Intertwined

She nodded. With a whimper, she threw herself back into Eve’s arms. The tears were flowing freely now, burning her skin. She had what most people could only dream of: a second chance. A second chance to love, to apologize. “I’m so sorry I killed you. It was my fault. I drained you, stopped you from using your ability.”

“Oh, sweet baby, no. Don’t ever think that.” Eve ran her hands down Mary A

“He was always a good man. Don’t be too hard on him for keeping me a secret. I was a difficult part of his life. And a good one.” A grin. “We would lie outside for hours, gazing up at the stars, holding each other close.”

Mary A

“The best. He is a treasure, that one. Anyone else would have crumbled thanks to what we put him through, but he managed to flourish. Now, enough about me and the kid for the moment. I want to talk about you. I want to know everything.”

They chatted for hours, laughing, crying some more, never letting go of each other. Eventually the sun cast bright rays inside the room. Neither Riley nor Victoria had moved from their places on the beds. They hadn’t spoken, either, and Mary A

She’d never been as happy as she was at that moment, hearing about her mother’s childhood and talking about her own. They lay on the bed, in each other’s arms, breathing each other in. She didn’t want their time together to end. In fact, she no longer saw Aden when she looked at “the body.” She saw Eve, with long dark hair, sharp cheekbones, a small nose and a heart-shaped mouth. An illusion of her own making, most likely, but she didn’t care.

Eve smoothed a strand of hair from Mary A

“And now we’ve had that,” Mary A

Eve returned the grin with another hug. “Now we have.”

“And the wonderful thing is, there’s so much more we can do! So much more we will do. Sure, Aden will look fu

Eve had lost her smile, had even closed her eyes. “What’s happening?” she asked, and at first Mary A

“What’s going on?” Mary A

“I love you, Mary A

“You plan to go back inside his head, right?” she asked desperately. “You’ll still be there. We can still talk.”

“I’m so sorry, angel. I’m…leaving the body. I can already feel myself separating. Aden, honey,” she said, closing her eyes, “you have to let go. I love you, but this is right. This is how it’s supposed to happen. I realize that now. You gave me back my daughter, granted my last wish, and now I’m giving you that which should have always belonged to you. You.”

Another of those pauses.

“Aden, my sweet boy. You’ll be fine without me. I know you will. You’re strong and smart and all a mother could desire in her son. I will miss you more than I can ever say. All I ask is that you take care of my angel.”

“Eve. Mom!” Mary A

Those lashes flicked open once more, and Eve reached out, touching her face, smiling gently. “I love you so much. You are the best thing I ever did, my greatest joy, and my only reason for living. I will cherish you always. Please don’t forget that.” She pulled Mary A

“No. No!” Mary A

Victoria was suddenly there, moving so quickly she couldn’t see her, pushing her back. “You will not hurt him,” the vampire said, hovering protectively over Aden’s body.

Her gaze moved back to Aden. Aden…no longer Eve.

He sat up in a rush, gaze as wild as hers, a tormented “No” screaming from his lips. “Eve! Can you hear me? Eve! You have to come back. I thought I wanted to be free but I was wrong. I was wrong. I need you.”

Mary A

Finally, his shoulders slumped and he dropped his head into his upright hands.

“She’s gone. She’s really gone.”

CHAPTER 23

A week later

Aden walked through the forest, flanked by Victoria, Mary A

Everything had changed the night Eve had left him. Afterward, they’d driven to the houses his and Mary A

So, after that, they had driven to St. Mary’s. With some finessing Victoria and Riley were able to get a printout of all the people who died the day of Aden’s birth. A list of fifty-three people, many of whom had perished in a bus collision that day.

The list had been in his possession this entire week, but he couldn’t seem to make himself care. Depression had settled heavily on his shoulders. He missed Eve, wanted her back.

Which was silly. He had the answers he’d been searching for all these years. The people inside his head had been ghosts, all killed on the day of his birth. He could free the remaining three now, had always thought he wanted to be alone, but being without Eve made him feel empty. And all too soon, if he figured out who Julian, Elijah and Caleb were and what their last wishes had been, he would be without them, too.

They deserved freedom, their dreams coming true, and so did he, but…This was too hard! Even the other souls missed Eve. They’d been quieter than usual. Something he would have thought he’d enjoy. Until now.