43. Chapter 43
43
B astian and I sat at the kitchen island together, Bastian scarfing down the breakfast burritos on the plate in front of him like they were the last ones in the world, while I picked at mine. I knew I should eat. There was no telling what we would face in the Sun Keep, and I would need my strength for the swim out, if for nothing else, but nerves twisted my stomach into knots and banished my appetite. I just hoped all the immortal blood I had taken in the last few hours would sustain me—because as far as my stomach was concerned, the breakfast burrito wasn’t even food.
Gavin and Ash were gathering the small team of guardian vampires who would accompany us and making the final preparations for our rescue mission.
A shimmering mist appeared on the opposite side of the island, and I gave up all pretense of eating as I watched Wes coalesce into his semiopaque silver form. I sat up straighter, and beside me, Bastian lowered a half-eaten breakfast burrito onto his plate and peered around the kitchen.
“It’s Wes,” I murmured.
Bastian became very still, his attention locking onto the place where the ghost stood a few feet away despite the fact that he couldn’t actually see Wes.
Once Wes’s form had gained definition, he grinned at me. “Micah’s waking up, Soph,” he said excitedly. “I know you’re about to leave, but I thought maybe you could introduce us before—”
“Of course!” I blurted, pushing my stool back and standing. I took three steps, stopping when I heard the scrape of Bastian’s stool legs on the floor behind me. “You should stay here,” I told him, turning partway to find Bastian starting to stand. “Finish eating. Micah’s awake. I’m just going to see how he’s doing.” I smiled giddily and glanced at Wes, who was rounding the end of the island, then looked back at Bastian. “I’ll be fine.”
Only when Bastian eased back down onto his stool, his expression uneasy, did I turn away from him and continue out of the kitchen. Wes fell in step beside me, and his hand found mine, our fingers lacing together like he hadn’t died two decades ago. Like we were still those lost kids who found a home in each other.
A thrill rushed through me. Wes was really here. Dead, but not.
“That is so fucking weird,” I heard Bastian murmur as Wes and I left the kitchen.
I glanced sideways at Wes as we entered the hallway to the front of the house. “Don’t mind Bas,” I told him. “He’s just looking out for me.”
“I know,” Wes said, squeezing my hand. “You’re brighter than you were before.”
My eyebrows rose, and my lips twitched. “I’m assuming you don’t mean that I suddenly got smarter?”
Wes shook his head, his lips curving into a crooked smile. “You have a glow, like an inner glow,” he explained. “I couldn’t see it until, well, you know, I died. It faded over the years until it was barely perceptible, but after you first met Gavin at the club, you shone brighter than I had ever seen you. But now . . .” He scanned me. “You’re like the sun compared to a candle.” Again, he shook his head. “It’s the vampires, isn’t it? Their blood?”
My cheeks burned, and I stared ahead, thinking about what exactly was responsible for my inner glow . “Immortal blood,” I clarified, not looking at him. “So, Bas counts, too.” I cleared my throat. “Exactly how much did my sister tell you about my, uh, needs? ”
“Everything,” Amaya chirped from my other side.
I jumped about a foot off the floor and scrambled sideways into the hallway wall, pulling my hand from Wes’s in the process.
My permanently pubescent sister giggled. “He knows all about the sex, the blood, and the rock and roll,” she said, punctuating the last with a series of lewd hip thrusts. The sight was both disturbing and comical, but mostly it was just mortifying.
I buried my face in my hands and huddled against the wall, hiding from both of them.
“Soph,” Wes said, his voice soft. “It’s what you are.” His fingers curled around my wrists, and he pulled my hands away from my face. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’m not mad or anything, if that’s what you’re worried about. You’ve been fading— dying— for years, but now that you have what you need, it’s like you’re more alive than ever. How could I be bothered by that?” After a moment’s hesitation, he added, “I just wish there was a way for me to be a part of it, too.”
My blush flamed hotter at the thought, and I wished he wasn’t holding my wrists so I could hide again. “Me too,” I whispered, my heart hammering. Wes was technically immortal now, I supposed, but he didn’t have a physical body, which meant he didn’t have the blood I required. Much as I wanted him in my harem, it was impossible.
With a sigh, Wes released my wrists and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in for one of his trademark bearhugs. His touch was charged, like a faint current ran through him, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. He kissed the top of my head, then replaced his lips with his cheek. “Let’s go see our boy,” he breathed.
