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I move my hands, hover them in front of his little chest, and push out my magic.

Light. Love. Belonging. Eliminate my bond's nightmare. Find the good memories.

The darkness begins to lift, and sunshine creeps through the windows. The boy disappears, and the man I've come to love appears.

“Wild One,” he breathes.

The room changes, and I smile.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Archer

Savy’s magic fills the room and my body. The house shifts, and it’s how I remember it before the day my nightmare began.

“Are you back with me?” Savy asks.

“Yeah.” I shake my head and stare over her shoulder.

She moves beside me, and we watch my mom and dad. They're grinning. Mom is hiding beside the stove, behind the basket she kept there. Her head is peeking above it. Dad is crouched next to a large shelf on the opposite wall.

“What’s happening?” Savy whispers, grabbing my hand.

A little version of me moves slowly into the room.

“I forgot about this,” I say, clearing my throat. “I went through a phase of loving to play hide-and-seek. The house was small, so they had to get creative. I always found them.” Mom squeals as I peek around the basket. “They made a big deal out of it.” I grin watching Dad’s overacting as he hides behind his hands. “I was small, so it took them longer to find me.” I look at her. “I was consumed with all the ways I could have changed that one horrible experience. I pushed away all the good. They loved me, and they were the best parents.”

“You can remember now.” She leans against me.

The memory runs through the room, and we sit in silence. I feel the love now. My nightmare controlled them, never allowing me to see them. Savy is the reason I can now. She brought the light back.

Mom stops suddenly, turning in a circle until she's facing me. I stiffen. How? She seems aware of our presence, and I swallow.

“Savy?” I whisper.

“Believe it,” she says.

Mom tilts her head, looks at Savy, then at me, and smiles.

“She's special. Live well, Son.”

She blows me a kiss, and suddenly we're in Savy’s room on the floor in the same position as in the dream world.

“I have no words,” I rasp, looking at Savy.

“I don’t think there are any that would accurately describe what just happened,” she says quietly.

I don’t feel any of the things I should after using my spell. I feel Mom’s peace. Whatever the reason, the past had to happen the way it did. I don’t sense any regret or anger from her. She loved me, and she understands. If she were still alive, would I have met Rome? Would I feel the love of Margarete? Would I experience Adeline’s love of life? Arthur and Mavin have been steady, loving examples. Losing Mom was heartbreaking, and although no one can replace her, I found another family.

“I’ve never felt so helpless,” I say, my voice rough, wrapping my arm around her waist.

“It must be horrible being in the dream.”

“It wasn’t that.” I pull her onto my lap. “You were in danger, and I was frozen. Watching you face him without me was agonizing. I swore I wouldn’t let you face danger without me.”

“I knew how you felt.” She slides her hands behind my neck. “I didn’t care about answers. I just didn’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Sometimes I’ve wanted to be human.” I grip her hips. “But I’ve never been so grateful to have power. Griffon will never hurt anyone again.”