Page 59 of Fade With Me

The question flew from me before I could catch it, and my stomach dropped as if the ground beneath me had suddenly disappeared. Married. I’d just escaped one marriage, one that had nearly broken me. The thought of being tied down again, especially now, felt like too much. Too soon. Too overwhelming.

Zeke reached out, his hand grazing mine in a simple, grounding gesture. His fingers lingered, just for a heartbeat too long, offering a silent reassurance, a tether connecting us. A soft smile played at his lips, gentle and knowing, as if to say he’d wait for me to understand what he already knew.

“Well,” he said, tilting his head slightly, “our connection has always been there, woven into the fabric of who we are. We don’t need to rush it. For now, let’s just say we’re exactly where we’re meant to be. No labels. No expectations. Just being here, together—that’s enough.”

His words enveloped me like a spell, settling deep into my bones. There was something timeless in his gaze, an unspoken truth hanging in the quiet air around us. He paused, his eyes never leaving mine, as if seeking something I couldn’t yet grasp.

“This is why you dreamed of me, because we share this bond, this connection,” he said, his voice soft, almost reverent. “I searched for you there, hoping you’d guide me, lead me back to you. As time passed, though,it became harder to reach you. The longer I stayed absent from your memory…”

He fell silent, his expression distant, his eyes betraying the haunted stillness of someone who’d lost everything. Then, in a whisper, he added, “Eventually, I couldn’t find you anymore. The Ruby…it erased me completely.”

The dreams were real. He had been there all along, searching. Always.

I wanted to say it. I love you. To ease the pain behind his eyes. But the truth was, I wasn’t there yet. Did I care for him? Absolutely. But love? That word had always felt distant, something I didn’t truly understand. Until now. And honestly, I wasn’t sure I trusted him. I hadn’t known him long enough. Or at least, that’s how my mind saw it. The memories of him were gone, wiped clean, and it made everything harder to believe.

“I…I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say,” I admitted, my voice thick with confusion.

Zeke gave a quiet laugh, amusement flickering across his face. “It’s okay. I know you don’t love me,” he said, completely unfazed. Then, with a mischievous grin, he wiggled his eyebrows. “Yet.”

He leaned in slightly and took my hand again, this time holding it.

“Listen, I know this isn’t easy,” he murmured, voice soft but sure. “You don’t remember, and I get that.” He paused, his gaze locked on mine, as though trying toanchor me with his eyes. “But I do. I remembereverything. And if you don’t love me yet, that’s okay. I’ve got enough love for both of us.”

There was no rush in his words. No pressure. Just quiet certainty.

“I don’t want to overwhelm you,” he said, his thumb tracing slow circles across my knuckles. “But Ineedyou to know—you’re not alone in this. I’m here for you. Whatever you need, even if it’s just as a friend.”

He paused, then added with a playful wink, “Best friend.”

My heart swelled. I turned to face him fully, emotion tightening in my chest. Slowly, I lifted my hand to his cheek, letting my fingertips graze the curve of his skin. It wasn’t much, but it was all I had. It was a quiet way to say thank you, to show him what his words had stirred in me. I lingered there, letting the touch speak for everything I couldn’t say.

After breakfast, we dove straight into research, but the hours blurred together. Nothing we found seemed useful, and I was pretty sure Zeke had already read through all the material a thousand times. At this point, we were just hoping for a miracle.

A loud knock echoed through the house, jolting us both upright. I jumped, heart leaping into my throat,and pushed back from the table, feet landing with a soft thud. Zeke was just as fast, springing to his feet in one fluid motion, his chair scraping across the floor. We turned to each other, eyes locking in alarm, our bodies tense in perfect sync.

“I thought no one could find us here,” I said breathlessly, my pulse quickening.

Zeke’s eyes narrowed, brows furrowing as he straightened, his body coiling with readiness. His shoulders squared and his posture turned rigid, like a wolf on alert.

He didn’t flinch. He didn’t blink.

“They can’t,” he said, his voice calm, but the force behind it cracked like a whip.

He stepped toward me, slow and deliberate, his movements smooth and controlled as he positioned himself between me and whatever was coming.

“Go hide.”

I rushed toward the kitchen, ducking behind the wall but craning my neck just enough to see. Zeke turned, pressing a finger to his lips to signal silence. Then, slowly, he moved toward the door, each step cautious, like he was testing the air.

On the other side stood a towering figure: a man with pale blond hair, ghostly skin, and piercing blue eyes that seemed unnervingly familiar.

Zeke’s eyes widened. For a heartbeat, shock and something like relief passed over his face. “Izzy?” he breathed, barely louder than a whisper.

The man, Izzy, grinned and stepped forward, pulling Zeke into a huge, thunderous hug. “Brother!”

Zeke staggered back, stunned. “How did you find me?” he asked, disbelief threading through his voice. “It took me years to locate this realm…” He paused, concern darkening his expression. “…and this house is cloaked.”

Izzy flashed him a cocky grin. “You know you can’t cloak from me,” he said, slapping Zeke’s shoulder with a playful thud before squeezing the back of his neck. “Besides, aren’t you happy to see me?”

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