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“Aye, Kaitlyn and I have provided for ye in our wills.”

He groaned. “That’s not — fuck, that’s not what we — where will you go?”

“I will go get Quentin and send him home tae ye. Then I will decide — Kaitlyn wanted me tae fight for my throne. Tis what I must do.”

“We won’t see you again?”

“Aye, I think tis the end for us.” I shook my head. “I am sorry, Emma, tae have ye see this.”

She sobbed and said, “We’ll really miss you. So much.”

I nodded. “Take care of your family, Chef Zach.”

He grimaced tae hold back tears. “I will, thank you for everything.”

“Twas my honor tae do it.” I began tae walk away tae gather the men, but felt the need tae say, “I spoke tae her as she left. My words followed her through.”

Emma sniffled. “I’m so sorry.”

“I am too.”

Zach pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’ll call the police as soon as you’ve left.”

“Thank ye.”

I dragged the bodies one at a time down the grassy slope and tossed them intae a pile beside the supplies Kaitlyn and I had planned tae carry tae the past. I dragged my own body through the mud, careful nae tae look. Twas awful tae see myself, as if my soul was divided. But lookin’ on Kaitlyn was worse — I couldna do it without feeling’ a pain so sharp I wanted fall tae my knees and beg God tae let me try again. I laid her body down on the blankets beside the pile.

Last I gathered the reins of the horses, wrapping them around my arm. I closed the case with the second vessel inside and stood with it between my feet. The supplies and bodies lay piled all around me.

I twisted the ends of the vessel, bringin it tae life, then I lifted Kaitlyn and held her in my arms as I recited the numbers, and left Florida and all that it meant behind.

This is the end of this small part of their story.

I know it doesn’t make sense, not yet, but it will, I promise.

Now it’s time to read the book.

ENTANGLED WITH YOU

PART I

1 - KAITLYN

“Mumblephnow?”

He took his toothbrush from his mouth. “What did ye say?”

I was sitting on the counter facing him. I giggled, dripping some toothpaste down my chin, my mouth full to spilling over, and giggling more. “Mumphleynoo. Lumneychon. Sphewskinnly.”

His brow went up. “I haena any idea what ye are sayin’.” He continued scrubbing the brush back and forth on his teeth and watching me.

“Sluuberlimnery.”

He shook his head slowly and squinted his eyes. “Ye are nae usually so...”

I spit. Wiped my chin. And pretended to be exasperated. “I said, Lumneychon.” And then laughed so hard I snorted.

Magnus laughed along with me. He spit and we passed a cup of water back and forth and both spit in the sink again.