I laughed. Despite everything, I fucking laughed. That girl. How the hell she figured out the truth about my past life before I did was beyond me. She was terrifying. I wasn’t even mad she’d withheld the information since she was right in saying it would be cruel without proof. I wouldn’t have believed it without proof. Change the name, she won’t play nice. You’ve got that right. Rage rushed through my veins. I wanted to walk into Avolire and set the whole place on fire.

Instead, I read the spell Tegan had included for me. I’d decided a while back to trust her without question or hesitation so if she thought this spell would help me then I was going to go for it.

I took a deep breath then recited the words, “Eye of the moon, phase of the crescent, Hold for me my pain incessant. Beat of the heart, tremble in soul, clear my mind ‘til I reach my goal.”

A wave of cold air slammed into my feet then slid up my body. It swirled around me, glittering a pale blueish glow. The knots in my stomach vanished. My pulse steadied. My breaths came easier and stronger. The tension in my muscles relaxed. My hands stopped trembling. The heaviness deep in my bones lightened until it was the faintest ache, where I almost didn’t feel it at all. That ringing in my ears stopped. I hadn’t even realized how many thoughts were running through my mind at once until they were gone, it was like turning off the radio. I took a deep breath and shook the stress off.

Tegan. That girl. I owed her one. Probably a few at this point and I suspected a few more before I got home.

A familiar electricity pulsed in the air behind me, tingling down my spine.

Everest.

I spun on my toes and the sight of him brought a rush of emotion that had me diving for him in the blink of an eye. “Everest.”

He caught me instantly, wrapping his arms around me as he whispered, “It’s okay.”

“I’m trying, I’m trying, but I just keep coming back to you and the oasis.” I ran my hands up his chest and felt the softness of his shirt beneath my fingers, his cinnamon scent mixed with fresh rain. I gasped and pulled back. He wore a black V-neck T-shirt. Tenn’s shirt. Fresh tears pooled in my eyes despite Tegan’s calming spell. “Everest.”

He nodded.

“My Everest?”