We started up the hill, Zayne ahead of us with Roth following close behind. Layla fell in step beside me. “Stacey told me,” she said when I glanced over at her. “That you saw...you saw Sam.”

“I did.” I wasn’t sure what to say. “I’m sorry about what happened to him. I don’t know everything, but I know enough to say I’m sorry.”

Layla looked away, lips trembling before she pressed them together. She didn’t speak until we started to cross the lawn. “Did he look...okay?”

I stopped, touching her arm. She faced me, sorrow etched into her features. “He crossed over, into the light, and that means he’s someplace good, with people he knows and loves. He’s more than okay.”

“But he’s back—”

“Spirits can come back. They’re not supposed to do it a lot, but he’s worried about Stacey. I think once everything is resolved with the school, he’ll be more at peace and won’t come around as much,” I explained. “But he’ll always be here with you guys. As cliché as that sounds, I know it’s true. He’s more than okay.”

As she closed her eyes, Layla’s lips moved wordlessly and then she sprang forward, giving me a hug that left me standing there with my arms awkward at my sides. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for telling me that.”

My fingers wiggled. “It’s only the truth.”

She squeezed me. “And it means everything.”

When she stepped back, she smiled at me and then turned. “What?” she yelled.

I followed her gaze to find Zayne and Roth standing several feet away, watching us.

“Nothing.” Roth had his hands in his pockets. “Just that you two getting all handsy was kind of hot.”

Zayne jerked his head toward Roth.

The demon prince shrugged. “Look, I’m just being honest. I’m a demon. I don’t know why any of you would expect anything less from me.”

“It’s a good thing I love him,” Layla muttered as she stalked forward, and I got moving. “And I do love him with every part of my being and then some, but he...he just doesn’t people well.”

I laughed at that, glancing at Zayne, who was watching us with an almost perplexed expression on his face. Having no idea what that was about, I headed toward the copse of trees, steps slowing.

“It was somewhere over here.” I scanned the ground, not wanting to plummet through a hole again. “It happened pretty fast, but...”

Roth was to the right of me. “I don’t see anything.”

“Neither do I.” Zayne had moved farther, head bowed. “And you’re right, the hole was right around here.”

“What the Hell?” I muttered, frowning.

“Hey,” Layla called out. “Is it possible that the hole... recovered itself?”