Page 52 of Touched By Destiny

One chilly morning he’d stood shivering and crying as she wept. He’d squeezed his eyes shut, clenched his fists, and a burst of magic had flown out of him. The shimmery silver portal had opened a few feet away, and before Eric could investigate, his ghost granny had slipped through it. Curious, Eric had tried to follow her, but he couldn’t. His limbs had passed through it as if it didn’t exist.

Eric had often wondered through the years if the spirits would be able to hear him if he channeled his voice through the portal, but he didn’t want to bother them. They were at peace. Or so he hoped. There was no way to tell. But if they were with their loved ones, they didn’t need some snooping necromancer disturbing their long-sought reunion with their families.

As the car he sat in with Gabriel rolled to the curb a mile from the spot where he’d first met Connor, his emotions were torn. Nothing would stop him from opening a portal for Connor, but he’d miss him. And he wasn’t looking forward to opening himself up yet again. The last thing he wanted was to be distracted while he was trying to work on his relationship with his soulmate.

Gabriel turned to him and smiled. “Ready?”

“Yeah,” Eric said, tearing away at his magical shield to allow Connor to communicate with him unhindered.

“Is he here?”

Eric slid out of the car after Gabriel and caught sight of a pensive man wringing his ghostly hands. “Yes.”

“Eric,” Connor said, rushing to his side.

Taking a deep breath, Eric focused intently on Gabriel’s face and was warmed by the concern in his green eyes. It wouldn’t be easy to say goodbye to Connor, but he’d never be happy stuck on the street alone.

“Connor, how are you feeling?”

“I’m sorry I left so abruptly yesterday,” Connor said, bowing his head. “I was always frightened of death. My entire life, I tried to deny that it would happen to me. Even after I lost Blake, I refused to face reality. I don’t remember dying. Why don’t I remember?”

“I’m not sure,” Eric replied. “Some of the spirits I’ve met can recall the moments leading up to their death, but few can remember the actual moment their body ceased to work. The important thing is that your soul survives. Your life isn’t over. Everyone who has passed before you is waiting for you. Blake is probably wondering where his partner is, and I’m sure he’d love to be with you.”

“You can really help me get back to him?”

“Yes.”

A tingle raced across the skin of his hand, and his mark of destiny glowed silver as he conjured up a shimmery portal that stood a half a foot taller than Gabriel’s six-foot-two frame.

“How do you know this is safe?” Connor asked, edging closer to the portal humming with magical energy.

Honesty was important to Eric, so he refused to prevaricate. “I don’t. But every ghost I’ve helped has smiled asthey’ve passed. Their spirit sparks brightly with a rainbow of colors, and each time I get filled with love and happiness. I believe it’s what you’ll feel as you cross, and you somehow share it with me.”

“Why do you do this?” Connor asked. “Why do you find ghosts like me and help us?”

“Because I enjoy it. I was granted gifts at birth. I refuse to waste them.”

“Not every necro can do this?”

“No, they call me destiny-touched.” Eric flexed his hand, and a shadow of a smile crossed his face as his gaze landed on the radiant skull on his skin. “I was born with this mark. Each year, it grows more intricate as my power develops. The roses started after the first spirit crossed through my portal.”

“They’re beautiful.”

“Thank you, I can’t look at them without thinking of all the wonderful ghosts I’ve met. People like you. You’ve enriched my life, Connor, and I want nothing more than for you to be with your partner again. You don’t deserve to be stuck here alone.”

“I’d worry about abandoning you, but I’ve seen the way you and your guard watch each other. Is Gabriel your partner?”

“Connor wants to know if you’re my partner,” Eric told Gabriel.

Gabriel grinned and winked. “Yes, I am.”

It was easy to admit that to a ghost they’d never see again after today, but Eric was still pleased Gabriel had said it aloud for the universe to hear.

“I hope you two have a wonderful life together. Just as I had with Blake,” Connor said, clasping his hands together. “I can’t believe I can see him again.”

“Step through the portal; you’ve been apart long enough.”

“I’ll miss you, Eric. Thank you for everything.”

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