Page 116 of The Shadow Sanctum

Her body slackens in my arms. Panic claws at me until I feel the faint, steady rhythm of her chest against mine.

I hug her tight and kiss the top of her head, rocking us both in the cramped dark like I can will her to stay alive. “Everything’s gonna be okay,” I promise. “I swear it. I’m gonna give you the whole world.”

It’s minutes before the sound of raised voices filters into the tunnel. A dog barks and boots stomp just outside.

But in here, in this fragile bubble of dirt and shadow, it’s just Luna and me.

I’ll burn the rest of the world before I let her go.

EPILOGUE

Two years is not nearly long enough to get used to the ocean.

Vast beyond comprehension, it rivals any lake at sunset, when the horizon is a thin orange glow that casts glints along brilliant sapphire water. No trees to block the view.

I hunch forward on a sandy blanket and drape my arms over my knees. Beside me, Annabelle coos on her back and sways her hand as if reaching for the sky. At the shore, her older sister searches for seashells on thick, wobbly legs. Brown wavy hair—her mother’s twin—falls into her eyes as she bends for treasure.

Gasp. She holds up an eighth shell as excitedly as the first.

“Lulu!” She hurries to me and nearly trips on her own unsteady toddler feet. “Lulu, look.”

I hold out my hand. Carefully, she places it in my palm and steps back with her hands cupped in front of her. I inspect it as a gemologist would inspect a diamond.

With a straight face, I look up. “Marti Grace. Did you find this?”

She bites her lip to hold back a smile—we love this dance—and nods.

“This shell is one of the most magnificent I have ever seen.” I trace an admiring finger around a faint ring of brown. “The muted colors and the crack.” I bring it close to my squinted eyes. "Da Vinci could not paint a more delicate imperfection. You must have it appraised, my dear.”

“Necklace!” Marti claps her hands.

I rest the shell in the pile at my side. “Of course, my love. We’ll make it first thing tomorrow. Deal?” When I stretch out my hand, she takes my fingers and shakes.

Beside me, Annabelle’s squawk draws my attention. Marti rushes off to find more treasure while I turn to address the infant. Admittedly, at only three months old, she’s more difficult to navigate than Marti—who’s had 2 years to acclimate to me. I nearly refused when Liberty asked me to take her along. If the bags beneath her eyes weren’t so deep, I might have been able to.

“Is something the matter?” I ask, practicing a voice higher than my own. It’s nothing but awkward. It’s lucky Annabelle is too young to care.

When she rolls her head to look at me, her hand lowers as if she’s just realized something more interesting sits beside her. I hold my breath.

It’s a long second before something happens to her face. Her lips stretch with an obnoxiously wide smile, rounding her cheeks like little cherry-blossomed balls. Her father’s caramel eyes light up with brightness lost in adulthood.

For a moment, I’m struck. My chest warms and loosens, and I feel myself smiling back.

Sawyer’s voice: “You better not be getting any ideas.”

I look over my shoulder just as he comes up behind me. He scoops Annabelle up and sits cross-legged on the blanket with her propped in his lap. She gives him a moment’s attention before discovering the sunset.

Marti squeals in delight and runs to give him a hug. As soon as she’s had enough of him, she toddles back to the shore. No doubt she’ll be even prouder when she finds the next shell.

“Well, I tried to talk her out of it,” he says. Lies. No matter how hard we try, the truth never comes naturally. Though it might as well. We can always tell when the other is lying. “But Liberty insists on going out tonight.”

“Liberty should insist on sleeping. Have you seen her lately? And Angel is even worse.”

“The joys of parenthood.”

I laugh with a glance at Annabelle. Amazing how such a precious, content little creature could be the source of deprivation. Doubly amazing that more women aren’t content being aunts.

“We should take the kids tonight. Let the gremlins sleep.”