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“William?” Amanda shivered and stared at him. “William?”

“Yes, it’s me,” he admitted. “I wanted to spare you this, but you recognized me too easily.”

“Have I been asleep that long?” She laid one hand on the side of his wrinkled face.

“I’m sorry I’m so old.” He tilted his cheek into her palm. “But I am thankful I’ve lived long enough to see you restored.”

Amanda suddenly gasped and cast her gaze around until her eyes landed on me. A flash of white, and I felt a snap of her power wash over me.

“You’re a healer?” Her face was both anxious and hopeful, and my heart went out to her.

“Yes.” I knelt next to her.

“How long have I been asleep? Do you know?”

I hesitated, but her stern look made me answer.

“Two hundred years.”

“Two hundred …” Her voice faded as she looked up at Clem. “Twohundredyears!”

Clem seemed incapable of speech. He brushed her long black hair with his gnarled hand and wept.

“Um, I, ah, took the liberty of checking you over,” I half-whispered. “You’ll want a more thorough evaluation later, I’m sure, but everything looks fine as far as, um… Well, as far as yourcondition.”

What? It wasn’t easy trying to keep her secret and reassure her at the same time.

“I had feared all was lost.” A single tear slipped down her cheek.

I had to clear my throat.

“Clem’s going to take you to the Sanctuary. You’ll be safe there and you can catch up with him and the rest of the world. I’m sure everything will look and feel quite strange at first. Technology rules the world now, and—”

I broke off, imagining how overwhelmed Amanda would be by the great changes between this world and the Victorian-era one she remembered.

“My dear, I will adjust. I was freed in William’s lifetime. What more could I ask for? I cannot thank you enough. What is your name?”

“Gemma. Gemma Shepherd.”

“And this poor boy you used.” Amanda inclined her head toward Kerry. “He’s a veritable furnace of power, isn’t he?”

“His name’s Kerry,” I said, pride in every word. “Kerry Harker.”

“Is he your beau?” She laughed when heat flashed across my cheeks. “I suppose the glow on your face is answer enough.”

16. Fate Stamped All Over It

Kerry

It was dark by the time we returned to the hotel. Feeling like we should celebrate, we ordered room service and piled up on the beds and furniture as we ate some fancy-schmancy supper. Gemma ordered shrimp and grits, which looked like yuck to me, but she speared one of the shrimps on her fork and held it out to me.

“Want to try?”

I looked at her, looked at my rib eye, then looked back at her with aReally?face, but she smiled and what could I do but eat the stupid thing?

While we filled our bellies, Clem explained our plan to Amanda and Kyo. It was good and made sense, but I wished I could call Hank. He’d been in his fair share of tight situations and could bring fresh eyes to this one.

“What does shift mean?” Gemma nudged my arm with her elbow.

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