Kyle nodded and Nyla flew into his arms again.
Tori spun Thomas to face her. “And you, mister? Have you come to your senses, too?”
“What do you think?” He eased a lock of her hair behind her ear.
Tori gave him a sideways grin. “It took you getting caught to convince you?”
“It was Calan.”
At the mention of his name, Nyla faced Thomas.
He lowered his chin. How in the world could he tell her the bad news?
“I already know, Thomas,” she said. “I could feel it when he left.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Kyle looped an arm around his sister’s waist. “His words to us, to both of us, and the way he died, he helped us see the truth.”
“His death was not in vain then.” Nyla wiped a tear.
“No, and you’ll see him again.” Kyle drew her close.
“Do you believe that now, Kyle?” she asked him.
“I do. I’m so sorry for… everything.” Swallowing hard, he stared at the dirt.
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“Praise be to God!” Tori said. “He does answer prayers, even for the most hard-headed. We were praying for you two every day.”
Thomas shared a glance with Kyle. “We felt your prayers. God strengthened us, helped us see the truth. And he sent angels too!”
“You saw them?” Tori asked
“I did too!” Kyle exclaimed.
Thomas flung his arms out. “They are around us now!”
“Are they?” Everyone looked over the small clearing, but apparently only Thomas could see them.
“Well, I for one, am glad you had an angelic escort.” Tori studied them both. “God knows what you’d look like if you hadn’t.”
“Yeah, you guys look horrible,” Nyla added.
Thomas chuckled. “We’ve been through quite a lot these past months.”
“Months?”
Kyle shook his head. “It wasn’t easy coming here. The entire NWU and NWF are looking for us.”
“But enduring those weeks with you,” Thomas glanced at Tori, “taught me much.”
She smiled.
A chilled breeze swept over them, stirring leaves at their feet.
Kyle glanced above where the faintest stars began to twinkle in the darkening sky. “So, we going to stand out here all night?”
