Page 23 of Lost in the Fog

“The houses are nice.”

“Glad you think so. Zhin and I picked three that we think you might like.”

“Wow. You didn’t waste any time.”

He chuckled. “Our souls called out for you for centuries, and then you were gone, and now you are back. We are not wasting time.”

“Well, as much in a rush as you are in, I have some things I have to do in the next few weeks that you are not going to be invited to.”

“Like what?”

“I have a date.”

His head whipped toward her. “What?”

“I have a date. It’s important. Me and some friends are getting together, and we have a matter of destiny to attend to.”

“I see. Can I be backup?”

“No, this is a ladies-only party. But you can pick me up when I fall out of the portal.”

“Fall. You are going to fall out of a portal?”

“Maybe. Not a clue. It’s a mystery, but we have had it booked for a while.”

He turned his head back toward the road and sighed.

She watched, and his chest rose and fell in agitation. “Dude. Relax. As you have seen, it takes more than a casual attack to kill me.”

His hands made the steering wheel squeak.

She laughed. “Ease up. It will be fine.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I am not going alone, and the ladies with me are motivated.”

He exhaled slowly.

“Should I get your illusion friend back? She can distract you while I am gone.”

He growled. “No. That won’t be necessary.”

He turned down one drive, and the gate swung open. As they drove toward the house, she realized he was really upset.

She sighed. “What’s wrong?”

“I just found you, and now you are talking about going away.”

“I found you, dumbass. I did it once, and I can do it again. This time without the years of lost memory. Less than a day. Tops.”

He pulled into the driveway in front of the house. He unbuckled and opened his door, but when she started to do the same, he gave her a look. She sighed and checked her nails until he came around and opened her door. She put her hands on his shoulders and stepped out and against him. She wrapped her arms around him and held him as he pressed his head to her shoulder. She stroked the soft wool of his jacket and murmured, “It’s okay. It’s okay. I am here. You are here. Zhin is pulling up with a concerned look on his face. We are good. Do you need your Pandora puppet?”

He lifted his head and stroked her hips. “I do not think the puppet will be necessary.”

“Zhin did good work on it.”

He blinked. “How did you know that?”

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