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He reached out telepathically. Kyle? Is that you? Are you here?
If my Guardian Angel finds out what I’m up to, I’m toast. I’ll be working the shit squad here in the afterlife for a millennium, so listen up. Go after Emily and be with her. I knew you loved her from the beginning, but I wouldn’t let her go. She was such a good, honest soul, she never gave up on me and I knew exactly how to keep her trapped in our relationship. I was as big a prick as was ever born.
But you deserve her, Devyn. You always did. And by the way, the only reason I died that night was because I was playing the big shot. I went after a wraith-pair that had a mastyr attached to it. Not even you could have fought him off. So, take your guilt and shove it up your ass or anywhere else you can find to put it away forever.
And one more thing, brother. Mastyr Leonus was the one I fought. He disappeared before the others reached my position. Since my passing, I’ve learned he’d been in an Invictus bond until Mitrana had the wraith killed. They’ve been devising all kinds of plans since to do some damage in Tannisford. Mitrana has seen the future regarding Emily’s capacity as a blood rose. She’s been determined for months that Leonus would bond with her. That’s why they’ve wanted you dead. Looks like Mitrana saw you in the future as well. Killing me that night was merely a bonus.
What this means is despite Vojalie’s mist, Emily’s house isn’t safe. Mitrana can work the continuum. It’s only a matter of time before she locates Emily, even through the mist.
Aw, shit, my angel just showed up. Be seeing you soon, but not if you do the right thing and bond with Em. There was a slight pause, then Kyle’s voice shouting. I’m coming. Stop your scowling, Gabriel. Yes, I know Devyn is worth a thousand of me… There was more garbled conversation between what appeared to be the legendary archangel Gabriel and Kyle. Human-based Earth and the Nine Realms shared a lot of things in common.
Then all fell silent, the hotel experience dissipated and the air was no longer blurred. He felt his brother’s absence as powerfully as he’d felt his presence.
For a long, long moment, Devyn stood fixed in one spot. So many things flew through his head, he found it tough to put them in any reasonable order.
He’d just had a visitation from beyond the grave. Kyle had spoken with him, told him things that changed everything. Yet it seemed impossible.
But it was Kyle. He was sure of it. Kyle with an angel trying to teach him something. And somehow, Kyle had found a way to reach past the veil of death and talk to him. Maybe in the time-path. He doubted he would ever know.
Unbelievable.
He crossed the street, heading north, then flew into the air. He had to get to Emily’s house.
Like Stone said, nothing was more important than keeping Emily safe.
~ ~ ~
Emily had showered slowly, then put her original clothes back on, down to her bunny slippers. She’d shed a few tears as well with the warm water running down her back. Though not nearly as many as last time. She really did understand Devyn’s deepest hurt and guilt.
She was resolved to do exactly what she’d told Devyn she would do. She also kept reminding herself what she’d said was very true. If a trip to Paradise and back couldn’t move him out of his dark feelings, then nothing she could say ever would.
It really was time to move on.
Her nightly chores returned her to normal life as though nothing special had happened. She had dishes to do, a meal to prepare and an entire host of mastyr vampires to check out on the Nine Realms webisphere over the next few hours.
With her night’s tasks ordered, she actually found herself smiling. She straightened her shoulders, tugged down the bottom of her shirt, and shushed her way once more along the slate floors of her home in her very comfortable pink rabbit slippers.
She had some dusting to do, as well as a little vacuuming. She also wanted to rearrange the bookshelves to the left of her living room fireplace. Now there was a chore that had been yelling at her for months.
Time to get some things done. Time to move on.
Her home was more of a cottage than a rambling house. She had one guest bedroom, a second bath and her two main living areas.
The front living space she used as often as her sitting room just for a change of pace.
Though small, every room of her home had become a work of art for her. She’d had the fireplace resurfaced with stone and a large pastoral scene hung over the mantel. Two couches in moss-green chenille flanked the fireplace with reading lamps at each end.
Opposite the fireplace, thick panels of burgundy silk framed a bank of windows that was divided up into antique-looking rectangles. More bookshelves had been built into the adjacent walls at either end. She supposed the room looked more like a library than anything else.
The living room faced the cul-de-sac. She had one of the few homes in the development with a gate leading to the woods and stream from her side yard. In front, a spreading mulberry tree was leafing out and had been pruned low enough to block a view of the dwellings opposite. The quiet street was inhabited by a number of very artsy fae, elves and trolls. Most of her neighbors had planted lots of trees to continue the woodland feel from the nearby stream.
Turning back to the large stack of books, she thought this might be a good time to begin. Her life had taken an abrupt turn now that she was a blood rose and it would help to have her house in order as she began her new life. She had a tough decision to make in the coming weeks.
Wait, that wasn’t right.
More like the next few nights.
She smelled something odd suddenly, like rotten eggs. A terrible sensation came over her as well, a fae warning so strong, she didn’t dare turn around. Someone had invaded her home, or was attempting to, and was very close to succeeding.
