Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
I hate that he looks like my husband. I hate that he’s alive and Dev is not.
Goddess, I need to purge this hate from my soul. It’s going to kill me.
“Her name is Zoey.” My daughter-in-law steps in and I watch Rhys tense, but he restrains his need to cage her. He’s getting better. The bond they formed is doing exactly what Devinshea thought it would. “Your Highness, she is not the woman you loved, but she is connected to her.”
Devilshea puts a hand to his gut as though he needs the pressure to stay upright. “She is every bit as lovely and fierce and good as the Zandra I loved. And Deinny…your Daniel is more fierce than he was, but every bit the friend. I was not as brave as your Devinshea. I was not as good.”
Shy moves closer, and though she no longer has that vibrant glow she had while working her magic, there is still almost a halo around her. “You can be. Devinshea understands because he felt all the impulses you did. He is inside my soul space, so I will let him speak now.”
Though her voice doesn’t change, I can hear my husband as she allows him to take control.
Dev is here.
“He’s where Harry was,” Daniel says, every word tight and emotional.
Neil takes up space on my other side, his wolf rubbing against my leg. It’s comfort. He’s giving comfort and letting me know he’s here.
I hold Daniel’s hand and stroke Neil with my other as my husband speaks from beyond death.
“The difference between the two of us is one little trick of DNA,” Dev says from Shy’s mouth. “You were born fully Fae and I was not. It led me to leave the sithein while you stayed. I wasn’t welcome. You were. So I had nothing to lose when I left and found my real life. Though you should know, I thought about not leaving the sithein. I thought about simply doing what my mother asked. By the time Declan attempted to break my relationship with Zoey and Daniel, I had been on the Earth plane too long and was unmovable. You did not get the same experience. You are who I could have been had things slightly changed. You learned to be a royal, and there are hardships there, too. You are taught loyalty to the crown above your own heart. You were scared and decided you could have both, but our world does not work that way. Now you have a choice to make. You do not have to stay selfish. You watched a thousand souls choose to begin again. You can, too. You can start by helping my family get home.”
“Devinshea?” Daniel asks.
Shy turns my way, and somehow her smile holds my husband. It’s there in the lopsided grin and the way her eyes soften. “I’m here. You should know Myrddin either lied about Evangeline or she survived on her own. She is alive.”
A shudder of pure relief flows through me.
Dev is not finished. “Our daughter-in-law is a remarkable woman. Make her tell you the tale. And you should warn Nim that Arawn is waiting for her. He’s going to join us and maybe bring along a couple of friends. Us.” She sighs. “You and Daniel. He’s going to join you and Daniel.”
“Dev, is there any way,” Daniel begins.
Her head shakes. “No. I’m not going to take up space in my daughter’s soul. I won’t disrupt our kids’ lives like that.”
“We can find a balance, Papa.” Rhys’s eyes shine with tears. “Maybe stay and we can consult with the witches. Maybe we can find a way for you to exist on our plane.”
“You need to understand that your wife is arguing with me,” Dev says through Shy. “She is offering to host me for as long as possible, but I figured something out during these days. When Myrddin took my hands my first thought was I would be useless without them. I mourned my magic, and there was a part of me that wanted the death I knew was coming because I didn’t want to live without my magic. But son, it was always you. My magic was always you and Lee and your sister and your mama and Dad. If there was a way I would take it, but I can’t. I love you. I will always love you, and I need you to take that message back to your siblings and Albert and Zack and all of those who made my life so special.”
I’m crying again. I will be for a long while, so I don’t bother to wipe my eyes. “I love you forever, Devinshea. I will take care of them.”
“I will take care of them,” Danny promises and wraps me so hard in his arms I can’t breathe. I feel the shudder of emotion go through him and his tears on my skin. I hold on to him.