Page 138 of Ever After

He shoots me a wry look. “Oh dear. That implies you know where it came from.”

I cough and shift awkwardly on the chair. “No, not at all.”

He rolls his eyes. “Don’t bother with that innocent act. It doesn’t suit you.” He hesitates and then says in a rush, “I think I’d like to keep it.”

“Why?”

He shrugs. “It’s going to take me a while to get over the possession.”

“Levi, I⁠—”

“Let me just say this, okay?” I nod. “I’m not tortured by it, but it’s made me aware in a way I wasn’t before of how vulnerable I am. I don’t have your powers to know when something bad is coming. The amulet helps with that. It makes me feel safe.”

I swallow hard. “Then keep it. I think Branok would like that, babe.”

A comfortable silence drops for a while, and I grab his spare hand and play with his fingers. “So, I can’t help noticing we have another week and a half of honeymoon,” I finally say. “Any plans?”

His mouth quirks. “Shut and bar the door to all ghosts looking for help?”

“How about the ones looking to say thank you?” a familiar voice says.

I jump and spin around in my chair to see Branok standing there. Although it’s broad daylight, he’s as solid as me and Levi, and dressed in his usual outfit of breeches, waistcoat, and long coat.

“Oh my god, you’re okay,” I say happily.

He looks down at me and smiles. “I am indeed.”

“Where is Boynton?”

“He is gone.” His face is stern, his eyes tumultuous. “We fought long and hard, but he was eventually vanquished by the demon he’d sought to imprison. He will not bother you again.”

“Thank you.”

Levi grins at him. “We’re so glad to see you’re okay. We were so worried.” His smile fades as he looks behind Branok. “Where is Xander?” he asks cautiously.

My joy fades when Branok grimaces.

“I do not know,” he says simply.

I get to my feet. “But why not?”

“He was there one minute and gone the next. The world went dark and when I woke up, I was here again.” His mouth is soft and sad. “Back in my prison.”

“But that can’t be right,” I burst out. “We did everything. We found your body and the rings. We destroyed the book. You fought and won against Boynton. Why are you still separated?”

“Blue,” Levi says softly, and I take a closer look at Branok. His face is heartbreaking.

He raises his hand to push his hair back and I see the ring on his finger, the silver gleaming in the stormy light. He looks down at it. “At least I have this. Back where it belongs.” He takes a look at me and whatever he sees in my face, makes him give a soft sound. “It is alright, Blue.”

“It really isn’t,” I say, rubbing my eyes, which are embarrassingly hot.

“Nay,” he says gently. “We tried. Sometimes we win, and sometimes we lose. That is something I learnt early in my life, as I think did you. But the battle is always worth it, and I have come out of it with two men I consider to be my friends, and I never made them easily. You tried to help us, and I would thank you for that. You have restored my faith in humans.”

I sniff. “I want to hug you,” I say fervently, and he blanches.

“I have never been more thankful to be incorporeal.”

Levi laughs and Branok offers him a wry smile.