changed at the Institute; Mark, Ty, Dru, and Tavvy still were here, but Kit had become a permanent resident. Helen and Aline were no longer banished to Wrangel Island and lived in Idris where Helen was an emissary between the Clave and the Seelie Court. They had even adopted little six year old, Sera. She was half water nixie and half mundane. She had the same blue hair as Kieran's and he was obsessed with her; every chance the three of them visited the Institute, Kieran loved to see her. Kieran wasn't here currently, his brother Adaon had taken the throne of the Unseelie Court and Kieran was his emissary between the Clave and the Unseelie Court. He did not live there, but was currently helping with business regarding changes in court policy. Having both Kieran and Cristina gone for months made Mark ache with loneliness; his heart in three places at once. Anytime he complained about it, Julian had simply laughed and said that he was lucky enough to have two people he loved that he could deal with being by himself for a few months. But here they were, standing at the top of the staircase, looking down at the open doors of the Institute and seeing a sight for sore eyes. Emma's hair had grown long again, it was hanging straight down to her waist now as she dropped her bag on the floor laughing with Cristina. Julian didn't hesitate, he barreled down the stairs and scooped her up in his arms, swinging her in a circle. She yelped in surprise before she hugged him close to her and planted a kiss on his lips. It was like trying to wander through a dark room for so long and then finally someone had turned on the light; he felt like all was right as her mouth moved under his. She was smiling as he kissed her and he couldn't help but smile himself, not that it stopped them from kissing. Mark came slower than a sprint, but with that same immeasurable happiness shining through. His hands went to cup Cristina's face, his lips immediately drawn to hers. Footsteps were padding down the stairs now; Ty, Kit, Dru, and Tavvy running down.