Ramona let out a surprised laugh. “It might take some getting used to, Mortal.”
Zara grinned, her fangs still present. “Don’t youdare.”
Ramona wrapped her arms around Zara’s neck.
“I’m so sorry it took me so long to get back. We can discuss the logistics later. There’s a significant amount of logistics.” A beat. “There was also exit paperwork. Hell’s HR department is thorough even when they’re furious with you, which I respectprofessionally even if I found it inconvenient this evening. It took me weeks.”
“Weeks? It’s been… one day,” Ramona said.
“Time must move very differently there. I was terrified I’d miss the gala.”
Ramona nearly laughed. “You were? Why?”
“I told you I’d be here, and I intended to keep my word.”
Ramona kissed her.
Zara made a small, surprised sound — which was fair, as Ramona had done it somewhat abruptly — and then kissed her back gently. Her hands came up to Ramona’s face, and Ramona could feel her pulse at her wrist, steady and new and mortal and real.
When they broke apart, both of them were breathing a little unsteadily.
“I love you,” Ramona said. “I thought you were gone. I spent the whole day thinking you were gone forever.”
“I know.” Zara’s forehead dropped against hers. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get back.” A short exhale that was almost a laugh.
“You’re really staying.”
“I’m really staying.” She pulled back just enough to look at Ramona properly. “If you’ll have me.”
“Are you— Zara. It’s a little late for that question. You gave upimmortality?—”
“I wanted to be polite about it,” Zara said, and the familiar dryness of it was so entirely her that Ramona laughed again, properly this time, and pulled her close.
They stayed like that for a moment. Just breathing. Ramona could feel Zara’s heartbeat under her palm. Could feel her breathe. It was the most ordinary thing in the world, and it was extraordinary.
A knock at the door.
“Ramona.” Felix’s voice, careful and concerned. “Is everything okay with Zara? Gerald is losing his mind out here. He’s done seven loop-the-loops.”
Ramona looked at Zara. Zara looked at Ramona.
“We should probably tell them,” Ramona said.
“Probably,” Zara agreed.
Ramona opened the door. Felix stood there with Gerald vibrating on his shoulder. Behind him, Kashvi, Posey, and Cammie, all arranged in a configuration that suggested they’d been deciding whether to knock for at least two minutes.
Zara stepped forward. “Hello, everyone.”
Gerald cooed and immediately performed an eighth loop-the-loop.
Felix was staring. “Did I hear you say you’remortal?”
“And they just let you go?” Kashvi asked.
“They didn’t have a choice. My contract was dissolved. I told them I had accepted a position elsewhere.” A small, satisfied pause.
“Holy shit,” Felix said softly.
