Author: Sophie Jordan

“I’m fine. Cassian and I were just saying good-bye.” I look back over my shoulder. “He won’t be here in the morning.” I know this without being told directly. I feel it. He’d been waiting for me to come. Waiting to say his final good-bye.

Will looks over my shoulder, peering at Cassian’s quiet house. A breeze stirs, and the swing rocks on the porch. “He’s going?”

“Yes.” I take Will’s hand. His long fingers wrap around mine. “He’ll be okay,” I say, believing it. Cassian will find what he needs. Elsewhere.

I start to walk, but Will makes me stop and face him. “Are you okay?” His brow creases with concern.

I lean forward and smooth out the lines on his forehead before sliding both my hands along his cheeks, holding his face tenderly between my palms. “It’s finally done. We’re free.” At last. “We can go anywhere.” I press my mouth to his, kiss him with everything, all that I am—until that familiar heat builds up in my core and I feel ready to burst from my skin. I pull back and say huskily against his lips, “I’m more than okay.”

He hauls me back and kisses me and I don’t need a bond to sense if he’s okay.

I know he is. We both are.

The ocean is a gentle rush in my ears as I walk hand in hand with Will. In my other hand, the straps of my sandals dangle from my fingers. The rolled hems of my jeans chafe the back of my knees.

“You sure this is it?”

I hold my arm up over my face, shoes swinging. The setting sun paints the air a magnificent pink-orange, so bright it hurts my eyes. Several rock structures dot the coastline. For a moment, I see myself here years ago, running with my sister, Dad and Mom following at a slower pace, holding hands and enjoying watching us as we dart into the rolling surf. Tamra loses a flip-flop and shrieks, splashing into the ocean to retrieve it.

I grin at the memory and let it warm me. “Yes. I’m sure.”

Will squeezes my hand.

We continue on, my feet sinking into the sand. I walk a steady line even with the dense sand pulling at me. Anticipation trips through me as I scan the shoreline, hoping she’s here. That I’m not wrong. I’ve waited a long time for this. If she isn’t here, I’ll just keep looking until I find her.

In the meantime Will and I have each other. And all the time in the world for moments like this—the two of us walking together on a beach. Without fear of tomorrow. Without any question of who we are or what we want.

I spot a woman ahead on the beach, her hair partially covered with a purple bandana. The wavy ends lift on the wind like dancing flames as she stares out at the sea. She hugs herself as she gazes resolutely ahead, searching for something in those gold-cast waters and descending sun.

I stop beneath the shadow of one of the rock formations and follow her gaze, staring at the sun sinking into the ocean. My chest tightens. It’s a beautiful sight.

“There she is.” Will squeezes my arm. “Come on.”

I nod, watching her another moment, almost afraid to call out, afraid she might disappear like in my dreams. “Mom!”

She turns to face me with a suddenness that tells me she’s been waiting for me. She knew I would come.

I lace my fingers with Will’s. Our palms press flush against each other and I can feel the beat of his heart thumping in rhythm with mine.

“Let’s go,” I declare, stepping out from the shadows and into the light.