Page 55 of Dragon's Revenge

Adar nodded. “I didn’t know him well, but I recognized him immediately. He welcomed me and said he was happy to see me, though sad too because it meant I had passed.”

Delton made a little gasp. “You had a near-death experience.”

“I think so, yes.”

“What else did he say?”

“He said that the gods had found me worthy to be counted among the warriors.” Even thinking about it, he felt the same shock he’d experienced then. “I told him I wasn’t worthy, but he assured me I was. I felt so honored yet so lacking at the same time.”

“Erwan called you a hero. The gods must have agreed.”

“I can’t even imagine. He told me to give Lidon a hug from him, which didn’t make sense to me at the time because I was expecting to stay there.” He’d also given him a personal message for Lidon, but that part, Adar kept to himself. That was for Lidon’s ear alone, and it was the True Alpha’s choice to share it or not. “I saw someone else too.”

Delton frowned, and Adar could practically see him trying to come up with the name of someone else who had died. “Who?”

“I didn’t recognize him, but he was the spitting image of Lucan, only younger.”

Another gasp from Delton. “Didn’t Bray and Lucan have a younger brother who passed away during the civil war? He suffered from oxygen deprivation at birth, if I remember correctly, and lived in a long-term care facility.”

“That must’ve been him, then, though he didn’t seem to have any disabilities or limitations there. He was running and laughing, his body as perfect as everyone else’s, and he was playing with other wolves like a couple of pups who needed to let off some steam and energy.”

Delton’s eyes teared up. “That’s so beautiful. Gah, you’re making me cry…but in a good way.”

“I wanted to stay.” That was the part he struggled with the most. How could he have felt that way when he loved Delton and Oliver so much?

“I can imagine.”

“You can? But why? I didn’t want to leave you and Oliver, so why would I want to stay?”

Delton gently squeezed his hand. “Because you were in heaven or Walhalla or whatever you want to call it. You were perfectly happy and at peace. The whole concept of heaven is that you’re lacking for nothing, so in that moment, you didn’t miss us.”

Delton was always so good at explaining things in a way Adar could understand. “I feel guilty.”

“You shouldn’t.” Delton scratched his chin. “I’m not sure what heaven is or how it works, but I don’t think we’re fully ourselves there. Like maybe we only take the best parts of us, the good memories, character traits, and habits, but not anything bad or negative. Because if we did, it wouldn’t be heaven anymore. So, of course, you wanted to stay. Anyone would have.”

Sweet relief filled Adar. “I recognized Erwan’s voice like he was calling me in plain English. And once I did, something changed. It was like the colors were a little less bright, everything a little less perfect, and I felt different. Sad, like I had lost something. I wanted to go home.”

“You did.”

“How much time has passed?”

“Between you getting hurt and now? Four days.”

“And it’s been quiet? Nothing from the Murphys?”

“Not from the Murphys, no, but we did get some great news. Rhene is back.”

Adar gasped, then immediately pinched his eyes shut as pain stabbed his chest. Note to self: don’t attempt that again. Not a good idea in his current condition. “Rhene is back? How?”

“Are you sure you’re up for this? I don’t want to tire you.”

“Please tell me. If I fall asleep again, I apologize in advance.”

“He showed up yesterday with Duff Bás, the man who held him prisoner in northern Sweden. So he didn’t escape, but he managed to convince Duff he had it all wrong regarding the dragons and that he should investigate himself. He’s vowed that no one will harm him—and, of course, no one will.”

“I’ll be damned,” Adar said slowly. “How classic for a Hightower to talk his way out of the predicament he was in.”

Delton chuckled. “We all said the same thing.”

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