The Emerald Key (28 page)

“We are needed there.”

“You are needed here. With me.” He picked her up and strode to the bed.

Their lovemaking was sweet and tender and everything Cass wanted but her conscience bothered her. Nic was happy here. How could she ask him to leave? To go back to danger, and dirt, and pain?

After his breathing deepened into sleep, she rose and went back out to the balcony and watched the moon shine over the waves. It didn’t surprise her when Nic joined her.

“You really are a light sleeper, aren’t you?”

“Old habits. What’s wrong, Cass? I know you’re bothered by something.” He pulled up a chair and sat.

Cass chuckled and curled up in his lap. He could have easily have read her mind, but chose to give her privacy, which made her love him all the more. “You know me so well. I know the others will do what I say. How can I ask them to leave all this? How can I ask them to go back to where we’ll be in danger?”

“I’m not surprised you’re thinking that way.” He shifted and pushed the door wider open. “You heard?”

Phoebe, Dori, Kyrie, and the men crowded out onto the balcony. “We did,” Phoebe said. “Cass, you decide for you, not for us. We decided to go back. If you want to stay here, we will miss you, but will understand. But Kyrie and I are going back.”

“Dori, what about you and Greg?”

Cass saw Dori glance at Greg, who nodded. “We’re going to stay here. For the sake of our son.”

“Your son?” Cass, Phoebe, and Kyrie squealed and grabbed her in a huge hug. “When?”

“I’m three months gone. The physicians here checked me out. After the last few days, I wanted to be sure everything was okay, and he is.” Her smile darkened and tears swam in her eyes. “But I will miss you so much.”

They hugged again, then Phoebe turned to Cass. “So, the decision really is yours. Kyrie and I will go back. Dori is staying here. Her amulet will pass to one of us to find a new Keeper.”

Cass studied Nic’s face. “My love, I cannot ask you to go.”

“You’re not. We will go back with no regrets, but when I said I would go where you go, I was hoping we’d go together, with you as my wife.”

“Your what?”

“Wife.” He knelt on the balcony with the moonlight shining down on them and all their friends watching. “Cassandra, my love, will you marry me?”

She knelt next to him. “Yes, my love, my Protector, my own. I will.”

Another squeal came from the women.

* * * *

Two days later, Cass and Nic stood on the beach with a crowd around them. Minerva and Teodore performed the ceremony to join them. The next day, they stood once again at the opening to the cavern. Tears fell as the women hugged.

“Why the tears?” Minerva asked. She reached down and petted Wunjo, who’d shown up as they returned.

“Because we’ll never see Dori again,” Cass said. “You said the door would only be open at certain times.”

“Yes, but who says that it’s only once in a lifetime?”

“But…I mean, I thought we could only…how?”

“It can only be opened during certain times—four times a year. Since you know the ways of the keys now, you can open it on any of those days. We had to wait until you grew into your powers and the Protectors arrived. You must all come together so the door will open.”

“No other way?”

“Yes, there are other ways, but that’s not important. Be here in three months and we will see you again.”

Cass chewed her lips. “Aunt Minerva, there’s something you’re not telling me.”

Nic pulled Cass away and winked at Minerva. “They weave the threads as they must. Besides, we have a good picture, don’t we, Minerva?”

She smiled and nodded at him. “A picture is definitely worth a second look.”

“Meow.” Nic could have sworn Wunjo nodded as well. He glanced at the cat, then shook his head. He’d seen enough over the past few days to think about for a lifetime. Adding an odd cat to the mix was just one more bit of strange.

Nic took Cass’ arm. “Come, my lady. We have a new life to build in our own world.”

Cass grinned at him. “I don’t think it will be boring.”

“On that, we are in complete agreement.”

Alex “lifted” Cass across the water and she removed the pyramid from the pedestal. The portal silently closed and they stood there in the dark.

“Phoebe?”

“Yeah, I’m getting there.” A flame danced around the cavern, lighting the torches.

Cass took apart the pyramid and strung three of the amulets on chains. The fourth she placed in a cutout on the pedestal. “Alex?”

She floated to the ground and handed Phoebe and Kyrie their necklaces. Together, they put them on. Each woman went to her Protector and they left by three separate tunnels. Wunjo followed Nic and Cass. When they reached the barn, Wunjo turned to them. He narrowed his eyes at the two of them, nodded once, then, tail high in the air, and took off into the woods.

Cass stopped by the mound at the door to the barn. She shifted the dirt and dropped the entire mound gently into the hole she’d created, tamping it down.

“William was wrong about the power, Nic. He thought the keys opened the doorway to ultimate power.”

“In a way they did,” Nic said as he pulled Cass to him. “Love is the ultimate power. I know I certainly feel like the most powerful man in the world when I’m with you.”

“And I have the ultimate power when I’m with you, my love. For now. And forever.”

The End

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Vicky Burkholder lives in Pennsylvania near the area where her ancestors settled in 1741. She lives in a three-generation home full of creative family. At various times in her life, she has been a journalist, writer, editor, teacher, short-order cook, computer specialist, DJ, and librarian. Her writing spans the fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, and romance lines from YA to adult. Vicky can be reached through either of her blogs: http://www.vickyburkholder.com/ http://www.VictoriaAllenRomance.com