But what if Zayne really was at peace? What if he was safe and happy? What if he had the eternity that he very much deserved? How could I... How could I take that from him? Even if Gabriel succeeded in bringing on the apocalypse, Zayne would be safe. The gates of Heaven would close, and maybe it wouldn’t crumble into itself like Gabriel claimed. I couldn’t imagine God allowing all those souls and the angels to perish. God would have to step in before then, and while I’d never see him again, Zayne would be safe.

Could I be that selfish, to bring him back to this? To a place where he could die once again fighting Gabriel, to protect a world that would never know all that he’d sacrificed for it? And if we failed to stop Gabriel, there’d be no eternity, no peace or paradise. We’d be stuck in the human plane, where we’d turn into wraiths or be dragged to Hell.

Opening my eyes, I dragged my hands under my cheeks and stared at the sky. Two days ago, I would’ve said yes, I was that selfish. A week ago, I would’ve said the same thing...but now?

I loved Zayne with every fiber of my being, with every breath I took and with every beat of my heart. I didn’t know if I could do that to him.

And I didn’t know how I could do any of this without him.

I stared at the night sky, wishing for some sign, for something that would tell me what to do, what was right—

A pinprick of light appeared, and I blinked, thinking my eyes were messing with me. But the glow remained, growing brighter and more intense as it raced across the sky. Twisting at the waist, I ignored the pain as I watched the white streak of light disappear beyond the trees, farther than my eyes could track.

Was that...a falling star?

Heart thumping, I turned back around. Had I just seen an actual falling star? A hoarse laugh scratched my throat. Was that the sign I’d been asking for?

If so, what in the Hell did that even mean?

I could interpret that to mean yes, I should summon Grim and possibly rip Zayne away from peace and happiness. Or it could mean that Zayne was okay, just like he’d told me, and that he was watching over me. Or it could mean absolutely nothing at all. I shook my head. No, it had to mean something. I dragged in a deep breath...and every muscle in my body tensed.

I smelled... I smelled snow and winter, fresh and minty.

I smelled wintermint.