Adeuto stepped forward to hug me. “You don’t want him to find me.”
“No, darling. I don’t. And so I must stay away for now. Not for too long I hope.”
“How long?”
“Months,” I said quietly. Then before he could ask what a month was, I added, “Maybe until your next birthday, or longer. I will think of you every moment of every day. I will miss you every second, and I will spend every minute chasing the timewhen I get to return to you again. When I do, I intend that we will remain together for good.”
“Father will be gone.”
“Yes, darling. That is the aim.”
Adeuto kissed my cheek. “I’m afraid.”
A tear slipped from my eye, and I brushed it away, out of sight. When I could trust my voice, I whispered, “You don’t need to be afraid when you have a mother, my little love. Give all of that to me, and I will protect you. Even when you can’t see or hear me, that is what I’m doing.”
He was quiet for a time, and then said, “Done.”
I squeezed him tightly, and then didn’t have the strength to pull away for another five minutes. Eventually, he started to wriggle, and I released him.
“I’m hungry,” Adeuto declared.
I smiled. “Then go down to the house. I’ll be there soon. Wait!” I caught his hand and dragged him back. I looked into his eyes and memorized his face once more. Then I cupped his cheeks and kissed him. “Adeuto, I love you more than words can describe. You are my entire world.”
He kissed me back, then ran down the dune when I released him.
I waited until he was inside.
And then I bowed my head to my knees and cried.
I cried out the last month—hell, the last five years. So much loss, and always more. Now this. The thought of our separation was unbearable, and so, like so many of the hard times in my life, I’d opt not to think right now.
I’d choose to act. Follow my plan until my mind felt safe to occupy again. One foot in front of the other. Just like Owu would have to do.
I’d find some way to show both of them that they were in my heart and thoughts.
But fuck, this was one of the most difficult days of motherhood I’d ever had.
Sand poured, and I wiped a sleeve across my face before glancing at Neti.
“Don’t mind me,” I croaked. “But I think you’re living right, if that means anything.
She touched her nose to the top of my head. There was a blazing heat, and I shrieked, rolling away.
The nismus remained where I’d left her, and I touched the top of my head. Themiddleof my head.
Fumbling for the gem, I placed it over the spot, then drew up my smoke.
My jaw dropped. The white coil was gone!
I returned to Neti, and she bowed her head to my stomach. Blazing heat. I bit down on a shriek.
I panted after and checked the spot. That coil was gone too. “Neti, whatareyou?” I breathed.
There was something huge here that I couldn’t yet grasp. But I would. There were too many coincidences. Neti had found us. So had the gem. I was meant to understand this ancient force.
She touched her nose to the coil on my hip, then the coils above my ankles when I removed my boots. I held up my feet one by one.
And then I scanned my body again while holding the gem. “No coils.”
