Destined (Desolation #3) (35 page)

Miri threw herself onto my bed and covered her eyes with her arm, but she couldn’t hide the smirk on her lips or the blush that made her cheeks as pink as a sunrise. 

“So?” I prompted, slipping the dress over my head. 

“So I want it to be perfect. Is that a crime?” I’d have thought she was mad if it hadn’t been for the light laughter that followed. “Finish getting dressed. Put everything here on, okay?” She got off the bed and walked to the door. “Everything.”

“Jeez, okay. Get out already.” I opened the door and shooed her out. On the bed she’d left me a white lacy shawl, a pair of delicate, dangly earrings with stacked pearls and a necklace I’d seen Lucy wear. I knew it was her grandma’s—a delicate piece of antique silver filigree and pearls. I held it in my hand for a minute, remembering how beautiful Lucy had been in it. How her hands had caressed the pearls as she told me how her mama had shared so many sweet stories of her gram’s strength. How her mama thought Lucy was as strong as her gram. 

I put it around my neck and worked the clasp, trailing my fingers over the pearls as they draped over my collar bone. I knew Lucy was strong—and now I knew I was strong, too. 

Finally I slipped on the flat, strappy sandals I knew had never belonged to Lucy—they weren’t nearly sexy enough for her. But they were perfect for me. You know, if I were ever to dress up, which I never had until now. Everything on, all ready, I stepped to the door.

On the other side of the bedroom, beside the dresser, stood a mirror draped with boas and gaudy necklaces that had been fabulous on Lucy and I’d been too sentimental to get rid of. I had to peel some of them back in order to see my whole self in the mirror, but when I did, tears sprang to my eyes.

I didn’t recognize the girl there.

She was beautiful.

Lovely.

Happy.

“Aren’t you ready yet?” Miri asked, poking her head into the room. “Oh,” she said. She came in and closed the door behind her. “Oh.”

I fell into her arms and cried onto her shoulder.

“Hey now, you’ll ruin your makeup.” She patted my back but made no move to push me away. “You’re beautiful,” she finally said.

I stepped back and tried to pat at the tears under my eyes without smearing my mascara too much. “So are you.” She wore a strapless sundress the color of buttercups. 

“Well,” she said, spinning around so her skirt twirled around her, “we’ve got a hot date with a couple of very handsome men.” 

“Oh, we do?”

“We do.” She looped her arm through mine and together we walked out into the living room.

James and Michael stood at the sliding glass door to the balcony, talking in low tones.

“Ahem,” Miri said, and the boys were quick to spin around.

Oh, my love,
Michael said. 

I smiled.
You, too
.

“Well don’t just stand there not saying anything,” Miri said, pushing me forward. “Go give the guy a hug.” 

I stumbled forward, not bothering to correct her. Not bothering to tell her that what Michael and I shared was so much better than words. Words could never mean as much as the thoughts and feelings he filled me with. Thoughts of love. Of joy.

Thoughts of forever.

When he took me in his arms, he whispered, loud enough for Miri to hear, “I love you.”

I squeezed him tighter, and said, “I will love you forever.”

Miri sighed, which made me laugh. 

“Happy now?” I asked.

“Yes.” She and James, holding hands, headed for the door. “Okay, let’s go.”

“Where are we going?”

Michael took my hand and walked me to the door. “Somewhere special,” he said. 

“Ohhkay.” I purposely dragged behind him, but inside, my heart was dancing a wild mamba of joy. 

We drove to St. Mary’s, which was not at all what I had in mind since we were all dressed up. I had pictured brunch at a fancy restaurant somewhere. Michael got out of the car and came around to open the door for me, while James did the same for Miri. 

“What are we doing here?” Confusion dropped into my stomach, cutting off the happy flips it had been doing. 

“You’ll see, princess,” James and Michael shared a secret smile. 

But when Michael took my hand, his palm was damp and I thought I could feel him trembling. I stole little glances at him as we walked into the cemetery, trying to figure him out, but he kept his emotions closed to me. My mind flicked to the crypt, fear making a sudden appearance in my heart.

Do not worry, Love. Think of something else—this is a day for happiness.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus on his words, on his hand in mine.
You look very handsome,
I told him, sending a little smile along with the thought, trying to tease him out of his silence. And he really was handsome in heather gray slacks and a white linen shirt open at the collar. I noticed he wore silver cufflinks which sparkled in the sunlight and the whale-tale charm I’d given him—Thor’s hammer, I now knew it was called. Everything came full circle, it seemed. He glanced at me then and smiled, making my knees quiver. My stomach resumed its flips and for a second I thought I might be sick—but in a totally good way.

“Here we are!” Miri proclaimed when we came to a stop in front of the little stone angel that had long been a safe haven for Michael and me. 

“Okay,” I said for the millionth time that morning. 

“Just wait,” Miri said, bouncing on her heals and jiggling all over.

“What is it with you guys?” But James refused to meet my eyes, smiling at Miri instead, who was this constant excited mess. I waited for Michael’s answer, but he only took my hands in his. I thought he’d look away, thought he’d be coy like the others, like he had been the whole way over here.

Instead he stepped nearer. “I love you, Desolation.” His eyes were so warm, gold flecks swimming in sweet chocolate. “I have loved you always, from the moment I laid eyes on you so very long ago. 

