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Miss Veda nodded. “Until tonight, part of Caspian’s energy was bound up in his unresolved death. Confronting the people responsible has released that hold. With his family here anchoring him, he can finally use that strength to maintain a physical form without me restoring it each time.”

Lakelyn’s fingers tightened around mine. “So he stays like this?”

“During the night,” Miss Veda clarified. “Sunlight still strengthens the boundary between the living and the dead. Once the sun rises, he’ll return to his spirit form. But after sunset, he’ll be able to take on a solid body again.”

Lakelyn searched my face. “Every night?”

I nodded. “Every fucking night, baby.”

Then something else seemed to dawn on her. “Wait. When you say he’ll return to his spirit form, does that mean I won’t see him during the day? He’ll just go back to dipping my mattress and breathing down my neck while I’m trying to figure out if I need another doctor’s appointment?”

The room filled with laughter.

“No more guessing who’s dipping your mattress, sweetheart,” Miss Veda said. “During the day, he’ll be in his spirit form, but you’ll still be able to see and hear him whenever he chooses to appear.” She glanced at me. “Which, knowing Caspian, will probably be every time you think you’re about to get a moment to yourself.”

“Damn right,” I said.

“You simply won’t be able to touch him until sunset,” she continued. “Also, you and your son won’t be the only ones who can see him now.”

Lakelyn looked at me, then back at her. “What do you mean?”

“Others who learn the truth and are open to seeing him, and myself, will be able to recognize our presence. When it comes to Caspian, he won’t have to become solid every time he wants to speak to one of you.”

I gently squeezed Lakelyn’s hand. “So to answer your question… nah, you ain’t getting rid of me every morning, baby.”

She smiled then, and some of the worry finally left her face. “Good. I’ve had enough mornings without you.” Then her eyes narrowed slightly. “One more question. That night I thought I dreamed about us…” She glanced around the room before lowering her voice. “Having sex. Were you in solid form then?”

Miss Veda closed her eyes. “Lord.”

Willow sat forward immediately. “Oh, here we fucking go.”

Lakelyn’s cheeks were already changing color. “What?! I need to know! Did that really happen?”

I grinned. “Yeah, baby.”

Her mouth fell open. “So I wasn’t dreaming?”

“Nah. All that dick was real, baby… every inch of it.”

“Caspian!”

“What?” I laughed. “You enjoyed yourself.”

Willow folded forward laughing.

Lakelyn turned toward Miss Veda instead. “How?”

“Your man aggravated me until I agreed to help him manifest for a couple of hours.”

“I did not aggravate you.”

Miss Veda gave me a dry look.

“Aight. Maybe a little.”

“A little?” She turned back to Lakelyn. “Baby, that man behaved like I was denying him a constitutional right.”

Willow was practically crying now.