“Yes, a silver ring with a moonstone because it reminds me of the ocean.” I eyed the rings on all my fingers. “Would you like me to pick for you?”

“Please? You were always better at understanding crystals.”

That made me smile. I slid a gold band off my middle finger of my left hand. “This is black tourmaline. It’s one of the best protection stones. It’s also great for grounding and cleansing. It will keep evil and negative things away. Keep it on you.”

She grinned and slid it onto her left middle finger, it made me so happy to find our hands the same size. “Thank you.”

“Maybe one more?” I pulled the big one off my right pointer finger. “This is a raw amethyst, it’s also good for protection but also clarity. The band has smoky quartz on it which will also provide calm.”

She slid that one onto her pointer finger and fresh tears poured down her cheeks. “You do not know how much this means to me, to have these. I have caught myself doubting but these will be my proof.”

The front door flew open. We all jumped and spun to face it just as a tall man stepped inside. The man had long, straight jet-black hair and deeply tanned skin much like Auryn’s was now. He was shirtless, wearing only some kind of brown leather pants with a large thick brown cloak over his shoulders. Big black eyes landed on me and widened. the color flashed through the rainbow before resettling on black. Those black lines spread across his face but were gone in the blink of an eye.

I recognized him instantly. I grinned. “Akecheta⁠—”

“You know him?” Auryn whispered. She gripped my shoulders. “Mother, you know Akecheta? How?”

I smiled down at her. “I just met him yesterday, in my time. I cannot tell you more than that of course, but I know he is your soulmate.”

Her eyes filled with tears. She looked over her shoulder to him. “You’re there.”

He gave her a soft smile. “I know.”

I started to get up off the floor when Akecheta threw his cloak off then reached into a brown cloth wrapped around his bare chest. Auryn covered her mouth with her hands and started to cry. Everest’s eyes teared up. He turned to our daughter’s soulmate and held his hands out.

Akecheta pulled a baby out of that cloth.

A baby.

A tan-skinned, black-haired, teeny tiny little baby. Akecheta was grinning as he placed the baby in Everest’s open hands then nodded toward me. Everest cradled the baby in his arms and walked over to me.

“Mother . . .” Auryn pushed her hair back and licked her lips. “Mother, I’d like you to meet my son Raeven. We call him Rae.”

My jaw dropped. Everest crouched down beside me.

“I’m a grandmother?”