Chapter Thirty-Six - Home #3
“It was shortsighted for sure, but I thought I had many more years left in me.” He turned to look out the window.
“You know how it goes, what we plan versus what happens. I thought I’d be spending these years with her mother, but that is not the case.
Still, I want to retire, take time to enjoy life and the vast opportunities of the universe before I expire. ”
“I can understand that.” It was exactly why I left Kinasha. The plan I had no longer fit the updated vision for my life.
“So will you do it?” He turned back to me. “I know it is a big ask, even with my helping you take space in the Bane.”
“We’ll have to figure out how that looks. I won’t be living in the Bane full time anymore, but I think I can work something out with Cufio.” I sighed when I said his name. “So we can monitor and guide her together.”
He clapped. “Wonderful!”
“It really is. Now, I’m going to be gone for a while, so I’ll leave that up to you and Cufio to get her on board with.” I peered at him through my brow. “Because I’m sure you left her out on the planning portion of this. Did you even tell her she would be sharing her role with the Shadow Walker?”
He scratched the back of his neck. “I thought it would be better coming from both of us. You won’t stay to help me convince her?”
“Klougus, I know your daughter. I won’t waste my breath.” I stood. “Have her up to speed before I return. Thanks.”
Shontae
I never imagined I would ever be picking pixie dust flakes out of my hair at two in the morning, but there I was.
Jackie was a damn trip. After we finished putting those psychopathic creatures back in their place, she and Rayna decided it was time for the oddest food combination I could ever think of: sushi and tacos.
And when that was done, Jericha’s shadow man, who I had yet to meet, popped over some of the most delicious pink glazed donuts.
After we stuffed ourselves and laughed about what happened, the women grabbed their things and headed for the door.
“I swear, they had no clue what came over them. That mood stabilizer is really going to come in handy!” Jackie clapped. “Shontae, you win the prize ribbon tonight.”
“Hey, I blew that girl's hat off without burning her hair! Doesn’t that count for something?” Whitney pretended to be offended but couldn’t hold her mask and burst out laughing.
They stumbled out the door, but I pulled Rayna to the side before she could leave.
“Rayna, can you hang around for a second?” I asked. “I wanted to run something by you.”
“Yes, of course.” She raised her voice to the others. “Go ahead without me.”
“We’ll meet you back at the hotel?” Jericha asked.
“Yep!” She waved goodbye to them and turned back to me. “What’s going on?”
“This is a lot to ask, but I was wondering… If someone wanted to take a trip, you know, to visit a location a plane couldn’t get them to, would you be willing to take them?”
“You want to visit Likosa?” She perked up. “I have been waiting for you to ask! Girl, what took so long?”
“Yes, I do. If you are open to taking me.” I took a swig of the beer and frowned at the taste. “I miss her, Rayna, and I regret not telling her I wanted to make it work.”
“When do you want to go? We can go now.” She looked around. “I’ll clean up, and you can go take a shower. Get all that pixie dust out of your hair. Oh, she’s going to be so surprised to see you!”
“Seriously?” I brushed more of those colorful flakes from my hair. “I mean, I would need to get myself together. I think—”
The doorbell had us snapping our heads to the front of the house.
“You think your crazy neighbor is back?” she laughed. “Sorry, Tayvion told me all about her.”
“According to Cadence, she’s still in lockdown. Damn shame.” I sighed. “Maybe one of the girls left something behind.”
Rayna followed me to the door, and I opened it expecting Whitney or Jericha, but a tall, leggy creature with pink eyes stared at me.
“I’m just gonna pop on out.” Rayna tapped my shoulder and vanished before I could look back at her.
“Likosa?” I had to catch my breath. “What are you doing here?”
“Correcting my mistake.” She smiled. “May I come in?”
“Of course,” I stepped aside. “What mistake?”
“I shouldn’t have let you walk away without telling you how I felt,” she said as I closed the door.
“Oh?”
Be quiet, girl. Let her take the lead!
“For over a century, I searched for a path back home, never considering that the definition of the word had changed. Once I got there, and the thrill of success wore off, I realized Kinasha is no longer my home.” She stepped over to me and picked a piece of pixie dust from my hair, blowing it away before wrapping her arm around my waist. “The Bane is no longer my home, not entirely.”
“Where is your home now?” My breath hitched as I asked the question.
“My home isn’t a place.” She leaned in, lips close to mine. “It’s a person. It’s you, Shontae. You are my home, and I want to come home. If you will allow it.”
Well damn!
“Welcome home, Likosa.”
A smile touched her lips, and I kissed her. I was her home, and she was mine. When our lips met, I felt so much joy in knowing it wouldn’t be the last time.
“How will this work? What about your daughter?” I asked when I pulled away from her lips.
“I’ll explain that later.” She smiled. “Now, I just want to take you to bed.”
“I’m covered in pixie dust.” I giggled; I couldn’t believe Likosa made me giggle.
“Time for a shower.” She ran her fingers along my jaw and teased my ear. “I’ll get that water just right for you.”
Likosa followed me up to my bathroom, and she did, in fact, get the water just right.
Over and over again.
The end.