We wasted no time, hurrying across the path. The faster we moved, the faster the scenery blurred around us, like we were traveling at warp speed. There were countless islands, and way more off in the distance. “True mates must share an island,” I noted, and Asher went predatorially still at my side. I slowed a little, turning to see his face better. “What’s wrong?” I looked around, because generally that reaction meant danger was close.
“The thought of our deaths…” His hands clenched. “I’m not dealing so well after losing you in our bond.”
I understood more than I wished I did. “Yeah, I feel the same. But at least we know that when we both die, we’ll be together.”
His chest rumbled, jaw working as he fought for words. “I have no real response to that, other than … let’s not test the theory anytime soon.”
Reaching up, I cupped his face in my hand, holding the dearest thing in my life. “That’s fine by me, Ash. I have too much living to do with you.”
He kissed me, fast and hard, because that’s all we had time for, but my body responded anyway. One day we wouldn’t be rushing sex and quality time together in lieu of saving the fucking world. One day. I had to believe we’d earned that much at least.
Since it wasn’t today, though, we set off again at that running pace, following the path that never wavered. The central island came into view about twenty minutes later and I blinked at how fucking huge it was. The largest island I’d ever seen, on television or in real life.
The moment we stepped onto the sand, the yellow path faded, and with a pop, like a bubble bursting, sound slammed into us hard and fast. It was overwhelming after so much silence.
“Guess we should explore this meeting place,” Asher suggested, taking my hand. Urgency hit me deep inside, spurring my steps on. Asher was feeling it too, the sensation intensifying in our bond.
Whatever we were about to find … there was a chance it could change our lives.
Chapter 28
The noise level didn’t grow louder as we moved closer. This land didn’t work on the same principles as the living realm. The noise remained consistent, but we still knew where to go.
Asher shook his head. “My energy is uneasy with how unnatural it feels here. Normally, if things were this easy, we’d be two fucking steps from an ambush. The underworld is messing with my senses.”
“Right?” I shook my head. “It’s freaking me out. I’m hoping in death this seems much more normal.”
He didn’t have time to chastise me over my morbid obsession with our deaths—come on, when does anyone ever have the chance to experience the afterlife before they die? To know that there was this kind of paradise waiting on the other side for us? It was a lot for anyone to process.
Asher grumbled but kept his thoughts to himself, and I didn’t pry into his mind.
Especially since we had arrived at the source of the noise.
“Holy afterlife party,” I snorted.
There were people everywhere. I couldn’t count them all, but I would guess … tens of thousands. And like the fish and creatures in the water, there was a transparent vibe to those closest to us. They all touched each other and interacted without issue, so it must be the nature of souls in this world.
“Some are transparent, and others aren’t,” Asher said suddenly.
Wait …he was right. As we pushed further into the party, I saw more of the “solid” souls.
“What does that mean?” I whispered.
Asher, knowing as much as me, didn’t have any answers either.
No one paid us any attention as we passed groups sprawled on the beach, playing in the sand, swimming in a small lagoon. They chatted like old friends, happy and bright. There was no sense of darkness or danger here. No sense of time or schedules. It was just … peace.
Asher released a long drawn out sigh and I chuckled. “Keep your shorts on, dude, I’m just observing. If you don’t like the thoughts, stay out of the head.”
He shook his head, but his lips twitched at the corners. He wasn’t as mad as he wanted me to think he was.
Turning from him, I started to walk again, not realizing a soul had been moving closer. I bumped into it, one of the translucent ones.
The soul jumped back. He was a male, taller than me, with young features—he looked all of fifteen. “Gah, I hate when you live-souls do that,” he said, and I blinked because he wasn’t speaking English but I understood him perfectly like he was. “Touching one of you is like walking through a freezing rainstorm.”
Asher leaned in close. “He’s speaking ancient Atlantean,” he whispered.
I blinked again, forcing my own smile toward the soul. “We’re kind of new here. Can you tell me why some of you … us … are transparent, and others are solid?”
