"Oh! So Zoey will be here someday?" I wrapped my arms around myself. She loved me. Mom really loved me. "She will, though I hope not for many, many years." Hesitantly, Mom asked, "May I come in and wait for her?" "You may." Nyx spread her arms wide and declared, "Welcome to the Otherworld, Linda Redbird. Leave pain and regret and loss behind, and bring with you love. Always love! And then my mom and Nyx disappeared in a brilliant flash of light. I woke up, lying on the edge of the bed, arms wrapping around myself, crying steadily. Stark woke instantly. "What is it?" He scooted over to me and pulled me into his arms. "It's my m-my mom. S-she's dead," I sobbed. "S-she really did love me." "Of course she did, Z, of course she did." I closed my eyes and let Stark comfort me while I cried out pain and regret and loss, until all I had left was love. Always love.

THE END of the House of Night series latest book "Awakened"