Tears welled in my eyes. Our boy . Those words spoken in his voice were enough to undo me completely. I nodded, still wrapped up in his hold.
Wes pulled back, releasing me, and reclaimed my hand. Behind him, Amaya mimed making out with the back of her hand. I rolled my eyes at her, and she giggled. And then, in a blink, she vanished.
I sniffled and wiped under my eyes. Wes and I walked the rest of the way in silence, and when we reached the foyer, I let go of his hand. “Let me talk to him first,” I said, my voice hushed. “I don’t want to give him a heart attack.”
“Course,” Wes said, hanging back even though it was unnecessary. Micah wouldn’t be able to see Wes unless I was touching him.
I paused a few steps from the doorway to the infirmary, took a deep breath, then continued on.
Micah was propped up in his recovery bed while Greta, the vampire healer, stood at his bedside, measuring his blood pressure.
“Sophie,” Micah said, glancing at the vampire beside him, then refocusing on me. “I didn’t die.” His lips curved into that boyish grin he had inherited from Wes. “I thought I was a goner for sure, but . . .”
Relief flooded me, and I smiled shakily, tears welling anew. “No, you didn’t die,” I agreed. “How’s he doing?” I asked Greta.
She removed the blood pressure cuff with a rip of velcro, her lips curving into a warm smile. “His vitals look great,” she said. “Another few days of rest, and he’ll be good as new.” She placed the cuff on the counter, then started for the door. “I’ll give you two a moment.”
I nodded to Greta as she passed, then approached Micah’s bed, only hesitating for a moment before gathering his hand in both of mine. “I’m so, so glad you’re okay,” I told him.
“Me too,” he said.
“Micah,” I started, the words feeling too thick for my throat. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
“Oh, yeah?” Micah glanced around the room, despite it seemingly being just the two of us.
I nodded and met his trusting stare. “Do you remember when we were in the elevator heading down to that basement and I saw my sister?”
“The ghost?” he clarified.
I nodded, licking my lips. “Well, it turns out she’s not the only ghost who’s been hanging around me.”
Micah’s brows rose. “Oh?”
“The, um, photo you found in my wallet . . .” My voice caught.
“Of you and your boyfriend when you were teenagers?”
I nodded. “Of me and your dad ,” I said. “His name is Wes.” I glanced toward the doorway as Wes entered the room. “And he’s here,” I added, holding my hand out for Wes to take.
“Holy shit!” Micah exclaimed the moment Wes’s hand touched mine. Micah shifted on his bed so he could sit up straighter. “ Holy shit ,” he repeated, staring at Wes, who now stood beside me, holding my hand.
“I’ve been watching you,” Wes said, then cringed. “That sounded way less creepy in my head.”
I gave his fingers a squeeze and offered him an encouraging nod and smile.
Wes cleared his throat. “What I meant was, I was there when you were born, and I watched over you as you grew up. Made sure the Mitchels treated you right.”
“They did,” Micah said. “They do .”
Wes nodded. “I know.” His lips curved into a shaky smile. “And I’m— –we’re so glad that you have a great family.” Wes’s chin trembled, his composure cracking. “If things had been different, if I hadn’t been so stupid and gotten myself killed, I think we could have been a great family too, but . . .” Wes bowed his head, choking on his words. His shoulders jumped with silent sobs.
I squeezed his hand tighter but kept my attention on Micah, who wasn’t looking much better than Wes, with tears streaming down his cheeks. “We never left you,” I said, my voice thick. “We couldn’t take care of you, but we loved you the best we could, considering.” I screwed up my face and took a shuddering breath. “I hope you know that.”
Micah let out a coughing sob and curled forward, burying his face in his hands. He had been so strong through all the insane revelations so far, but apparently this was the one that broke him. I dropped onto the edge of his bed and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him closer. A moment later, Wes did the same, embracing us both.
For most of my life, I had felt alone. I had lost everyone who mattered—my mom and sister, my guardian, my boyfriend, and my son. But suddenly, I was reclaiming those lost pieces of myself. Those lost people. Micah knew me. Amaya and Wes were with me. And there was a good chance that soon, I would have Javier back as well.
I held onto my family— my family— and silently thanked the goddess above for helping me find my way home.