Luc was about to sayof course, but paused.
If Harper hadn’t been a witch living the exact life that led him to Ash, Ollie, Nico, and Dex, would any of them have found their mates?
Yes, surely they would have. In an alternate timeline, everything would look different, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen in its own way. It was hard to fathom, that was all.
“The bond between Eternal beings and their mates happens between souls—the part of you that doesn’t change with reincarnation—so I’m sure a different, less magical Harper would still have found Ash.”
“Hmm.” Dex’s furrowed brow said he wasn’t sold.
At least the rise of witches hadn’t destroyed magical souls’ ability to mate. “If only there was a way to release the witch souls from Hell. There has to be something within my power that I can do to fix what I’ve ruined.”
“I don’t think you ruined anything.”
“Thank you.” Luc squeezed Dex, his loyalty warming Luc’s soul.
“Do you have any ideas on how to help them?”
“No. I doubt I’d even be allowed to argue a case in their favor. The Eternal Realm will likely ignore my request to speak to the council.”
Dex’s eyes widened. “You can contact the Eternal Realm?”
Luc shifted his weight, jostling Dex but not letting go. He knew where this was headed.
“There’s a gateway, like an in-between realm that facilitates human souls on their journeys. Whoever is guarding it these days might hear my request and pass my message on to the council, or they might attack me on sight.”
Even if his message got through, Luc doubted it would be answered.
“You can only talk to the gatekeeper?” Dex looked at his hands, twisting them on his lap.
Luc covered them with his. “Only the gatekeeper. I can’t contact your parents or any other inhabitants directly. If your parents were witches, a séance to the Realm of the Damned might reach them, but no communication like that exists with the true afterlife.”
“Right. Makes sense.” Dex made a strange sound halfway between clearing his throat and a hiccup. “I wouldn’t know what to say anyway.”
Shit, he sounded dejected. Hurt despite Luc’s efforts to prevent it.
He hugged Dex closer. “It’s not about saying anything in particular. You want to connect with them. I get that.”
“Yeah.” Dex buried his face against Luc’s neck, and Luc’s heart lurched. “I’ll have to wait a while before that happens.”
He would, even if a human lifetime seemed like the blink of an eye to Luc.
One way or another, Dex would see the realm that Luc was forbidden to enter. That would never change.
15
DEX
Dex set a latte and an iced tea on the counter where Holt was waiting. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” He grabbed the drinks and lingered.
Did he have something to say? It wasn’t busy enough for Dex to pretend not to notice.
Their eyes locked over the espresso machine.
“I know it’s only Wednesday, but do you have anything exciting going on this weekend?” Holt asked.
A not-so-stifled squeal came from over by the pastry display. Damn Justine.
