Cair’s lips curved softly, and this time, when he leaned in to kiss me, slow and deep, there was no barrier in the way. No uncertainty. No distance. We were just us. Two people, joined in heart, body, and soul.

Following the path to exactly how we were before.

Chapter Thirteen

LUCA

I propped my arms on the wooden fence enclosing the paddock, scanning the farm, a wistful smile on my lips. I had spent the last twenty minutes attempting to bribe my dad’s horse, Prima Donna, into liking me. She wasn’t exactly an unfriendly creature, just wary of strangers and, as her name suggested, very temperamental, but I wouldn’t back down from a challenge.

I’d convinced Tee to be my friend, so I had high hopes.

I had stood at the stall door with a sugar cube in my hand, coaxing her in hushed tones and not taking her huffs or glaring side-eyes to heart. She had a sweet tooth, and like me, couldn’t resist treats for long, so they eventually did the trick. I’d given her chin scratches, and she hadn’t bitten my hand off, so I called that progress. However, I’d probably ruined it all by getting distracted. The view from the stables was enthralling, and I hadn’t managed to move myself from this spot for an hour.

I had no desire to.

It was peaceful, secluded, and simple, and it wasn’t hard to imagine a life out here. In truth, I’d thought about it a lot since I’d been given the all clear to get up and walk around. I had visions of Cair tending to our vegetable patch, complaining about the dirt under his fingernails while I planted herbs and laughed at his grumbling. The two of us huddled together, watching the sunset from our back garden every night, a blanket wrapped around our shoulders and maybe even sex under the stars. The natural backdrop, the sense of purpose, the privacy, it all greatly appealed to me, and without sounding philosophical, having died and been reborn here—the literal hamlet from my dreams—felt like a little bit more than coincidence.