Page 74 of City of Love

CHAPTER 32

Though she was finally ready emotionally, Lexi still needed to deal with things logistically before she could make the move. This time, however, she wrapped everything up in a matter of a few weeks. She ended the lease on her apartment and donated most of her furniture. What she wanted to keep but couldn’t take through the portal, she boxed and shipped off to her folks in Phoenix, who were ecstatic to hear that she and Gideon had made up and were going on the road. She even went ahead and whipped up a website showing Gideon’s global performance schedule, being sure to go heavy on exotic locations her parents weren’t likely to consider traveling to.

Matthew volunteered to take Dexter, and the two of them bonded right away—a couple of fair-haired, blue-eyed, pretty-boys who quickly became joined at the hip. Lexi was almost jealous. But Matt promised to bring the cat to Taco Shots while he worked in his office so she could pop over and rub her face in his fur whenever she wanted. Matthew also kept her cell phone and laptop in his office so she could contact her folks easily and often. Once her mind had been made up, the whole process went smoothly.

Which isn’t to say she wasn’t a nervous wreck over the prospect of the actual transition.

When the day finally came and everyone gathered in Gideon’s living room in the early evening, she sat shivering, even with a roaring fire in the huge hearth. In fact, though it was New Year’s Eve—a date they thought perfect for the big event and what would hopefully be the start of her new life—the weather had turned a little strange for winter. An ominous storm was rolling in, which didn’t exactly help her nerves.

Gideon kept her close by his side, constantly whispering loving, soothing words in her ear as they greeted all the people who’d be helping with her procedure. Many of them she knew, but some she did not, and the fact that all these people would be with her, surrounding her as she lay in Gideon’s bed fighting for her life, was utterly surreal. Yet, she felt honored and blessed at the same time. She sensed the love they all had for Gideon, and how important it was to each of them that her conversion be successful.

And that, she thought, was a very good thing indeed.

Vikkras approached them, wearing a deep golden shirt and a bright calming smile. He was decked out in more crystals than she’d ever seen him wear before, and knew it wasn’t a matter of bling. “What’s the timing now, brother?”

“She’s already been here three and a half hours. We need to start soon,” Gideon said. “I think we’ll go upstairs now for a little quiet time before everyone else joins us.”

“Sounds good, man. You guys go on. I’ll round everyone up shortly.”

“Thank you,” he said, putting his arm around her waist to lead her up to the bedroom.

He’d already explained to her every detail of what was going to happen, and they’d spent the last several hours prepping and getting ready. But as they entered his huge bedroom, she took in the scene and her stomach did a little flip, a sour taste rising at the back of her mouth. She’d been in and out of the room all day as they’d prepared things, but now that the process was imminent, she saw everything—really saw it—for the first time.

All the usual candles were lit, the light bouncing beautifully around the room with its many mirrors. A small, cozy fire had been set in the hearth, and soothing incense filled the air. Large chunks of quartz crystals sat everywhere, every inch of their power required to help hold her in this world, and they, too, reflected the candlelight as if she were standing in a crystal cave.

The bed had been laid with crisp, white sheets scented with lavender. And there was food and water placed on tables all around so if anyone assisting with the process needed sustenance, they wouldn’t have to leave the room.

What unnerved her, though, was the table of medical items Roberto had laid out. She knew that much of Roberto’s work was done psychically. He had the ability to see into a body and seek out any problems, then guide healing energy to the source of trouble. In fact, he’d already done a thorough scan of her body to be sure she had no surprise issues that would make the transformation riskier, and of course, she’d been fine.

However, he also had the tools of traditional medicine at his disposal as well, and he knew how to use them. She saw a wide variety of glass bottles of assorted colors containing various powder and liquids, and tiny wooden boxes with cotton and cloth and pills of different types.

Lexi knew what some of those medicinals were, including smelling salts, sedatives, and painkillers, as well as ephedra and foxglove… in case there were problems with her heart. She swallowed a lump in her throat as she shoved the reminder of Cassandra’s fate out of her thoughts.

There was also a large clock on the fireplace mantle that hadn’t been there before. How many more minutes would tick by before this all started? And how many hours before it ended… one way or the other?

Her trepidation officially turned to fear.

“Gideon,” she said, her teeth starting to chatter.

He wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head and rubbing his hands up and down her back. She knew he was as worried as she was, and that knowledge only made it worse.

He tilted her face to his. “You can still bow out, sweetheart. I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”

She forced a smile. “There isn’t enough ice cream in this world to drown my sorrows should I back out now and go home alone.”

He gritted through his own smile. “You’re probably right about that,” he said, and walked her over to the bed, both of them sitting down on the edge of it.

They looked at each other intensely, his beautiful gray-green eyes mere inches from her own, looking at her with such concern. He reached a hand to her cheek, caressing her with his thumb. “It’ll be okay, Lex, I promise.”

He pulled her face closer and leaned in, his lips moving softly along her jaw line, the barest whisper of a touch. She tipped her head back as he slowly worked his way down her neck, his lips tasting her skin, his hands playing in her hair, his touch reassuring her soul.

“It has to be,” he whispered.

It has to be. She remembered those breathless words.

In that instant, everything came full circle. She’d seen this moment in time, his face, his caress, his words, over and over in her visions those many months before she’d ever come to his world, and now, at last, they were playing out. A long, impossible journey that brought her to this place, to this man, to this moment. Every choice, every action bringing her to where she was clearly supposed to be.

It had to be right, it had to be fate. It would be okay.

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