“I loved you when you were sent on your mission.

“I loved you when your path took you away from me and all I had was your memory.

“I loved you from the moment I saw you again in that classroom. From the moment I heard your voice, saw your eyes.

“I have loved you always. And I will love you always still.

“You are the love of my heart, of my eternal soul.

“If you will have me, I will love you for as long as my heart beats, and I will do everything in my power to see that it never, ever stops.”

He hadn’t taken his eyes off mine and so I’d seen the truth there; felt it reflected in every possible way in my own heart. With his eyes still on me, he began to shine. Brighter and brighter he grew, the golden warmth of his Halo spreading through me, around me, embracing me, drawing me nearer, laying bare every emotion, every thought, every hope.

“Will you be mine?” he whispered against my lips.

How do you tell someone you love them as much as they love you? How do you tell them you would gladly give up your life today if it meant you wouldn’t have to live an eternity without them?

I didn’t know how, so I answered in the only way that felt right. 

I filled my own Halo with all that I was—the old and the new, all the darkness, all the light—the rainbow of colors that was the good and the bad, every regret, every hope, and all my love. I closed my eyes and leaned into him, welcomed his lips on mine, gave myself to every sensation, the taste of him, the feel of him, the smell of him.

“Desi,” he said in the softest whisper.
Open your eyes, my love.

I didn’t want to, but I did as he asked—and discovered a new scene entirely.

Light of every shade filtered through my vision, golden buildings rising in the distance. On the Bifrost, all around me, I found the faces of my friends, my loved ones. James and Miri, who looked a little stunned at the sudden change of scenery, Freyja, Lucy and Mahria, Fahria and Longinus, Heimdall and Odin. Even li’Morl was there.

Odin stepped forward, reaching out for us. He took my hand, and Michael’s. “My children.” His voice resonated like a deep, golden song. “I believe we are waiting for your answer, daughter.”

For a moment I panicked, suddenly unsure of the question. 

Will you be mine?
Michael repeated in my mind.

“Yes,” I breathed. “Yes!”

“Of course it is yes.” Odin’s eyes sparkled. “Now at last, let it be. 

“Desolation, you have accepted a calling—to be guardian of Midgard. To stand at its defense against the forces that would seek to misuse it.”

He paused and I nodded, unsure of his question. 

“Michael, you have promised your eternal life to Desolation. Indeed, you made that choice so long ago I can scarcely remember.” Some chuckled around us because everyone knew—Odin didn’t forget. 

“Yes, my lord,” Michael said, his voice hoarse with emotion.

“She has changed from the girl you once knew.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Yet you would still pledge yourself to her?”

“Always.”

“Of course,” Odin said. Michael caressed the back of my hand with his thumb for a moment before Odin continued. “Are you willing to stand with her, to guard her and protect her while she serves my children on Midgard?”

Michael faced me, and I felt his smile before I saw it on his face.

“I gladly submit my life, my heart, my soul to her protection.”

His mind lay bare before me, and mine to his. There were no words, but the emotion we shared—no words would ever suffice. Tears streamed down my face and his. Love shone from us like a star.

“Desolation.” Odin waited until I pulled my eyes away from Michael’s and looked at him. “You are a young god, with much to learn. At times the responsibility will seem too great to bear. You must remember, always, that Michael is your companion, your help-meet. Turn to him. Share your burden with him, and you will find yourself more capable of greatness than you ever would achieve alone. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Odin.” I squeezed Michael’s hand as I returned my gaze to his. As I felt myself swallowed up again in the power of his love. “We will rule Midgard together.” Michael beamed at me, his image growing watering beyond the tears in my eyes.

“Then be one,” Odin said. He placed my hand in Michael’s and stepped back. “Be one.”

Heimdall pressed his golden horn to his lips and I knew—he was announcing our union, sharing it with the universe, with all the worlds. A sound filled my ears, a note of pure happiness, ringing across the Bridge, resonating through the space all around us. Rainbow sparks fell like rain while Michael pulled me into his arms and kissed me.

Miri hugged me so tightly I wondered how she had ever grown so strong. James pulled on the strap of her carry-on bag.

“Come on bright eyes, we’ve gotta go.” He tugged again, making Miri jerk back a little, but still she didn’t let go of me. “You’ll see her at Christmas.”

I looked over Miri’s head and smiled at James.
Come and get her,
I tried to tell him. He couldn’t hear my thoughts, but he seemed to understand. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her waist and gently pulled her against him.

“Take care of her,” he said to Michael who stepped up beside me and put his arm over my shoulders.

“You know I will,” he said. 

“See you soon, princess.”

“See you soon, James.”

He and Miri took a couple steps backwards, Miri waving like a crazy person, before James smiled one last time, pulled Miri after him, and with his arm around her, walked through the expedited security line reserved for VIPs.

We watched until we couldn’t see them anymore. We left the building without saying any of the things in our hearts. We didn’t need to. 

Instead of driving to the apartment, Michael took us up the mountain, past St. Mary’s, past Daniel’s old estate. Up to the cliff overlooking Desert Peak where he stopped the car and we got out. I hadn’t been back here since that night almost a year ago. The night all my nightmares were made of. I’d been afraid, I think. But now, with Michael’s hand in mine, it seemed like nothing at all. The past was the past—what mattered was right now and all that lay before us.