Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 139178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Five hundred years ago, Zoe had seen the memory box, realized how precious the contents were to Elena…and turned up a year later with exact copies of both the gauntlets and the blades. “I know it’s not the same,” Sara and Deacon’s adored only child had said, “but I thought you might like having them to use…and it makes me happy to remember Mom and Dad through this.”
She’d been hesitant that day, Sara’s baby girl who had grown into a tough and confident woman. Dark eyes, curls that had been streaked bronze and black at the time, long limbs and skin of warm brown, Zoe had been dressed in a sleeveless leather vest and leather pants, her only jewelry a miniature dagger that hung from one ear—and the bracelets of hammered metal that were a memory of her parents.
She’d looked exactly like the badass she was.
That badass had brought Elena to tears—and cried along with her as Elena whispered, “They’re perfect,” of items that carried as much love as the originals.
So it was that every time Zoe saw that Elena was wearing down the gifts, she renewed the blades and gauntlets both, a continuous line of love and friendship from Elena’s mortal life.
Last time around, Zoe had smiled and said, “Dad would be so proud I can make these to his standards time after time. He was a tough weapons-maker to apprentice under, you know. Five percent off on the balance wasn’t good enough.”
An affectionate grin. “But when I got it right, he’d say ‘that’s my girl’ and I’d just beam—because I knew Dad never, ever just said that. He meant it.”
“You’re still doing him proud, Zoe.”
“I know, Aunt Ellie.” A cheeky smile that was very much a remnant of the little girl she’d been—a delightful part of Zoe that most people would never see, because they’d only ever known her as a dangerously competent adult.
“Just like I know that Mom would be delighted that we’re still so close,” Zoe had added. “She always said that as long as you were in the world, I’d have family to call on, no matter what.”
Elena and Sara had spent many a night talking about Zoe’s future after Zoe was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that had meager odds of survival even with the most rigorous treatment. Vampirism had been her only option if she was to live longer than a year at the most.
The transition would preserve her in amber while she was still in good health, the disease inside her a stealthy predator—the only reason Zoe had even been diagnosed was because she’d had to undergo a complete physical prior to getting a berth as a sailor on a round-the-world yacht.
It was to have been her first big adult adventure.
Sara had never pushed Zoe to choose vampirism, never wanted guilt over her parents’ grief to play a role in her daughter’s decision. But she’d broken down to Elena. “I don’t want to watch my baby die, Ellie.” A voice raw with tears. “I want her to have the chance to grow into the glorious creature she’s meant to be.”
“If she decides to be Made, I’ll take care of her.” Her own heart breaking, Elena had held Sara’s hand tight. “I’ll treat her like she’s my own daughter.”
“I know.” Sara’s grip had been bruising. “She’ll never be alone, not with you there.”
Elena hadn’t told Zoe any of that—that was and would always be between Elena and her best friend. To Zoe, she’d just muttered, “Sara told me she’d haunt me if I didn’t look after you.”
Zoe’s laughter was a thing of pure joy. “If only she knew that I had to escape New York to get out from under your overprotective eyes!” A huge hug from the side that took the sting out of the words. “Love you, Aunt Ellie. Thanks for being my port in any storm.”
“I take being haunted by Sara very seriously.” In truth, she’d be glad to see her best friend even as a ghost.
“Nah, you’re safe. She’s too busy hanging out with Dad.”
Zoe had always handled her grief far better than Elena—and in doing so, Sara’s daughter—Elena’s goddaughter—had showed Elena the path forward.
“They’re happy beyond the veil.” A warm acceptance in Zoe’s tone. “They never wanted immortality—they had faith their spirits would meet on the next plane of existence, and so do I. I’ll see them again, when it’s my time.”
Elena had internalized that, accepted it. That didn’t mean she didn’t miss Sara…miss Beth…miss all of them.
Raphael’s thumb on her cheek, wiping away a tear—and it was only then that she realized she was crying. “Is it so very hard today?”
“I don’t know why.” Her voice came out rough, her tears sandpaper in her throat. “I navigated all the other milestones, but a thousand…” A long exhale. “Wow.” Her emotions felt huge and on the surface, until she wanted to nestle into Raphael and not face the day.