“You know about Abel’s dreams?” she asked.

I nodded. I did. He’d mentioned them before, but he gave me the full briefing that morning about his dreams, the dreams I was having and not remembering, and Leah and Sonia dreaming.

“We’re prepared,” she said firmly.

“I think I got that yesterday when all your boys kicked ass.”

She smiled. It was small, but it was proud.

“What you’re saying is, all this new stuff, it’s no surprise to you,” I remarked.

“Oh, it’s a surprise. My Abel and his fated partner saving the world, that’s a surprise. But yes, in a way, you’re right. We knew it would be something. I would have picked something less enormous, but there are a great number of things in life you can’t choose.”

“I hear that too,” I muttered.

“But sometimes fate smiles down on us, giving us bounty instead of challenge.” Her hand curled tighter on my arm. “That’s what she gave us with you.”

That felt so good, I stopped walking.

She had no choice but to do it with me, and when I looked down at her, she was looking up at me.

“You’re making Abel very happy.”

“God, I hope so,” I whispered.

She gave me another smile, still small, but this one happy.

“You are.”

“I like him,” I told her, and her smile got less small.

“That’s good, since he likes you too. A great deal.”

I grinned. “I noticed that.”

She looked forward and started us walking again.

Then she commenced in destroying my world.

“I cannot say what it means, my delight at what he’s found in you, that he has what he’s been yearning for, even in the short time you’ll be with him as you live your mortal life. It will give him much to cherish as he continues his immortal one when you’re gone.”

I kept walking but said nothing, made no sound, carefully regulated my breathing.

Because I hadn’t thought of that.

Not once.

I had no idea why, though obviously a lot was happening.

I still hadn’t thought of that.

I was falling in love with him.

And evidence suggested he was doing the same with me.

But he couldn’t die.

And I definitely would.

Oh my God.

“We’re here,” Jian-Li said, and I jerked in surprise, blinking at Chen’s door. “Lilah, are you all right?”

I drew in a deep breath, pulling it together before I looked down at her. “Not really. Lots on my mind. But I figure I just need to find Abel and I’ll be okay.”

She studied me closely before she asked, “Are you sure?”

“Sure I’m sure,” I said on a smile I didn’t mean, but considering all that was happening, I hoped she didn’t read it as what it really was.