Chapter 1420
He looked to the others - Lucy’s eyes glassy with love, Emma’s hand pressed to her heart, Sophie smiling with quiet pride, Zoey biting her lip like she already knew what was coming. They didn’t speak. They waited.
Jude brought the fruit to his mouth and bit.
It was sweet. Unbearably sweet. Like honey from the core of the world, thick and golden and filled with stars. Juice ran down his chin, and when he swallowed, everything changed.
The world fell away.
He wasn’t in the shrine anymore.
He stood beneath the massive tree Lucy had dreamed of - its roots woven into oceans, its branches stretched into galaxies. Beneath it stood the twelve women - his wives - naked, glowing, more beautiful than he’d ever seen them.
Rose stepped forward and touched his chest.
"You’re the bloom now."
The island opened around them.