She was gone.
Throwing his head back, Nick roared as pain filled him and prayed for this to be another cruel trick. Prayed that he’d wake up in the grimoire.
“Nick?”
Hissing, he turned toward the sound of Caleb’s voice to find his protector in the doorway, staring at him.
The expression on Caleb’s face said that he wasn’t sure it was Nick he was looking at. Or that he could trust his own eyes. “What happened?”
His breathing ragged, he glared at Caleb. “That’s what I want to know! What happened, Caleb! Where were you!”
“Hunting for you.”
“Why did you leave her unprotected?”
Caleb didn’t answer.
Nick started to attack. The only thing that kept him from it was the last shred of sanity he had that recognized the agony inside Caleb’s eyes. That haunted horror they shared. And the one worse bit that said he was reliving the moment when he lost his own wife.
Never had he seen Caleb appear weak or affected by anything.
Until now.
“I wouldn’t have …” Caleb’s words broke off as his eyes teared up. His breathing turned every bit as ragged as Nick’s as he staggered closer. “Can’t you bring her back?”
“I don’t have those powers. Do I?”
“No, you don’t.”
Nick gasped as he heard Kody’s voice. Snapping around, he saw the shadowy outline of her winged Arel form.
She reached for him, then dropped her hand. “I’m sorry, Nick. I tried.”
“I can’t do this, Kody. Not without you.”
Her lips trembled. “Of course you can, baby. You did it before.”
“I didn’t know you, then.” But no sooner had those words left Nick’s lips than he saw a peculiar flash. A glimmer of something that hadn’t been there before.
Kody let out a bitter laugh as she nodded. “Yeah, Nick. It’s what you’re thinking. Crazy, huh?”
“No … it can’t be.”
She swallowed hard. “I have to go. But I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye. I love you. Now and forever.” She started to fade.
“Kody! Kody, wait!”
She hesitated.
“I will find a way back to you. You hear me? I swear to God.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Her gaze went to Caleb. “Take care, my Boo. You’ll need each other.”
Then she was gone.
Unable to breathe or cope, Nick raked his hands through his hair. “Caleb … tell me what to do.”
“You know I can’t.”
