“Sure was,” Winter said, before then addressing Ambrose. “You said earlier that I would be instrumental with this? How? Because I thought I was tracking his power here? You knew I’d tagged him?”
“No. But it is your magic that will be needed to track him. With that imbued in the Spiral Thorn, we can create a sweep across the mortal plane. It will get a lock on him. But it will take a little time.”
“How long?” I asked when I saw Winter tensing. “An estimate at least?”
“If we don’t run into any unforeseen complications from him, a few days.”
“And if we do?” Winter asked, definitely an edge in his voice.
“Then we’ll see to it, little death,” Vaxan said, walking to him. “Yes? Like we’ve seen to everything else. No matter what.”
“Yeah, I know,” Winter said, brightening. “That… he… I just…”
“Right there with you,” Kai said.
“Very much so,” Ketheron added.
And that was a hell of a thing because Ketheron didn’t like the idea of harming anyone.
I saw Winter take note of it. A soft sigh of what sounded like relief escaped him.
Likely because he was reasoning that if Ketheron could feel that way, then it was more evidence for Winter that Ruxnoth had been wrong about him, and that he didn’t need to feel shame for wanting that warped nightmare gone.
“And in the meantime, I have a happy idea!” Ketheron exclaimed.
Ambrose arched an eyebrow. “You do?”
“Yes!” He looked out at us all. “Ambrose and I are moving in together! You will come to our housewarming!”
Ambrose took his hand and lowered his voice. “Really, treasure? Now was the optimal time?”
“Of course. Everyone is pained and anxious. Something joyous will lift the burden a little.” He raised their joined hands and kissed Ambrose’s knuckles. “And I have delayed too long already, worried that it would upset my family.” He squared his shoulders. “It has been stated now. It is happening. I am moving in, no more waiting.”
Ambrose beamed out at him. “I do love you and your wonderful ways.”
Ketheron nuzzled against him. “I love you. With my everything.”
“I’ll be passing this on to Cassius, Velra, and Lazriel, then?” Sylas said, grinning as we all looked on. “And for the record, we’re not upset. We saw it coming a couple of months ago. We want you to have this.”
“Does this mean—”
“You’ll always be part of the family.” Sylas winked at Winter. “You think Win moving out and now living with his loves means he’s not part of the family anymore?”
“No. Of course not. That could never be.”
“Precisely.”
Ketheron stilled. “Oh. I see.” Emotion swam in his eyes. “Thank you, Sylas.”
“No thanks needed. Family, K. Family.”
In the next second, Winter was rushing over and wrapping his arm around Ketheron.
Zayn joined in, and then it became a congratulatory free for all.
Moments like this, in the midst of distress and this darkness still lingering, were what it was really all about.
The difference between merely surviving and actually living.
