Page 32 of Captivating Magic

“I fucking love it,” he added with a wide-ass grin. Giving her an approving nod, he looked at Liz. “She’s one of us.”

“One of you?” Ebba ventured.

“A Thorne.” Liz tapped her bottle to her brother’s. “We’ve always thought you were, though. Haven’t we, Lo?”

His eyes glowed with an unnamed emotion. One Ebba desperately wanted to explore at length, but the timing was all wrong. It always had been. The initial age gap, his relationship with Charlotte, Ebba’s death. The world was conspiring against them. Or, at the very least, against her. In her mind, Laszlo Thorne would live a rich, long life with the woman of his dreams. He’d be happy with his 2.5 kids and eighty-pound lab resting at his feet.

Rafe called Liz away, and after she left the room, Lo cornered Ebba.

“What’s wrong?” he asked softly.

“I’ve always wanted to be part of your family. All of you, Mack included, have made me feel special when I’m far from it. Far from whatever it is all of you are. But you never made me feel I was lacking.”

“You’re not.”

“I’ve loved you forever, Lo.”

He wasn’t surprised by her confession, and in fact, he appeared downright uncomfortable she’d said anything at all. Yet Ebba needed to be heard this one and only time. She might not have another chance to reveal what was in her heart.

“I don’t expect you to say the same. If you did, I’d know you were lying.” She cast him a wry smile. “But I do love you, and another minute I didn’t tell you was another one wasted.”

“I’m honored.”

Ebba snorted. “Yeah, you look like you mean that.” Rolling her eyes, she wished she could take a long pull of his beer. How the hell was her throat parched without a physical form? “You’re going to hate this next part.”

“Don’t say it,” he warned.

“I have to. You know I do.”

“Ebba—”

“When I move on?—”

“I don’t want to hear this, dammit!”

She touched his arm. “When I move on, I want you to forgive yourself, then forget this entire incident.”

“Are you fucking crazy?”

His fury caught Liz’s and Rafe’s notice, but Ebba waved them off.

“No, Lo. I’m accepting of what’s to come. You need to be, too.”

“Well, I’m not, so knock it off with this acceptance bullshit.”

“No. I want you to promise me you’ll do as I requested. You won’t beat yourself up for things out of your control.”

He shook his head like an enraged bear, prepared to argue.

“Laszlo.”

Again, he shook his head.

“Laszlo, look at me. Really look.”

The eyes he turned on her were filled with pure torment. “Tell me, Ebba. What is the point in having my abilities and being able to see spirits if I can’t do a fucking thing to save them? Especially the most important one of all.You. Huh?”

“Maybe you aren’t meant to. Maybe you’re only meant to ease our way or the minds of those left behind.”

---