Memories intact.
Forgiven.
Hopeful.
Perhaps Shades can use a spirit bottle, like ghosts. Maybe we can travel—well, short trips. I can help her here, with her little business, her dreams. There will be new books to read. Games to play. People to watch. Maybe some others will hear me. If not... I have her.
When she dies... Will she stay with me? Perhaps we could leave together?
Doubts poked him. In his time, relationships were not usually built solely on love or attraction. They were a matter of practicality. What he had with Grace... surely it was impractical for her?
Cynthia claimed to return your love, too.
Can you even love? Are you merely grasping for whatever you can reach, and she is the only thing available?
Nyx let himself dive deeper into the abyss, feeling dark energy soaking into him, restoring him, even as he heard the distant growls and chitters of wicked things waiting to drag him down past the point of no return.
He would not sink so far.
I don’t have all the answers—but I have hope.
GRACE WAS ENJOYINGher dream, even though she was naked in it. Usually, that would be a nightmare, but this time, she was covered in white clouds and sunshine, and there was so much radiant white that she doubted anyone could tell if she was naked as a newborn or wearing a ballgown.
The main thing was that Nana was there, and she was in her own ball of radiant white. “You never do things the way I expect!” Nana chuckled.
“Nana!”
“So, you finally found yourself a fella. And you said you loved him.”
“Well... It felt right to say.”
“Not a lie?”
“No, Nana, I promise.”
“Why do you love him? Seems like after years of fighting off Cupid’s arrows, you took a direct hit.”
“I think... I think I liked Nyx, even though he was odd and eerie. I liked him. I didn’t love him. But I enjoyed being with him.” Grace gave Nana the side eye. She probably shouldn’t tell her all about the sexy stuff.
Nana nodded. “But?”
“But I loved him as Silas. Silas Cameron was a good man. He loved and trusted. He protected his brother. He chose to give up Heaven to stay in a torturous existence on Earth to try to save his brother’s life.”
“A sucker for a hero. Runs in the family. When I saw G-pop in his uniform... Oooh,” Nana sighed and fanned herself.
“He was willing to give up eternal bliss, and then further willing to risk his soul to save his brother by doing something pretty drastic. I understand it. He had to use what he had when he could. The threat could move—and he couldn’t. He’s smart. He has a head for business.”
“I know you like that.”
“We have some things in common, and I think we’ll have more. Don’t be mad at me.”
“Mad at you? Honey, I’m always in your corner. I’m always on your side. Even when your mother and father aren’t, I am.”
“That never changes?”
“Not even when we’re in different places.” Nana came forward and cupped her cheek. “You love Silas, be with him.”
“Idolove Silas—although he doesn’t want to be called Silas, though. I think it brings up bad memories.”
