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But why would Zoe give up Brick himself, her sometimes-lover, sometimes-father figure, always quasi-religious figure and king?

Why wouldJordantrust him with this, given he’d had no time at all to adjust to turning from a human into a vampire?

Why would Charlie, who seemed to like her life on this version of the Earth, as a N.Y.P.D. detective and generally fun and happy person? Why wouldshewant to jump off this particular cliff? Was she leaving for Jordan and Morley? Or was there another reason?

Some of the choices around him made sense, of course.

James Morley was getting on in years, but strangely, Nick could see why he might want to come along, if only to glimpse the possibility of a different kind of world.

Tai and Malek didn’t belong here, any more than Nick himself did.

Neither did Wynter, his mate.

But the rest of them all bewildered Nick on some level.

While this group felt like therightgroup, strangely, and in a way Nick couldn’t really explain to himself, Nick still couldn’t make sense of the individual choices. Some in the group, he didn’t know at all, like the two vampires who’d attached themselves in the wake of their fight with Nick’s doppelgänger and his army of newborns.

One of those vampires was dating Forrest Walker, and obviously signed on to follow him. The other had been a member of Walker’s posse, as well, and likely didn’t want to be separated from him and the other vampire.

Or maybe they just wanted out of this world that treated vampires like vermin.

Nick could only guess as to the motives of each of them.

He didn’t know either vampire at all.

What did all these people hope to find on the other side?

Where did they expect Nick to lead them?

Go on,Wynter urged him, feeling his anxiety.You can’t control what they do. They’re their own people, Nick. They have their own minds. And apart from Tai, they’re all adults. They know the risks.

Do they, though?Nick muttered back nervously.

Well,Wynter admitted.They know as much or as little as the rest of us, apart from maybe you. They know thereisrisk. They know thereareno guarantees. You told them as much as you could, including the possibility that we might not all land in the same place, and even if we do, we might not land there at the same time.

Nick frowned, but didn’t answer.

He had told them all that.

It didn’t seem to change anyone’s mind.

Wynter’s thoughts grew teasing.They won’t blame you if it’s not perfect, you know.She paused.Or, maybe they will. But they’d be wrong. And if they get shot off to a different planet, or a different dimension, or sent to the same place as us, but two thousand years in the past, it’s pretty unlikely you’ll ever have to hear about it.

Nick grunted, half in annoyance, half in affection.

“Not reassuring, wife,” he murmured.

But true,she sent primly.

Nick glanced up at the night sky, and realized he was still stalling.

He stood only five or so yards from the maw of the portal, and so close, he could feel the tendrils there pulling on him, coaxing him nearer. They felt inviting, even seductive. The sharp, electrical-type current that ran between his skin and that tear in existence warmed every exposed inch of his vampire skin.

He couldn’t have explained the sensation, but he liked it.

It raised the hairs on his arms, calmed his chest, and even tinged his vision reddish-pink, which told him his irises were being affected.

Yet, he could still feel himself stalling.