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“The queen.” Leaning in, he kissed my forehead, his nearness making me close my eyes. “And I believe that is what you call checkmate.”
The air shifted around me, the pressure making my ears pop, and when I opened my eyes, I was once again alone in the dark, cold graveyard. My only company the long-buried bones of Caleb’s past and a sorrow so deep I didn’t think I’d ever recover. I squeezed my eyes shut against the pain, willing myself to contain the ache. Instead, I was stolen away by a wave of grief strong enough that it brought me to my knees again. I hung my head, weeping openly rather than holding it in.
“Our marks might be gone, but I will always love you. All of you.”
ChapterForty-Nine
CALEB
“Again, my wee one?” I asked, catching Eden’s feet and playing our game with the swing. The one she loved so much.
Her eyes glittered with joy. She was my perfect little love, a version of Sunday and I with echoes of the others visible in her expressions. Her mother’s sunny laughter. My eyes. Kingston’s impish grin. Noah’s intense stare. Alek’s temper.
All I felt was peace and pure happiness. This was everything I’d ever wanted. Almost too good to be true.
“Darling, do you want a turn pushing her?” I called over my shoulder where Sunday sat feeding our son Nolan.
But she didn’t answer. Frowning, I turned around, finding the blanket where she’d been seconds prior occupied, but not by her. A familiar smirking angel sat in her place.
“What are you doing here?”
“My, my, Caleb. You should be happy to see me. I bring tidings of great joy and all that.”
“That is never the case with your news.”
He gasped, pressing his hand to his chest. “You wound me. Maybe I should go without giving you your reward.”
“Reward? For what?”
“You did it! You won. Bravo.”
“Won what?”
Gabriel sighed. “I forget how quickly your mortal memories seep away up here.”
“What are you talking about?”
He stood and walked toward me, placing an arm around my shoulders. “This is heaven. You’re dead. There, now that you’re up to speed...”
“Dead?”
“Come on. Get with the program, man.” Waving his palm in front of the swing set, the vision of Eden disappeared, momentary panic setting in as I watched myself crouched over a dying Sunday in the church. And in the blink of an eye, I remembered every crushing detail.
Fisting my hand in Gabriel’s jacket, I pulled him close, my voice a desperate growl. “Is she all right?”
“No.”
“Will she be?”
“That depends.”
“On?”
“Would you please unhand me?”
“Tell me,” I snarled, pressing my forehead against his.
“You know, sometimes it really sucks being the messenger. No one ever just wants the news. They have to force their own agenda on you first.” Rolling his eyes, he peeled my fingers back and shoved me none too gently away from him. “I cannot tell you what it depends on, Caleb. You know the rules. Choices must be made.”
