Page 39 of Bound By the Moon

“You two were there for one another before. I sawyou through the window before we came in earlier tonight.”

“Yeah, well, I was holding onto her, because she wasready to charge off into the mountains to look for you. She saidshe needed to know for sure, and she was worried.” He pulled meclose to him then, while trying to avoid smashing Willow, who wasin my arms as we walked. “She didn’t believe you were dead. Shegrieved for your father, but she still said she knew you wereokay.”

The rest of the short walk to our house was done insilence. Jack, Sierra, and their baby fell in step behind us alongthe way while Ashley and Asi veered off to go to their ownplace.

When we got to our house, Mikael, Willow, and Istarted inside. Sierra, holding her own baby, continued walkingtoward the cottage that she and baby Jack had been living in forthe past few months. Jack, on the other hand, started to follow usup the stairs.

“Whoa there, Jack.” Mikael called out. “This is justgetting weird. Sierra is going that way, to her new house.”

“I can’t. I mean, I don’t think…” The pained look onJack’s face made my heart sink a little. Apparently, this GuardianWraith business was going to have a mess of its own to be sortedout too.

“Sierra,” I called out, “why don’t you guys stayhere in the guest room for the night?” The smile on her face wasone of thanks in that moment. I think it would have torn her heartout to have the love of her life, her mate, choose to stay withanother woman over her. “You can use the spare bassinet from theden.”

“Thanks, Jess, I really wasn’t up for being alonetonight with the baby. I think I’m still worried he’s not cominghome, even though he’s in my arms right now.”

“I know.” I hugged her, and then we all piled intomy house together, only going separate ways when Mikael and Icontinued past the guest bedroom, heading for our own. “Willowstays in here with us tonight.”

“Of course she does.”

“I don’t think everything has sunk all the way inyet.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, when I wake up tomorrow, everything isgoing to be different. My dad won’t be here anymore. My mom… Idon’t know what to do about my mom. Then there’s Jack. I wonder ifWillow will continue to glow when she’s in danger. Everything isdifferent.”

“I know, Jess. We’ll get through it though. Wait,what did you say about Willow?”

I explained to Mikael what happened with Willow whenbaby Jack was abducted, and he appeared as concerned as I felt whenI first found out about it. “That is strange.” He said to me.“We’ll definitely keep a look out to see if it happens again. Ithink it would be kind of nice to have a safety beacon for ourdaughter. If anyone ever tries to hurt her, we’ll know when shestarts glowing like a light bulb. It’s awesome. I won’t even haveto threaten the boys, just remind them that she shines brightlywhen she’s feeling threatened.”

“You’re unbelievable. We should definitely talk toSerena about that happening though. Maybe she can put us in touchwith Gwyn, and she can explain what’s going on with that.” I wasthinking out loud as I took my shower. “That’s tomorrow’s worrythough. Tonight, I just hope my mom makes it through to seetomorrow. I really dislike leaving her all alone.”

“We’ll get your mom through it baby. She has Willowto think about now too. So, if you’re worried that she willfade…”

“No, I don’t think she would fade. Everything willjust be changed, and it’s kind of hard to grasp that. Youknow?”

“Not everything has to change, Jess.” Mikaelwhispered into my ear as I came to bed, after I got out of theshower, and snuggled deeper under the covers for more warmth. Itseemed like I couldn’t get warm enough since I left the world ofthe dead. I supposed that was one of the side effects Aislynntalked about. Maybe my body temperature had changed. I was going towait and see how things played out before I worried anyone withthat little bit of news though. “I’m still here. We still haveWillow.” He pointed to where she was sound asleep in her bassinet.“We have each other, babe.” He nuzzled into my neck then, kissinggently here and there, until those kisses dropped to my shoulder. Awarmth I didn’t think I’d ever feel again spread through my body,lighting me on fire from the inside out. Just his touch, his lipstrailing down my body were enough to send me over the edge thefirst time. I was hyper aware of every little kiss, caress, andthen…

The bedroom door burst open, and a very naked Jackwas standing there, looking around for something to attack. “What’swrong?” He yelled out.

“Besides the fact that you just interrupted my mateand I in an intimate moment?” Mikael growled out. “Not to mentionyou’re still standing there completely naked!”

“Oh shit.” Jack looked down at us on the bed, andthen at himself, as he turned away quickly. “I’m sorry. I don’tknow why…” He was mumbling to himself now. “Her heart rate waserratic, and I thought she was in trouble.” He must have beentrying to explain to Mikael, which was cute. “Shit!” Jack movedback out of our room, and shut the door. I could still hear himcussing all the way back to the guest room.

“Yeah, we are definitely going to have to get thatunder control sooner, rather than later.”

“I kind of like it,” I whispered in his ear.

“Oh? You like Jack running in here naked while I’mtrying to make love to you?”

“No, it just means you’re going to have to up yourgame, and practice a lot so Jack knows what to expect, and not tobarge in. I like the practice aspect on our parts.”

Mikael burst out laughing then. “I suddenly feelsorry for the guy. Poor Jack is going to be in for a stroke tryingnot to come to your rescue every time I get that heart of yoursfluttering.”

“Mmm, less talk, more flutter.” I pulled the blanketback a little and pushed Mikael to head back to what he was doingbefore we were so rudely interrupted.

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DEATH

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