I stand up to take the space within Arek’s arms. Together, he and I walk away, leaving Ian behind for the others to tend to. After a few moments, we step outside of the house. For the first time in days, the sun warms my skin.

Colorful rooftops jut out in the distance, looking like Santorini, Greece. Yet, where we are is a sprawling two-story villa with two miles of beach between it and all other inhabitants.

Black tactical SUVs line the circle drive. Kilon, Geo, Peter, and others eventually exit with Ian, his face covered in a blanket. I watch, guilty that it was because of me that he died.

“I’m sorry, Willow,” Arek whispers in my ear.

“He was my last connection to who I was.”

Arek looks at me carefully, “But he died for who you are now.”

Diem and the entire army of vigilantes begin to emerge from the villa, showing the battle that has just taken place by their torn skin, bruising, and fatigue. Yet they smile at one another with a job well done.

One by one, from the front door and side doors of the villa, come twelve men and women with their hands on their heads, as officers follow with drawn weapons. Navin is nowhere amid his rebels.

“What about Navin?” I ask Arek.

Arek places his hand on my neck. “I’ll find him. I promise.”

“So, he gets away?”

“No. I will find him,” he promises.

Just then, Briston’s voice grows loud as several Protectors hold him back from attacking Leigh under the shade of palm trees nearby. Arek races to his side as Leigh pushes his way through with determination.

“What are you doing?” There is no hiding Arek’s distrust of his own father and his love for mine.

“I’m doing what I’ve been told to do,” Leigh states, without so much as a glimmer of remorse.

Peter is the first to step in front of Leigh, then Sassi behind him; Beckah and Geo finish blocking the thin man’s path to me. Mak and Kenichi are close and observe with care.

“I will arrest every single one of you. Do you understand? You make this choice. Peter . . . get out of the way, son.”

“No,” is all that the sixteen-year-old will say to his father.

Leigh raises his hand in the air and instantly his Protectors jump to his side, drawing the front line. When one of the Protectors reaches out and grabs Peter’s shoulder, everyone attacks. Yet I foresee how this will be with Leigh and all his power.

“Stop,” I yell. At first no one hears me. So I yell louder, “Stop!” The commotion dies down. Leigh’s surprised eyes connect with mine. “Take me, Leigh.”

“No!” Peter says defensively.

Slowly and gently I push my way through the wall of people there to protect me. My eyes lock with every person I pass: Geo, Peter, Beckah, Sassi, Kilon, and Arek, who stands by his father with concern. My shoes crunch the gravel in the circle drive. “I’ll go with you.” My voice shakes.

“Leigh . . . no,” Briston barks from behind the men who detain him.

Arek is still quiet.

“Trust me,” I say.

“We’ll fix this, Willow,” Briston states.

“I’m counting on that.”

I extend my hands to Leigh for him to put cuffs around my wrists, but he shakes his head. “No. Come with me of your own volition.”

“Can I have a moment with Arek?”

Leigh nods.

Arek comes close to hear my voice. “Lyneva is alive.” He looks at me with surprise. “She’s with Navin.”

He presses his palm gently to my cheek. “I will figure it all out. I promise.” Then he kisses me.

“We need to go,” Leigh warns.

He leads me through the crowd, past the sedans, and across the gravel.

“Remy!” the large voice erupts. Kilon has climbed onto the hood of a nearby car so that he can see me above the crowd. “Remy!” His voice booms within my chest and pulls my scared eyes up to meet his. The world around us is quiet as all watch him. “I swear my allegiance to you. I swear to serve you, to protect you, to die for you!” Kilon bows on one knee, then lifts his large hand to his chest and pounds three times—slow and passionate. My tears fall as his protective eyes stare into mine. Diem and the rest of the men then follow his lead, including my friends who have carried me safely this far. Together they pound their fists against their chest three times in declaration. The tears that have pooled in my bottom lashes finally release.

In Leigh’s irritation, he pushes me toward the waiting SUV. “Get up!” he yells at one of the Protectors who should be helping him but instead kneels with the others. Reluctantly, this Protector stands, but not before he nods at me. Yet as they push my head under the doorway, I can’t. My body fights.

“Arek!” I yell. My cheeks burn and my eyes swell, as I search for him. “Arek!” I can’t find him while Leigh’s hands keep a tight grasp on my arm. Finally, I see Arek. He jumps to his feet and runs to me, instantly wrapping his palms around my terrified face and his thumbs brush tears away. “I can’t . . . I’m not her. I can’t do this!” For the first time since my mom passed, the raw emotion cannot be squelched and my body shakes. “I’m not Remy!”

“Yes. You are.” His fingers ignite the shockwave within me. “You are Remy. You’re in there, my love.” Then he lifts me into his arms and kisses me until the same salve that has worked so many times before soothes my worries and doubles my passion. As his lips form to mine, my confidence returns and my tears slow. When the kiss ends, he moves his mouth to my ear, as I wrap my arms around his neck. “I will come for you,” he whispers. “You’re strong, you will survive, and I will be there when you do.”

Finally, when I am revived, Leigh steps in as Arek backs away, his eyes never leaving mine. I try to keep our connection, even as the vehicle’s door closes. Everyone watches with a hand to their chest—Sassi and Arek at the front.

Remy is the hope . . . not Willow. Born almost a thousand years ago with a price on her head—to bring Ephemes and Velieri to peaceful coexistence. It seems impossible. On the other hand, this world has already shown me that the impossible can happen.

The realization comes as we drive away from my protection.

My return restored hope to the Velieri. If I don’t trust in the Prophecy, how will they?

The choice is mine to say good-bye to Willow in order to fight for freedom.

I am Remy. I am Velieri. And I will fight.

TO BE CONTINUED...

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...

Thank you, God, for being bigger than my limited mind.

A huge thank you to my husband, Ben, with whom I have been given a romance greater than any fiction. You’re still just as supportive and just as sexy twenty-five years later . . . and I’m grateful to have centuries with you in this life and the next.

To my mom who told me that I could be anything I wanted to be.

To my dad, who taught me about work ethic and truly unbelievable patience.