“I’m sorry, Asher, what were you saying?”
He smiled slightly.
“I’d like to see you on Earth again.”
“Oh.”
Hailey pulled her brow down, unable to shake the feeling she was forgetting something. Whatever it was—it was gone. She shook her head and looked up at Asher.
“Does that mean you’re real? You don’t just exist here…in my dreams…?”
His smile widened.
“I am real,” he said.
They stared together at the sparkling river in front of them.
“Hailey,” he said gently, “will you tell me what you’re thinking?”
“I feel so forgetful here. And I can never remember these dreams.”
“Aether amnesia,” he said. “All humans forget.”
“Forget…” she repeated, and her lip twitched sadly.
Asher blinked, tilting his head. “What is it?”
“I was just thinking about Holly,” she said as a tear dropped to her cheek. Asher raised an angelic hand to it. “I don’t want to forget her like I forgot my mom and dad.” Another tear fell from her eye. “I miss her so much.”
She sniffled for a time and continued.
“We just got accepted to college in Alaska. I’m gonna go, but she won’t be there with me. I never thought I’d go anywhere without her.” She looked up at Asher. “Uncle Pix says I’ll be safe there…in Alaska. He says there’s an Envoy there that will protect me.”
She held his gaze, hoping he’d answer her unspoken question.
Asher closed his eyes and smiled again.
“I am the one, and you won’t be alone.”
She smiled through her tears.
“Then I’ll see you—I’ll see you, Asher. I can meet you and shake your hand and have a conversation I’ll actually remember—”
Asher’s wistful expression cut Hailey off.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I’d like to hold you in my arms, Hailey. Ever since I left you on the balcony, it’s all I think about.”
Hailey froze. That was exactly what she wanted—comfort. From the one creature powerful enough to protect her. Her heart beat in her ears, and she finally exhaled.
“Asher, why do you like me?”
He pondered this for so long, Hailey figured he wouldn’t answer. Heavy silence forced her blurt. “I wouldn’t—”
“I should kill you.”
Hailey’s breath caught.
