My heart skipped a beat. “Snowflake?”
His icy blue gaze met mine, swirling with the same emotions as me. Unlike him, I knew why profound feelings flowed between us. I tasted his soul, recognised his energy, and was so incredibly grateful I’d finally found him. Living well and happy. With a wife.
“It’s a nickname.” He chuckled. “Not sure why.”
“It’s because she was born in the winter, remember?” His wife came toward us, taking a couple of packages out of Dillon’s arms to share his burden. “Men.” She rolled her eyes in my direction. “Their memories are shocking.”
“This is true.” Dillon laughed, looking adoringly at his wife before his gaze returned to mine, searching, sensing...not realising we’d loved each other in another life. “Just like I swear we’ve met before. Am I forgetting that too?”
His wife looked between us.
I waited for jealousy or suspicion of why her husband wasasking another woman if he knew her, but she merely waited with a smile. She seemed lovely and grounded and very secure in the love they shared, and...I didn’t want to do anything to jeopardise that.
I wanted so much to tell him who I was.
To wrap him in a hug and thank him for everything.
But...I couldn’t.
He was happy. Who knew how many lifetimes he’d had since he’d died with Whisper on the glacier three hundred years ago.
Maybe next time he passed, I could talk to his soul as he travelled through death on his journey to a new one, but for now...I wouldn’t meddle.
“I just have one of those faces.” I laughed, grateful as Lucien pulled me close and kissed my temple. “I would remember you if we’d met because you have a very pretty daughter.”
His wife lit up like I’d praised her most precious thing. “Thank you. She’s a handful, but we adore her.”
“I’m a handful.” The little girl piped up. “Abigggghandful.” Flinging her arms wide, she grinned. “This big.”
“Wow, I pity your poor parents.” I giggled.
“Wouldn’t have her any other way.” Dillon sighed, gathering his daughter against his leg. “Look...if you guys aren’t doing anything, you’re welcome to come for lunch.” He arched his chin into the distance. “Our house isn’t far from here.” His gaze landed on Lucien who’d stayed stiff and silent. “You look as if you could use a drink.”
Glancing at Lucien’s face, I smothered a laugh.
Dillon was right. He did look like he needed a drink.
“We’d love to, but we have to go.” Lucien shrugged as nonchalantly as he could. “Another time maybe.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Dillon nodded, knowing as well as we did that we would never see each other again. A flash of pain appeared in his gaze before he grinned and hoisted up his parcels. “Well, safe travels then.”
“You too,” I breathed. “I’m so happy that you’re happy.”
He frowned a little but merely nodded again and strode off, his little girl swinging between his and his wife’s hands.
We watched as they vanished into the crowd before Lucien summoned the dreamscape around us. The blossom tree barely manifested before he dragged me close and whispered, “Take me to Uncle Wen and Auntie Mei and then to my parents. Please?”
Standing on tiptoe, I grabbed his cheeks and kissed him.
While our tongues touched, I focused on the echoes of hisloved ones, no longer trying to summon them but to find them through the veil. The meadow of wildflowers vanished, depositing us in another water city with floating walkways, canal boats, and a busy restaurant.
Sitting at a table were a family of six. Two older, two middle-aged, and two children.
I headed toward them, but Lucien grabbed my wrist and held me back.
“I just want to watch.”
So we stayed in the shadows, watching the reincarnations of Auntie Mei and Uncle Wen laughing and conversing with their family. Toward the end of the meal, Lucien’s heart kicked against mine as snatches of their voices travelled. “Luxin...don’t put your napkin in the candle. You’ll set fire to the entire restaurant.”
