He leans down and kisses me. It is not a kiss of cosmic resonance or magical merging. It is a kiss of flesh and breath and human desire. It tastes of tea and promise. It grounds me more deeply than any ley-line ever could.
I don’t want to rest, I whisper against his lips. I want to be with you.
You will be, he replies, his mental voice thick with emotion. We’re going to get old together, Isla. We’re going to get gray and wrinkled and slow. And we’re going to sit on this balcony and watch our grandchildren play in the dirt. And it’s going to be the greatest adventure of our lives.
I close my eyes, letting the warmth of his love seep into my bones. The fear recedes, replaced by a profound, overwhelming peace.
I love you, Kade, I project, closing my eyes, letting the warmth of his love se
