“We need to find him,” she said.
“Jacinda.” Gabriel cupped her face once more, his breath warm on her lips. “He’s here. Close. I can sense him, just like you said.”
“Um, guys?” Meech nodded behind them, and Gabriel and Jaci turned.
“Aiden,” Jaci breathed, unable to hide her relief.
He approached them slowly, his hands trembling, eyes wide with shock.
Gabriel laughed. “AidenbloodyDonovan. Never thought I’d say this, mate, but you were right. I fucking missed you.” He pulled Aiden into a hug. “And I’m really not keen to do it again, so if you don’t mind—”
“I’m… sorry.” Aiden pulled out of the embrace, shaking his head. His eyes were haunted. Terrified.
“Aiden?” Gabriel asked.
Aiden blinked. Looked down at his hands in horror. “There was so much blood and I… I couldn’t…” When he glanced up at them again, his face turned pale, his voice dropping to a whisper. “What have I done?”
“He doesn’t recognize us,” Jaci said. Then, to Aiden, “You haven’t done anything, Aiden. Just got a bit lost is all. But we’re here to take you home.”
“But… Home?”
Jaci nodded, forcing a smile despite the fear racing through her limbs.
“To your brothers,” she said gently.
“I’ve got brothers?”
“What’s happened to him?” Gabriel whispered.
“Shock,” Meech said. “Temporary memory loss. Should be fine once you get him topside, back into his body.”
“Yes, you’ve got brothers,” Jaci said softly. “Dorian, Colin—”
“Me,” Gabriel said. “I’m right here, Aiden. It’s Gabriel—remember?”
He blinked up at Gabriel, the barest flicker of recognition in his eyes. “Mac?”
Gabriel’s face fell. “No, Mac isn’t—”
“Mac isn’t here right now,” Jaci said, shooting Gabriel a warning glare. The last thing they needed to do was further upset him by telling him the only brother he remembered by name had died months earlier. “But yes, Mac—Malcolm—he’s also your brother. Do you remember?”
Aiden nodded, some of the confusion clearing. “And my brothers… They’re home? Waiting for me, you say?”
“At Ravenswood Manor,” Gabriel said. “Upstate New York. It’s December, and the grounds are beautiful—a winter wonderland. Dorian and Charlotte are planning a wedding.”
“Charlotte… D’Amico,” Aiden said.
“Yes! Yes, exactly.” Gabriel touched his shoulder. “Cole’s there too. Do you remember him?”
“Does he smoke?”
Gabriel laughed. “Like a fucking chimney.”
Jaci blinked away the last of her tears.
Aiden was going to be okay. The curse was broken. They just needed to get back home.
Gently, carefully, they led him out of the rubble, Meech accompanying them back through the forest. The portal awaited, seemingly undisturbed by everything that’d happened.
