Resurrection (28 page)

Eli said. “You. That kid needs a father and you need a husband, and seeing as how all the competition seems to have disappeared…”

Nicole slapped him, and Eli grinned. Anne-Louise shook her head. That was one marriage that was going to be turbulent. However, she could tell that there was genuine affection there and she saw hope for what Eli could become in time.

“And what of the House of Cathers?” Anne-Louise asked, looking pointedly at Amanda.

Amanda flushed. “Actually, it's the house of Nagai.” She laced her fingers through Tommy's.

Tommy smiled at his bride. “We want our home to be a sanctuary for all who need it. A kind of safe haven for those who practice magic.”

“And those who love them,” Amanda said pointedly.

“I think that's a wonderful idea,” Anne-Louise said. “I hope that we can send some of our covenates to you from time to time.”

“Of course,” Amanda reassured her.

“But not for a couple of months,” Tommy hastened to add. “Amanda and I are planning on a real long, real private honeymoon.”

“And a well-deserved one at that,” Anne-Louise said. “I believe you should spend your first year in partial isolation while you adjust to each other and your new life. At the end of that time, I'll be in touch.”

“It's a deal,” Amanda said.

 

While the others talked, Richard stood off by himself, watching. Everyone had something or someone. Everyone except himself and Pablo.

Pablo turned to look at him and then quietly got
up and walked over to stand next to him. Richard studied the boy. He was so young and he had lost so much. He would need someone to look out for him. He wasn't likely to follow Armand and join the priesthood, and both his daughters already had their hands full. He smiled to himself. As much as he loved having daughters, he'd always wished he could have had a son, someone to take fishing.

“Canada,” he said to Pablo. “There's some beautiful land up there, wild, unspoiled. And I know some great places to fish.”

Pablo hugged him hard, and Richard's heart ached for the boy. No real family, no chance to be just a kid. He'd make sure that changed. “I was thinking, if it would be okay with you, I'd like to make it official, adopt you legally.”

“Will there be a lot of fishing?” Pablo asked, his voice uncertain.

“All the fishing you can stand…son.”

And then they were both crying.

 

It was nearly time to go. Holly could feel the other Justices pulling at her mind. She saw now that she had been meant to come, meant to change things…meant to understand that there was a Greater Power than the Horned God and the Goddess. Now she could truly serve the One as the Head of the Justices, their leader.
And to think that less than three years before, she hadn't even known she was a witch.

She stretched out her hand. Even though she couldn't see Jer, she could feel his presence. The touch of his hand sent delicious shivers through her. So much death and loss. But they were together now, and in her heart she knew that it had all been worth it.

“I have a lot to make up to you for what a moron I've been,” Jer whispered in her ear.

“Yes, you do,” she said back.

He kissed her, and the promise in that kiss made her sigh.

 

As Holly and Jer made to leave, Nicole and Amanda bid them good-bye. Nicole's throat was tight and her eyes burned with tears, but she knew it was the best thing. And with Holly looking out for the world, things would be much better.

Once they had gone, Derek approached Amanda and Nicole and pulled them off to the side to speak with them.

“Is this about the will?” Nicole demanded. “Because as you can see, I'm not dead.”

“Actually, you were dead. And Amanda—”

Amanda huffed at him. “I already told her I had you use that family finder's spell so that we could contact Holly.”

Nicole smiled. Comrade-in-arms or no, Amanda was just never going to like Derek. Maybe it had nothing to do with the fact that he was a warlock. Maybe she just had a thing against lawyers.

“Well, about that, there is something that I did want to discuss with you girls.”

“What is it?” Nicole asked.

Derek took a breath. “I did perform the family finder's spell, and when it's cast, it looks for family…all family.”

“And?” Amanda asked.

He moved his shoulders as if to soften the news. “There are other Cathers out there.”

Nicole shared a stunned glance with her sister.

“I guess the question is, do you want to find them?” Derek asked intently.

Nicole looked again at Amanda and then back at Derek. She shook her head. “Definitely not.”

And then she sighed, and braced herself. After all, family…was family.

In the Forever Time, Restored

In the eternal greenwood, just outside the Temple of the Justices, the dawn rose like a miracle, and blessings sparkled on grass and leaf like dew. To the trilling of larks, the lord and his lady rode their magnificent stallions, side by side. Pandion alighted on Holly's arm,
and Fantasme's bells jingled as he soared high among silvery clouds, piercing the sunbeams, then circled back around to land on Jer's shoulder.

For a span of heartbeats, for several revolutions of the planet, the balance was safe—at least long enough for a morning ride. As the horses chuffed, the magical falcon and the enchanted hawk lofted from master and mistress and flew together to their nest. There, three tiny nestlings chirped for their breakfast, and the proud father and sweet mother set about caring for their young.

Jer smiled at his one true love. And Holly, though she could see nothing, saw Jer's smile. She reached out a hand and traced his cheek, her fingers marveling at the smooth, unlined skin. Her love had taken away his scars.

Love is blind,
she thought.
Love sees all. Oh, Jer Deveraux, I love you with all my heart, and with all my soul. And I will love you forever.

“What are you thinking about?” His voice was soft and gentle. Happy.

“What do you think?” she replied.

 

Jer brought his horse closer to Holly's, and he leaned from the saddle. He gathered her up, and kissed her with all the joy and passion the universe could summon.

Then something shimmered, something happened,
and light blazed across his face. Holly's head was wreathed in golden light, and behind her, on a hill, sat a shining castle. Its spires and turrets gleamed in the rosy morning, and he heard flutes and drums, and smelled cooking meat.

“A gift, in thanks.”
It was the Justices. He caught his breath.

Holly said, “I heard it too.”

“Take your ease,”
they said,
“and then, return.”

Jer settled her in front of him on his saddle and they cantered toward the castle. Pandion and Fantasme urged their chicks to flight, and all followed the lovers…

…to Scarborough Fair.

Remember me…

…Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.