“I was so freaked-out when I first got here that I never got the chance to thank you.” I looked at him. “So, thank you, Lupin. For everything. This has been the best month of my life.”
“Does this mean you want to stay?”
“I think you already know the answer.”
He smiled. “There are no certainties, only probabilities. I hoped you’d come to see this land as your home. Your presence will better the lives of many people here, just as they will better yours.”
My chin wobbled as I focused back on the pond. A tiny frog leapt off a lily pad, causing a littlebloopin the water. “I do see this as my home.”
“Even if it means saying goodbye to your old life for good?”
“Yeah. I mean, this is a big decision. Knowing I can’t ever return, the finality of it, is kinda scary. But what scares me more? Never seeing Briar’s smile again or hearing Maddox laugh. Never holding them again. But it’s more than that too.” I forced words past the burning in my throat. “I’d miss Callum and the knights. I’d miss playing with Kuya and having tea with Sawyer. I’ve come to care about so many people here and would be devastated to leave them.”
I thought of Lake, too, with his sad purple eyes. I barely knew him but felt tied to him as well. Just as I was tied to all the other people who’d come into my life.
“I’m exactly where I want to be,” I said. “Can I ask a question though?”
“Of course,” he said.
“What will happen in my old world? Am I a missing person? I don’t have many friends, but I don’t want Jonah worrying about me.”
Lupin’s smile turned a bit sad. “Your decision to stay here set things into motion. Anyone who’s ever met you will soon forget you existed. Every memory of you will be erased.”
“Wow. That’s kind of depressing.” But it was for the best. If no one remembered I existed, they couldn’t miss me.
“Does this change your mind?” he asked.
“No.” I touched the center of my chest. “This is where I wanna be.”
“My work here is done, then.” Lupin offered me a kind smile. “Enjoy this life to the fullest, Evan. Don’t let a single moment go to waste.”
“I won’t.” I watched as he pulled out a silver pocket watch. “Is that how you travel between realms?”
“Perhaps.” He cocked his head at me. “Is there something else you wish to ask me before I go?”
Damn, he was good. Or maybe I was just obvious.
“You mentioned once that I’d have multiple lovers here.” Saying those words aloud sounded so freaking weird.
“Five,” he said. “Briar, Maddox, and three others.”
“Is Lake one of them?” I asked.
“Do you wish for him to be?”
“I don’t know.” And I really didn’t. “I’m happy with Briar and Maddox.”
When Lupin smiled again, there was a touch of mystery to it. “As I said earlier, there are no certainties. Every choice you make will lead you down one path or cause you to veer away from it. Allow me to give you a word of caution though. One of the three other males meant to love you also has an alternate, less favorable path with which you are bound.”
“What do you mean?”
Lupin’s expression shadowed. “He will either love you… or be the cause of your death.”
“Wait. What?” I squeaked. “My death? One of them is going to kill me? Which one? When will I know? What the hell, Lupin?”
“Calm down,” he said.
“You want me to calm down? You just said one of my potential future lovers isgoing to kill me.”
