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Authors: Victoria Danann

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“Raider,” she said shaking her head.

She pulled out her phone and made another call. “I’m home. Will is back. He’s staying. Let everybody know.” Pause. “I’m not sure, but it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we’re having a party the last day of this month.” Pause. “Okay. Call Mom first. Bye.”

I walked around the end of the Jeep and allowed her to kiss me stupid.

“Welcome home.” She smiled.

I rested my forehead against hers. “This is home. Right here.”

She put her finger to my lips. “Where’s my chicken breast?”

“Safe and sound.”

“I’m eating. Then I’m taking a bath. I’ve been camping for days.”

I sat on the floor next to the tub where Ravish was soaking. It was pure torture, but when it comes to my prize, I’m a glutton for punishment.

I said, “What do you think happens after we die?”

“I think our spirits go to Summerland.”

“What if spirits don’t leave?”

“It’s unfortunate, but it happens sometimes.”

“Is there any way to, I don’t know, help a spirit leave? I’ve read about it being done.”

“Yes. Sometimes. Prissy might be able to do it. Why?”

“Deck Durbin’s ghost. He tried really hard to stop me from leaving. As part of making amends, I’d like to help him move on. I think what he wants is to be where Pleasant is. He says hell is living without her, knowing he’ll never see her again.”

She smiled. “That’s pretty romantic, Will.”

I shrugged. “I just know how it feels to be separated from the person you love. I can’t imagine being in that state for centuries.”

She splashed water on her throat and said, “Okay. I’ll call her. Leave so I can get out of the tub.”

“No.”

“What do you mean no?”

“You said no sleeping with you until the forever ceremony. You didn’t say no looking.” She laughed. “You also didn’t say no fucking.”

“So you’re a lawyer now?”

I shook my head. “No. Just a very horny guy who’s desperately in love with you.”

“You’re really staying?”

“Till death and even then I hope we’re not parted.”

She grabbed my shirt and pulled me into the tub with her where she proceeded to make major compromises on what constituted ‘sleeping’ before All Hallows.

On October thirty-first, we had a party at our house for close friends and family. I swore on my honor, my soul, and my love for Ravish, that wild horses and mad demons could not drag me away from her again. Not in this life or the next. I give thanks every day that she believed me.

EPIOLOGUE

The first time Simon saw me after I came back he punched me in the face. He didn’t break my nose, but he did split my lip. I hadn’t realized our friendship meant so much to him.

The ritual to send Derbin’s ghost to the hereafter became a community-wide event. Not everybody could see him, but those of us who could agreed that he left smiling.

As for me, I was a very enthusiastic participant in the next year’s Orientation video. I finished my degree at U.T. Now I do guest lectures on paranormal studies.

A few years later I became mayor of Wimberley. You might say I’m the colony’s most devoted resident. I spend every day trying to make sure that Rave never regrets giving me another chance.

Among other things, I changed my mind about children. We have a beautiful daughter named Mistral and another on the way. Who knew that the sexiest thing in the world is seeing your woman’s belly swell with your progeny? Damn. We may have a big, big family.

Yes. We visit Fairhope a couple of times a year.

Yes. My mother got a Porsche Spyder Boxster for Mother’s Day, custom painted her signature turquoise. She’s the best. The very best.

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