A/N: Well this is the last chapter of Consumed. It has been wonderful writing it. There is a sequel. It's called Liberated. Also check out the alternate to this story Connected. To all my lovely readers, you have all been wonderful. And to my silent readers, leave a review. I can always use more feedback! So read, relax, and review. Stay tuned for the sequel! Happy Reading!

Zoey

Kalona held me in his arms for a few, long, perfect moments. It didn't even matter that I had an enormous gash in my chest. It didn't matter that I was still aching like crazy. All that mattered was Kalona and the fact that he had just saved me from Neferet. All that mattered was the fact that he was liberated from Darkness. All that mattered was that he was in love with me. It was like a fairytale.

I had never pictured myself as Cinderella. Actually, never mind. I would never actually feel like Cinderella. There was no way in hell I was lucky to end up like the fairy tale dream girl, but hell, this really was the closest I was going to get to a fairy tale ending. I mean seriously. I was a seventeen year old high school girl whose boyfriend had been killed by her lover, has suffered the loss of her Warrior, had an ex as a teacher, and survived the Change from human to vampyre. No, I would never have the sappy fairy tale ending. But from where I stood I was pretty lucky.

I had an amazing circle of friends who loved and supported me. They had become my family over the past few months. I had a wonderful new home. The House of Night had proved to be more of a home than I ever had with my own family. And now, I had an amazing guy in my life.

Sure, Kalona had been a total, evil, possessive jerk, buf he had changed. He had forsaken Neferet and Darkness for me. He had started believing in Nyx. He had started believing in love for me, and he loved me. Kalona was now a force of light. As far as I was concerned, this was the best thing that had happened to me. So far.

As he held me tightly in his arms I felt happier, safer, and more secure than I had in months.

I heard Aphrodite say something in the background. "Okay, Zoey, we are all really happy for you, but we still have a problem to deal with. Neferet. Also, I'm pretty sure there is one more thing Nyx wants us to do with Kalona."

I moved out of Kalona's embrace and looked at all of my friends. They looked back at me with expressions of relief, joy, and in the Twins case some kind of other emotion. I blushed, feeling pretty embarrassed.

But then Aphrodite spoke. "We all heard what that bitch Neferet screamed out at the top of her lungs. So we have to deal with this issue."

Kalona stepped forward. "Believe me, Prophetess, Neferet will not be a threat to us for quite some time. I had an opportunity to do a little damage of my own. " Kalona didn't elaborate, but he gave Aphrodite a look that demanded a cease to this discussion.

Aphrodite took the hint. "Fine the, but there is one more thing we have to do. Nyx wants us to, and I think we definitely need to do it."

"What is that?" asked Kalona.

"You have to ask for Nyx's forgiveness," said Aphrodite.

Kalona looked away from her and towards me. His eyes held mine as he spoke next. "I don't think I can do that."

I took Kalona's hand. "You can do it," I said softly. "You need to do it, Kalona. Nyx is forgiving, and she will always grant forgiveness to those who deserve it. And trust me, Kalona, you deserve it."

"Yeah, yeah, we all admit that you deserve forgiveness, but lets drop the sappy crap and get on with it. We have all had a really difficult past few months, and if anyone else feels like I do, we all are in need of some rest." Aphrodite smiled and looked over at Darius, who returned her smile with a dazzling smile of his own. We all knew what Aphrodite wanted to do, or rather, whom she wanted to do. But for the most part, we were all too polite to say anything.

But the Twins never missed an opportunity to comment on Aphrodite's various . . . activities. "Oh Aphrodite, we all know what your idea of resting is," said Shaunee, raiding her eyebrow at Aphrodite.

"Yea, we all know how much sleeping you do in your room up there," added Erin.

The Twins and Aphrodite all smiled slightly, and we all knew Aphrodite would save up some sarcastic comment to throw back at them later. Trading remarks was how the Twins and Aphrodite their love.

Anyway, I took Kalona's hand and I instructed my friends to light the candles.

-/-

The ritual was short and quick. I rested my hand s on Kalona's strong shoulders. He knelt on the ground in the temple before Nyx's statue. He looked up at the image of our goddess and we sat in silence. After a few moments of the awkward silence, I whispered, "Come on, Kalona. If you won't do this for me, do it for yourself. You know you need to. I know you want her forgiveness. Don't be scared to ask for what you want. "

Kalona remained silent.

"Fine," I said, "I'll do it for you." To be honest, it was kind of annoying that Kalona wouldn't ask for what he deserved. I knew in my heart that Nyx would grant him forgiveness. "Nyx, please, I really want you fog rank Kalona your forgiveness."

We waited in silence. Everyone was watching us, but by some miracle Nyx's voice sounded throughout the small temple.

"Kalona, my fallen Warrior, you have done well. You have earned the heart of my High Priestess and you liberated yourself from Darkness's grasp. You only have to ask for my forgiveness and you shall receive it."

I prayed that Kalona would swallow his pride.

"Nyx, my goddess," he began softly, his voice was shaking. "I have wronged you countless times in every imaginable way. But now I have seen the Light. I have learned to love again. I will not betray Zoey Redbird as I betrayed you. I understand all the wrongs I have done, and I kneel before you now, only asking your forgiveness."

What happened next was another nearly impossible miracle.

Nyx appeared in the temple. She was the most gorgeous woman I had ever seen in my life, and I now knew why Kalona had loved her for so long, centuries ago. Her dark hair, as black as a moonless sky, hung like a shining waterfall down her back. She wore soft robes of brilliant white. They shimmered softly as she moved. Her eyes were dark, wide, and full of love and kindness. Her fill red lips curved into an easy smile that made her beauty even more breathtaking. She cupped Kalona's face in her hands, leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. A colored in Mark was left where she had kissed him. "My fallen Warrior, do not disappoint me again. But I forgive you, if you ever lose your way, look to me, look to Zoey Redbird. Farewell, my fallen Warrior. I am so vey proud of you."

Our goddess vanished and we all uttered sighs of disappointment and disbelief. We all felt incredibly luck to see our goddess.

-/-

A week had passed since the whole Neferret issue. Life had gone back to normal.

It was true that Heath was dead, and I had probably lost Stark forever, and Erik never wanted to speak to me again. But none of that really seemed to matter. I really didn't like all my man drama, but I had a feeling that it would settle down now that I had Kalona in my life.

Yes. I am Zoey Redbird, and I have a feeling that Kalona will continue to change my life forever, and now I feel a lot more optimistic that it will be for the better. My story is still being written.