He lifted my chin, so I had to look at him, and he was blurred by my tears as my heart ached not to hear the answer.
His voice was steady. “The Ahknim have rituals which allow the chosen to ascend. We give our lives to service and become immortal by our sacrifice.” He took my hands.
“But you’re dead? They killed you?” It came out as a whisper. My tears were strangling me, and I swiped at them.
“I asked to serve, and my role required that I leave behind my life. They kept our remains to tether the entrances.”
“Wait, so your body is what was stolen that allowed for the curse?”
“Likely, but we don’t know what happened. Ori said the temple was destroyed. These are alternate timelines. In one, the temple will still thrive, but my connection to the Garden was altered. Why does it matter to you how I died?”
“Well, because it wasn’t natural. You didn’t get old and fade after a full life.”
“I live now a life of dreams.” His thumb brushed over my bottom lip.
I rose on my toes. The kiss ignited us, burning away thought.
There was a tap on the door. “You two coming?” Ori called out.
“Be there in ten,” I called back as Ranth’s smile widened.
“Ten minutes is possible, but I’ll have to be quick,” he said, running his hands down my sides and to my butt.
I laughed at him and pushed back. “Sadly, that was for showering time. You get to go first.” I nodded at the bathroom.
Ranth’s expression melted to disappointment. He padded to the door, then looked back. “We could shower in half the time if you joined me?” he asked wolfishly.
It didn’t even take a second for my decision. “You’re so right.”
And he was, so, so right, in all the right ways.
It was closer to a half hour, but the scent of fresh yerba mate and coffee permeated the kitchen. Over almond flour muffins and vegan cream cheese, we traded ideas, arranging the pieces of what we knew to cobble together a whacked-out plan. We had a list of questions that needed answers. What did a fringe group like the Marahk want with a garden of ancient trees on another world? And then there was Harold.
Ranth sat looking like the sex god I now knew he was in one of Bud’s old indigo shirts and a pair of black linen pants. Finally, on the day I’d be sending him away, Ranth had clothes like he might wear if he lived here, clothing that looked right on him. My goddesses, he was the most handsome man I’d ever seen. He literally glowed. Or maybe that was my perception of him. It didn’t matter. If I wasn’t so sore from last night’s vigorous sheet twisting that the extra shower time hadn’t helped, going back to bed and keeping him there forever sounded better than any other plan. I polished off my muffin, hoping the plant-based energy would soothe all the muscles.
My phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my violet lace skirt, maybe one of the few pieces of clothing I owned now. I swallowed and unlocked the screen.
Gallery said it will be ready for pickup at noon.Juke texted. I stared at it like that would make the words change. It was the worst and the best news.
I held up the phone. “Hey, Juke says the gallery said ‘yes,’ and we can get it any time. When’s the next flight?” I asked Ori, hoping it was hiding my despair.
Ori opened her laptop and typed a bunch of things. “Eleven, and there’s a flight back at four. Think she can make that? I assume you are bankrolling this, Sorrel?”
“Yup.” I nodded at Bud, who raised an eyebrow over his cup of yerba mate.
I sipped the green smoothie infused with mango and coconut. Sleep had been limited but deep. I had allowed myself to relax since Ranth could also fight portal demons if they happened to pop in while I was asleep. But that would end soon—so would having someone who understood the challenges of using magic. I’d miss dropping into sleep on his chest. I’d miss waking up to his arm draped over me. I’d miss the warmth at my back as he held me. Goddesses, I’d miss everything. My chest ached.
Ori finished typing. “We’re all set. The destination is not far from the airport. Vivian is already on her way to the SFO, so she’ll be there in plenty of time. Juke’s meeting her there with the credentials. The mission is a go.” Ori’s laugh broke some of the tension.
Rose took a bite of bagel and licked cream cheese off her finger. “Now what about us? What’s the plan?”
I didn’t dare glance at Ranth. “We should go back to the city, check my house. Then once we pick up Vivian and the third piece of gold, we can all go back to Juke’s warehouse to do the final ritual.” But as I said it, his eyes softened into sadness blended with desire. That he would be gone forever was going to sink in days after he’d left. It was like with Mom. Her being gone didn’t really manifest until a few weeks later. When I realized she wasn’t coming back on her own. That she was gone, and even if there was a chance for me to get her back, she wasn’t coming home on her own. She’d left me. Would it be like that with Ranth? I swallowed, and it felt like there was a rock in my throat.
“I’m going with you,” Bud said, setting down his mug.
“Where?” I asked.
“To the house and wherever else you are going.” He pressed his lips in the finite challenge, knowing full well I’d win.
