“I needed some time alone.”
“I know, but you scared him.”
“He would have insisted on coming with me.”
“I know that, too. Why do you think I kept my mouth shut for so long, sweetheart?”
She finally sat up and sniffled. “When do we go to the Tribunal?”
“Whenever you’re ready. I think not until next week, at the very earliest. You still need some downtime.”
She nodded. “So Matthias is on his way?”
“Not unless Albert blabbed too soon. The jet had to return to Florida and refuel first. I imagine Albert waited until late morning to say anything, meaning he wouldn’t be able to get to Gardiner until later tonight, at the earliest.
She looked down at the boardwalk. “When do we get him back?”
Robertson sighed. “The ashes arrived in Florida yesterday.”
Taz nodded and was quiet for several minutes. “How did she do it?” Taz whispered.
Robertson put his arm around her again. “Do you really wish to know?”
She nodded.
He patted her shoulder. “Caroline suffocated him while she had control of him. He couldn’t fight her. It was quick. He didn’t suffer.”
Taz closed her eyes and sobbed. He pulled her to him as she grieved.
“I feel like I can still hear him, like he’s still alive.”
“I know, sweetheart. It was so sudden, it’s hard to believe he’s gone.”
She sat up. “No. I mean I feel like he’s still around. In here.” She touched her head. “Like I can still feel him, hear his voice.”
“That’s normal, Taz. You’re still dealing with the pain, with fresh memories, and Matthias, too. All of us. That will fade. You’re so perceptive, still dealing with learning how to use your powers, it’s overwhelming.”
She looked out over the lake, over the mountains. “How long does it take?”
He took her hand in his. “Everyone’s different.” He checked the time. “Can I buy you dinner?”
She looked at the ground again and nodded. He squeezed her hand. “Come along, then.”
She realized he was driving a Land Rover, probably one of the ones from before. How had she missed it when she pulled in? Now that she thought about it, she had seen it but didn’t pay any attention to it when she parked.
“I was over by the bookstore,” he said in answer to her unspoken question. “You have no idea how hard I had to block my thoughts so you wouldn’t sense me. I wanted to give you time to yourself.”
“Thank you.”
He hugged her. “I’ll follow you, dear.”
They met back at the cabins. “Where are you staying?” she asked.
“I’ve got a room, over there.” He pointed to a cabin three buildings away. “Let me freshen up, and I’ll meet you here in about twenty minutes. All right?”
She nodded. She felt tired. While she was irritated he came after her, she was also glad he did. Better him than Matthias.
Tim called Albert, hoping Matthias wasn’t too close to arriving.
“Did you find her?” Albert asked.
“She’s fine. I caught up with her at West Thumb. She needs time to grieve, to get it out of her system. How did Matthias take it?”
“He hasn’t. I haven’t told him yet.”
Tim assumed he misheard him. “What?”
“If you’re with her, she’s safe. I’ll wait until tomorrow. That’ll give her another day.”
“Brother, you are amazing.”
“Just don’t let anything happen to her,” Albert cautioned. “He’ll kill both of us.”
They had a quiet table in a corner. He let Taz do the talking when she decided to. “I’m sorry I left like that.”
Tim made sure to keep his tone soft and gentle. “You scared him, Taz. You scared all of us.”
“I know. I just had to get out of there. Away. Just felt something pulling me. Especially after that crazy karaoke incident. I don’t want to lose control again.”
“I’ll hand it to you, you were smart.”
She smiled. “I learned from the best.”
He laughed. “Covering your tracks?”
“I didn’t want Matthias smothering me right now. I feel bad enough as it is.”
“We almost lost you, Taz. You were so close to dying at the end, we were afraid for you. He worries you’ll slip back into that and he won’t be there to help you. Or that someone will hurt you.”
She shook her head. “Don’t worry, I won’t. Never again.” She sighed. “It would be so much easier if it didn’t feel like he was still around, if it didn’t feel like I still had a connection to him.”
“Rafael?”
She nodded, staring at her plate. “I know Matthias told you what happened,” she whispered.
“Sweetheart, you were overwhelmed and upset. You were angry. Rafael—well, knowing him, I’m sure he enjoyed your succubus session.”
“But he died.”
“Not because of you, Taz.” He reached out and touched her hand. “Not because of what you did. Caroline killed him. She would have killed him regardless of what you did.”
“I acted like a spoiled brat. I’ve never been like that before.”
“And we keep telling you, it wasn’t your fault. This is why Matthias wanted to take years to gradually introduce you to your powers.”
“I never should have done it.”
“What’s done is done. It was a painful lesson, but you can’t change the past.”
She nodded and finally pushed her plate away, finished. Tim watched as she worked Rafael’s ring nervously with her thumb, eerily rubbing and twisting it the same way Rafael had.
“Never again. I won’t let myself hurt another person like that because I’m out of control. Ever.”
“You are learning to control your powers. That’s a good thing. You need to learn to put the past behind you. Don’t dwell on it, don’t let it rule your life.”
“What’s that expression about those who forget the past?”
“You won’t forget, Taz. Of that I have no doubt.”
Chapter Ten
She slept fitfully, dreaming of Rafe and their kiss, of visiting him that final night as a succubus, seducing him in revenge. He seemed to enjoy it, but remembering how she enjoyed controlling him made her sick to her stomach.
“Taz, it’s not your fault. You are a wonderful woman, and I don’t blame you. Quit beating yourself up.”
She awoke with a start and a bad taste in her mouth. It was like he’d spoken into her ear.
But she was alone in the cabin and Rafe was dead.
The clock read 4:38, and she knew she couldn’t go back to sleep. She showered and dressed, donning Rafe’s jacket against the morning chill. She was the only one on the boardwalk as false dawn touched the valley. She sat on a bench and watched steam puff from Old Faithful. About twenty minutes later, Robertson walked up and quietly sat next to her.
“How did you know I was here?” she asked.
“I’ve been with you nearly your entire life, Taz. I can sense you. I didn’t think there would be too many other people sitting out here this time of morning. Also, I can see the benches from my room.”
She looked at the cabins. “Oh.”
He smiled, patting her leg. “I imagine the dining room isn’t open yet. Would you like to take a walk? Or would you like me to leave you alone?”
“I wouldn’t mind the company.”
They stood. She hooked her arm around his and they slowly walked down the boardwalk.
Eventually she spoke. “I bet Matthias is going nuts about now.”
“Don’t worry. If anyone can handle him, it’s my brother.”
She stopped short, her jaw agape. “What?”