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The scent of ozone and petrichor rises in the room as the chalk runes glow a ghostly blue. The ache of yearning and sadness that usually resides in my chest during these yearly reminders of how fleeting life is loosens, as if the tethers binding it in place have been cut.

My eyes drift shut as Dad begins his incantation. The words are in an ancient, arcane language that I don’t comprehend, but I can feel their power.

That tight, tense, guarded ball of energy in my chest releases with each pulse of magic in the air. The change is almost frightening, but Nathan’s hand in mine holds fast, anchoring me as the shift takes my breath away.

I focus on him, and on the strange comfort in acknowledging mortality and the impermanence of our lives, because if things were immutable, he wouldn’t be mine. I accept that this is only one of many transitions and deaths of an old self to come in my life. And I say a silent prayer to any gods listening that these changes will only make our bond deeper and stronger.

I swear I hear a voice whisper, and while I can’t make sense of the words, the feeling that comes along with it is abundantly clear.

This is only the beginning. Embrace the change.

There’s a surge of energy and a final release as the incantation ends.

When I open my eyes, Nathan watches me, a tear rolling down his cheek. He smiles, eyes shining with hope.

I don’t care that we’re in a room full of my family or if it’s awkward. I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him.

He lets out a startled noise, but after a second, kisses me back. Our bond thrums with the potent energy of this new chapter for both of us, our kiss a promise that whatever comes our way, we’ll face it together.

As we part, there’s a mixture of sniffles and kissy noises from my sisters. My parents pointedly look at each other instead of us, and Xae waggles their eyebrows. Max is too busy murmuring something to his new wife to notice us, their ghost dog Nugget snuggled between them.

All in all, it’s the best reaction we could’ve hoped for.

I lean in to kiss Nathan again, but Dad clears his throat and claps his hands together. “Alright, who’s ready for some food?”

A chorus of assenting replies fills the space. Dad always puts together an amazing meal for us.

“Need some help?” Nathan asks hesitantly.

Dad blinks for a second, then nods. “Yeah. That’d be great.”

It’s a subtle interaction, but the realization that things are going to be okay between them hits me like a freight train.

A small sob bursts out of me.

Nathan and Dad both look at me, alarmed.

“It’s fine! I’m f-fine. I’m just h-happy.”

Nathan puts his arm around me, and Dad doesn’t even flinch, bless him. “You sure?”

“Y-yes. Go get f-food with your best friend,” I blubber.

Nathan gives me a gentle squeeze. “I love you,” he murmurs.

“I love you more,” I whisper back.

He snorts. “Impossible.”

As he heads off to the kitchen with Dad, my siblings descend like vultures, pestering me with a million questions about my bite and Nathan until Max gets grossed out and Mom calls us over to help set the table.

I move to join them, but Mona touches my arm gently. “So…you going to tell everyone how you and Nathan ‘met’?”

A frown twists my lips. “What do you mean?”

“He’s the guy from the masked night at The Vault, right?”

My eyes bug out. “How do you know that?”