Elijah looked down at her, love and adoration on his face. He never hid his feelings. He was far more open than Echo ever could be. One of the reasons she loved their mating bond was because he could sense her feelings without her ever having to explain them. Something she’d never really been good at, anyway. “Stop worrying about me.”
“I need you to be happy,” she answered huskily.
Not want. Need.
His happiness was Echo’s happiness.
“I’m home. You’re by my side. After we spend a few months here, we’re planning to travel the world so I can actually see all the places I’ve only ever seen from tour bus windows. I’m not sad, Echo. I promise.” He turned to look at the house, his brow wrinkling. “Not about that, anyway.”
It was true that after a summer in North Vancouver, they planned to travel for a year. Elijah would have to use his fae abilities so people wouldn’t recognize him, but that wouldn’t stop them. Echo was excited for the trip. For the unexpected. Their lives these past five years had been dictated by constant touring with the band. By keeping Elijah’s secret a secret. There had been a few rumors about what he was, and they’d squashed them over the years.
It would be nice to enjoy some time together. Now that The Garm was no longer a threat, they could do that.
As Echo had suspected, the remaining members of The Garm were not interested in William’s agenda. They fought amongthemselves to control his criminal empire and within a year, The Garm imploded from infighting.
It no longer existed.
Good fucking riddance.
“Are you ready?” Echo squeezed Elijah’s hand.
One of the things she thought her mate needed now was to grieve properly. He’d rejoined the band mere months after Bill’s death, and Echo didn’t think he gave himself time to go through that process. She suspected the next year would be just as much about healing as it was about traveling.
Echo saw the front door open and a tall, willowy blond step out. She hopped down the deck steps two at a time and yelled, “Are you just going to stand there or get in here and say hello to your favorite sister!”
Echo grinned as Elijah chuckled. Together they grabbed the luggage and hauled it up the driveway toward Odette. Nancy stepped out of the house after her but waited on the deck.
Odette suddenly flew into action, and Echo dropped her luggage just in time as her sister dove into her arms. She was taller than her now, which was so weird. Echo huffed at the impact.
“Oh, please.” Odette squeezed her hard. “You’re a vampire, you can take it.”
Shaking with laughter, she embraced her sister. “I missed you, little darling.”
“Missed you too.” Odette kissed her cheek and pulled back before turning her gorgeous, beaming smile on Elijah.
“E!” She threw her arms around him and Elijah hugged her hard.
“O. Missed you.”
“Mom baked banana bread!” Odette had taken to calling NancyMoma few months after the battle, and it seemed to heal something in Nancy.
Elijah’s expression brightened. “Why are we still out here, then?” With a quick glance around to make sure they were alone, Elijah flicked his wrist, and the luggage disappeared, presumably now in their guest room.
“Ugh, do you know how much easier my life would be if I could do that?” Odette looped her arm through Elijah’s and took Echo’s hand, pulling them toward the house.
Not for the first time, as Odette chattered away, Echo viewed her sister as a miracle. She’d been brought into a world of darkness as a child, but she hadn’t let it take away her light. And right now, that light was warm on Echo and her mate as they walked up the steps to greet Nancy.
Her mother-in-law took her by the biceps, expression affectionate, and kissed both her cheeks in welcome. Then she opened her arms to her son who went into her embrace as easily as he had as a child. Elijah hugged his mom and squeezed his eyes closed, features tight with something more than homecoming.
Finally, when they were settled in and seated around the dining table enjoying Nancy’s amazing banana bread, Echo sensed Elijah’s sharp sadness soften.
Was it the future they’d hoped for when this all started? No.
Bill should’ve been there with them.
However, the tragic reality was that he was gone.
Nancy had forged a new chapter because she’d had to, and she was busy and content.
