“I said I was sorry.” Raoul slammed his hand against the plastic screen that separated them. “I don’t belong here. I was trying to help.”
Felix and Estelle exchanged a tired look. Raoul had been taken into custody right after the events in the Ancients’ crypt, and had by turns been apologetic and belligerent. He insisted he had no idea what Yangzei was planning and had denied ever saying that people were in place. Those people had been found—more vulnerable kidnapped arcana who had been imprisoned on a base in Montana—and Agata was processing them and returning them to their families.
She was also working on an initiative to make sure all arcana worked to make sure all arcana took better care of their people. She’d been shocked at the number of lithu in the mix.
“The elders were against this plan,” she’d said when she came back from a home visit. “I had to convince them.”
Estelle had repressed a grin. She could imagine how that conversation had gone.
Felix leaned over and whispered in her ear. “We’re not going to get more from him.”
She nodded. Raoul had informed against Lady Nadia, finally providing Estelle with the proof she needed to make a treason charge stick. Even at her trial, the old woman had surveyed the courtroom with her empty eye sockets and refused to say a word, haughty to the end. The trial had been hard, as both her parents insisted Lady Nadia was only misguided. “She thought she was doing the right thing,” bleated Helene. “She’s from a different time. You can’t expect her to—”
For the first time in her life, Estelle had ended the conversation. “To obey the queen? To not work with our enemies? To not try to kill your own daughter? I do expect that.”
Felix had congratulated her when she told him the story, then said, “Did I tell you I’m moving out?”
She’d laughed. “Maman won’t like that.”
“Too bad. Wavena offered me a role helping train the people we’ve identified as psychic sensitives. I accepted.”
“I’m glad.” Felix’s blossoming psychic ability left people awestruck. With his help, they’d managed to track down every Dawning facility. Once she’d seen how Felix had matured, Wavena had eventually offered him increasing responsibilities working with Agata. They were a good team, thought Estelle. Which was good since they were impossible to separate.
Now, back outside in the Florida sun, Estelle waved at Stephan, waiting for her in the car. “Need a ride?” she asked Felix.
He shook his head. “I need to walk for a bit. Seeing Raoul…it burns a bit.”
One of the things Raoul had admitted was being the one to help the Dawning take Felix to Cancun. Apparently, after the meeting, he’d been in touch with them, eager to join their organization. Delia, who had recognized Felix as a prime candidate for Yangzei’s transference plan, had taken Raoul up on his offer to help.
Estelle gave him a hug and climbed in the car. Stephan looked over with a raised eyebrow. “Never thought I’d see that.”
“It’s a little strange, but we’re getting along. We made a pact never to be together with our parents, at least for the next decade.” The distance was helping them break out of their ruts.
“Good.” He smiled. Over the last several weeks, Stephan had smiled more easily and some of the tightness around his face had disappeared. She hadn’t realized how ingrained it had been in him until it started to fade. Not that it would ever truly go—pain such as what he had endured could never be erased—but he was more relaxed.
They drove quietly to the shed in the forest. Lucia and Vincenzo had been cremated and their ashes returned to Italy, where they were mixed together and dropped into the Mediterranean. The eastern queens had attended and Wavena had reported that they’d had some good talks. It was a start.
Estelle had ordered the destruction of the shed where they’d been housed, but at the last minute decided to make a final visit. Stephan handed her two bouquets, beautiful tropical blooms dripping with color and fragrance, and she led the way down the stairs to the crypt. The outer room had the same doctor’s office vibe.
Stephan gave her a gentle kiss on the top of her head before taking a seat. “I’ll wait here.”
Cleaning crews had removed the chaos and the stains, so the place was spotless. The biers where the Ancients had lain for so long remained in place. Estelle walked slowly to Lucia’s space, kissed the flowers and put them down.
Then she turned to Vincenzo’s bier. “I miss you,” she said simply.
She waited for a moment, wondering if he would, if he could, respond. When no one did, she laid the flowers down and went back out to Stephan.
* * * *
Stephan thanked the server for the margarita. Estelle clinked her glass against his and a hunk of pineapple fell from one drink to the other.
“That’s good luck,” she said.
“You’re making that up.” He looked out the window to the dark night beyond. Toronto was no Cancun, but they’d been too busy mopping up what was left of the Dawning to take a real vacation.
“How’s Tom?” she asked, licking some salt off the rim of her glass.
“Much better. Recovery is slow, but Cynthia is feeding him up and Mai can barely keep from checking on him every hour to see if he’s there.”
“Can he remember what happened?”
“Nothing. Tom says that it was like being asleep. He occasionally recalled strange images or thoughts, but nothing more. We’re keeping an eye on him in case he maintained a connection with Yangzei.”
There was a long pause and then Stephan decided that it was now or never. They hadn’t spoken about the time in the crypt.
“In the crypt, you touched my mind.”
She stared at the table. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. You made a choice that nearly killed you because I was being stubborn. I’m the one to apologize.”
“Thank you.” It was only two words, but he heard the thousands left unsaid behind them. She frowned. “Do you hear the multitude?”
“Never.” He hoped they were free now.
“Do you miss them?” she asked curiously.
“I thought I’d be grateful when they were gone, but yeah. It’s been an adjustment.” The world was a much quieter place without them. But, it was easier to sleep so worth the trade-off. She reached across the table and took hold of his hands. They were cool from the glass she’d been holding but they warmed Stephan’s soul. “I love you,” she said.
He’d felt it with the touch of her mind in the crypt, but hearing her say it was like being given every present in the world.
Of course, that was the exact moment the waiter came to put down a plate of tortillas and top up the water. Estelle didn’t take her eyes off Stephan.
When they were alone, Stephan said, “Good.”
“Good? That’s it?”
“Yes, good. Because I love you. I’m more sure of this than anything in this long life. I want to be with you. Also, you owe me dinner.”
She hesitated then laughed when she remembered. “In Paris.”
“I’ve asked for my ambassador role back,” he said.
“We could live in Florida.” She smiled. “I have that house, after all.”
He glanced out the window. “Well. Definitely for the winter.”
Then he leaned over the table, spilling the hot sauce, and kissed her.