Page 364 of Flirting with Darkness

Rae giggles, bashfully turning away. Our faces blush to pink and it dawns on me. I was right all along. Rae and I did share something special that day. She squeezes her hand in mine and leans on my shoulder.

Elysian raises his thick brow as he rocks on his heel. Rubbing his chin, he eyes us both. “I don’t know, Rae. This is hard for me. I promised your parents I’d look after you two. That’s all I ever wanted. But with both of my biological children intent on either chasing treasure or building schools, a part of me always knew any legacy I’d leave behind would be better suited with you and Ross. I know Ross isn’t solely taking those classes to pass the time.” Elysian says, winking at his nephew.

For the first time, Ross is speechless as Stephen wraps his bulking arms around Ross’s lanky frame.

“And what about Rae?” Abigail chimes in from the side wall. Cedric softly shoves his mate’s shoulder, but she smiles wide, throwing her thumb up and tossing a reassuring nod to Rae.

“Well what about you, Rae? What do you want to do?” Elysian asks, smiling with tear-filled eyes.

Hunching her shoulders, she twists her small fingers through her hair. “Oh, I’m not sure.”

“What about your bakery?” I suggest, kissing her forehead. She looks up at me, her eyes wide with surprise. “I’m sure that big recipe book of yours is full of delicious decadence to add to the menu of the Elysian Manor B&B.”

“Khari, how did you know? I—I um—”

“Well, it’s settled then! As long as my niece pursues her dreams of her own freewill, I suppose I can be a bit more tolerant and open towhator who she chooses to love.” Elysian shifts a side-eye in my direction, but I don’t care. Rae’s happiness is all that matters.

Tossing her small arms around his round frame, she cries into his hold. “Oh, thank you Uncle! Thank you!”

He pulls back some, wiping the tears from her face. “I am sorry for being such a cold-hearted fool and for what I said. Your mother would be proud to see all you’ve become.She is proud. So am I!”

Together, Rae and Elysian lock into an embrace, putting aside their differences. While instinct tells me there’s more to repair between Elysian and me, I find comfort knowing whatever rift there was between them is slowly fading.

“And what about Moirai?” Melchior breaks through the weepy reconciliation of his father and Rae. By the look in his eyes, I can tell he’s not sold on the reunion. He and his father still have much to sort out.

“I have every intention of rescuing my sister,” I reply, taking Melchior’s shoulder in my palm. “Now that I have my obol, I can return to the Netherworld and free her once and for all.”

“But the time is not now, brother.” Moirai’s stone brightens in Cedric and Abigail’s hold and they both gasp in shock. A luminous glow shines through the room and everyone gapes in awe.

“What the fu—” Ross and Stephen shriek.

“Oh my word!” Elysian’s eyes bulge as he stares at my sister’s stone. He looks around the room, shaking his finger in bewilderment. “How—how is this possible?”

Letting out a hearty sigh, Dalcour removes his hat, revealing his thick curly mane. “In all my years, I’ve only glimpsed such power of the world beyond. This, I must say, is beyond me.”

Finally, some humility from him, I think to myself.

Rather than glory in Marchand’s newfound humbleness, I turn my attention back to Moirai.

“Sister,” I begin, kneeling down as Cedric and Abigail lower the stone onto Elysian’s table. “I have the obol. There’s no need for you to endure the Changeling’s torment.”

“Yes, and you finally have a love to call your own. Take time to enjoy it.” The light of Moirai’s stone glows as she speaks.

“But what about you?” Melchior says, coming to my side. “When will we be together again?”

He keeps his attention on my sister’s stone, but I can’t help but smile as I look at him. Looking over my shoulder, even Dalcour, Cedric, and Abigail seem happy for Melchior. Thinking on how gooey-eyed Abigail and Cedric seemed last night, they are certainly one of those“in love with love”type of couples.

“When the time is right, my love,” Moirai answers, and Melchior grazes the stone with his hand as though it were her hair. “Kharon,” she continues, and I shift my attention back to her. “You will come to me when the first flower blooms. At that time, you and Rae will travel together to our realm.”

“Rae?” Ross and Elysian yelp in unison. Shock rolls through us all, but all eyes are now on Rae.

31

RAE

Taking small steps between Kharon and Melchior, I stare like a deer in headlights into Moirai’s stone as though I were enchanted. Allowing a momentary glance over my shoulder to Kharon, I hunch, surprised by his sister’s instruction.

“Me?” My voice is small, but as quiet as it is now, I’m sure everyone heard me.

---