Page 70 of Lover Forbidden (The Black Dagger Brotherhood #23)

Floating.

Lyric was floating through a white landscape, fog roiling up around her, her body weightless in a way that reminded her of being up in the Sanctuary. When she came upon a white door, she had a sudden shock.

The Fade? Was she really… here?

Vague memories of what had transpired down below played through her mind, but they were like echoes of something that had happened to someone else, even as she remembered jumping in front of that gun to protect L.W., even as she recalled—

Dev.

Pain lanced through her, and she felt tears come to her eyes.

In an impossibly fast series of images, she watched their entire relationship, from the start to where it had ended, everything playing out with a painful clarity.

And as she got to that last argument, she knew he was right.

She had kept her secret as well, but the magnitude of what he had not shared was…

Oh, what did it matter. She was here now, and she knew what it meant.

She had died.

And though she was so very sad for everyone she was leaving behind, she found herself feeling rather done with life, like it was a problem she had tried to solve and the calculations had just gotten way out of her capabilities.

Confronting the door, she put her hand forward toward the knob, knowing that as soon as she turned it and opened—

Someone appeared in the closed panel, someone who made the tears in her eyes multiply until they were spilling down her cheeks.

“Granmahmen.”

The smile that came back at her was just what it used to be, joyous and strong, healthy and happy. Gone were the wasting and the pain, the sadness and the resignation that the bill had come due for a mortal’s purchase of life.

All the vitality was back, and so was that beautiful face.

“Lyric.”

Oh, yes, and that voice, that lovely voice, too.

“Do you really think it is your time?” Her namesake gestured toward whatever was behind herself. “It is beautiful there, nothing except peace and tranquility, but my dear girl, there’s so much to keep you where you are down below.”

“I miss you,” she croaked out.

“And I miss you.” Her granmahmen smiled again. “And I want you to know that I’m waiting for all of you here. I’m safe, and content to bide the time you are due upon the earth, each of you. Do not rush this decision just because of your heartbreak.”

“I can’t… be with Dev, Granmahmen . I never should have started this with him. He’s not… who I thought he was.”

“Are you sure about that? My child, do you not remember what I told you about him?”

Lyric wiped her tears and remembered back to the last conversation she and her granmahmen had had. “You, ah, you said that everything will be all right in the end…”

“And if it’s not all right?”

When her granmahmen nodded for her to reply, she finished with: “Then it’s not the end. But I think you’re wrong. I think this is the end, this is how it ends. Maybe what’s right is just supposed to be painful in my case.”

“And I believe you should listen to your elder.” Her granmahmen smiled some more—and then looked down sharply.

“Oh, it appears he is about to prove me right. How nice that he has exactly the magic you not only were looking for, but that you need in this moment. Alas, all that is for you to discover and do with what you will, though. You always have freedom of choice, my dear.”

The vision began to recede and fade away. “Know that I love you, very much. Tell everybody I say hello!”

On that note, the spirit of her granmahmen disappeared.

Lyric looked at the knob—

A sudden bolt went through her, and she glanced down.

Through the cloud cover at her feet, she could suddenly see a keyhole view of everything that was happening in that apartment of Dev’s: She was lying where she had slumped to the floor after the gunshot, Rhamp and Doc Jane by her head, the Brotherhood all around her.

Some kind of injection had just been given to her. Clearly, that was the reason for the revival she was abruptly feeling, the connection with her body having been lost, but now reestablished… such that she could, if she wanted, follow the signal back to be reunited with her physical form.

Thus rejoining her family and friends, all of whom were looking absolutely heartbroken and horrified.

Instantly, she recalled the promise she had made to her granmahmen on that deathbed.

It was because of that vow, and for the people she loved, that she returned.

Not Dev.

Whatever he was.

Their end had occurred, and now it was up to her to make things “okay.”