“I’m glad he never sent this,” Magnus said, and when I looked at him his expression was somber. “They were meant to separate—neither of us would be alive right now if they hadn’t. But no one should have to be alone at the end.”

We were quiet for a long moment.

I chewed on my lip. I couldn’t do a proper funeral. Jember wouldn’t have wanted one. Saba had already had one, twenty years ago. I was a month too late, but I had to do something.

I went to the supply chest, thankful to find a single disk of silver. I took my welding pen out of my pocket. “Can you bear the dust for a little longer?”

We sat on the stairs so Magnus could get fresh air without going outside, and I got to work on an amulet. I didn’t really know what I was doing. The dead generally didn’t have need for amulets—for them, it was too late. But this was what I knew. This was what Jember had taught me, what had saved Saba. It was the only way I knew to honor them.

I worked as if a fire had been ignited in me. The amulet came together quickly, and by the time I was finished my hand was cramping but I didn’t care. I nailed the amulet to the wall and stepped back to stare at it.

Jember and Saba had both wanted this—to finally be at peace. Their souls weren’t here anymore, but it made me feel better to leave something behind to cover them … to protect them.

To be with them where I couldn’t go.

We carried the chest between us to the coach. Then we sat inside, silently gripping hands, waiting to leave the church behind.

“Are you okay, Andromeda?” Magnus asked gently, as I laid my head on his shoulder.

I shifted to my knee to lean up, kissing his lips. His hand skimmed my jaw, the pure love in his touch pushing away the remainder of my sadness and regret.

“Yes, Magnus,” I whispered to his lips. “I’m definitely okay.”

Acknowledgments

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are so many people who made this dream possible! First, I’d like to thank my God and King, Jesus, and my family for their never-ending support. Thank you to my agent, Lauren Spieller, for scooping me up from the trenches (on my birthday of all days) and for putting up with my shenanigans—pairing up with you has been a gift, and I’ll forever be grateful for your genius notes and wisdom.