Page 13 of Sealed With A Kiss (GSC In Love #5)

Nikolai Survolar

A fter mixing Hendrix’s tea as instructed and drinking the cup I’d prepared, I lay down on my office couch.

I wasn’t sure what to do but was told I had to fully relax.

Closing my eyes I let my consciousness drift until I caught the faint whiff of lavender.

Opening my eyes, I was no longer surrounded by beige and teal décor, but instead, I was in a field of calming flowers. And Stacey was beside me.

“Hey, Nikki.” Stacey’s sweet voice soothed a wound on my heart, like a sweet song I hadn’t heard in too long. “It’s about time you asked Hendrix for that tea. I’ve been waiting.”

“You have?” I reached out and was surprised when I felt warm flesh beneath my fingertips. “How did you know I’d be coming to speak with you?”

“Nikki, I’ve known you since we were kids. I know how your brain and heart work.” Stacey tilted her head, her cheek met my palm firmly. “I knew that you would need help figuring out that you are not doing anything wrong.”

“But I promised you—”

“Nikki, I am not bound to Earth’s vows any longer.

And I have seen your mate and how much he loves you and our daughter.

You deserve that. Don’t let those promises you made to me stand in your way of happiness.

” Stacey grabbed my hand and kissed my knuckles like she always had.

“It’s okay to be happy. I’m happy to see Willow and you smiling again. ”

“You don’t hate me?” I felt tears gathering in the corners of my eyes. That was one of my worst fears, that Stacey felt betrayed and hated me for moving on.

“Oh, Nikki.” Stacey moved in and wrapped her slender arms around me.

“I could never hate you. But especially not for living a full life after I’m gone.

The moment I took my last breath, I no longer was tied down to the same ideas that an earthbound soul is.

I only wanted you and our daughter to find happiness.

And when I foresaw you meeting Milo, I knew I needed to warn you.

That’s why I made sure Xavier had another vision and could tell the family.

It’s also why I sent you that bird to sing you our song. ”

“That was you?”

“It was. I was so happy when you seemed to have understood and made Milo yours.” Stacey pulled away and scrunched up her face in a fake glare. “Then you started being stupid and letting guilt cloud your vision.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Not to me.” Stacey hugged me again and then stepped back. “Go tell your mate and our child you’re sorry. It was them who had to deal with a mopey Nikki.”

“I will.” I smiled. “I miss you, Stacey.”

“I know, Nikki.” Stacey placed a hand on my chest, above my heart. “But I’m always here.”

“I know.”

“Good. Now go to your mate.” Stacey smiled. “He has a surprise for you.”

Milo Mikolov

Willow slept in her playpen as I set up the special surprise for her and Nik.

After calling my mom and speaking a bit about the situation, she was able to help me see that I could do something to help my little family remember the woman who blessed us with Willow, while still moving forward together as a new family unit.

My parents had met after my dad’s first mate died and so she knew a bit about the situation I found myself in.

For her, my older twin brothers were four and my sister was less than a year old.

So, she had even more heart to heal. I remembered how there was always a small altar in the corner of our living room for Monroe, my dad’s first mate, and that Melody, Mark, and Malcolm were always putting special notes there when something incredible or even awful happened that they wished they could speak to their birth parent about.

I decided that Willow and Nik deserved that same space to share with Stacey.

While Nik was at the training center, I took Willow on a small supply run and purchased a few things I would need to create the spaces I wanted.

Like my family growing up, we now had a small cabinet altar on the wall in our living room where Stacey’s picture was kept and a couple items I found around the house that once belonged to her.

When that one was complete, I turned my focus to the nursery.

Willow deserved her own special space for her mom.

On a shelf near her bed, I placed a shadow box that contained a few things of Stacey’s, a couple of ultrasound pics and a picture of the beautiful woman radiating with the joy she had while carrying her little girl in her womb.

As my little girl grew up, having those things of her mom’s would show her what a gift she was even before she graced this living plane.

I was just finishing the special touches I wanted to add for them when I heard my mate’s intake of air from the doorway.

“What is this?”

Turning to him, I offered a smile and shrugged. “I needed you to know that I understand. She will always be a part of our family.”

“This is beautiful.” Nik stepped fully into the room and over to the small mural I had painted of a small girl playing in a field with an angel. “They look just like Stacey and what Willow will look like in two years.”

“That was what I was going for.” I put the paintbrush down and checked my clothes for paint splatters. “I wanted something special but mobile in case we ever move, that’s why it’s on the canvas instead of on the wall like I had originally planned.”

“Thank you.” Nik came to me and pulled me into his arms. “I saw Stacey today.”

“You did?” I pulled back a bit so I could look at my mate’s face. “You okay?”

“I am.” The corners of Nik’s face lifted, and his eyes glowed a bit, the way they did when he and his beast were both content. “It was good to hear from her that she doesn’t hate me.”

“Do you think you are ready to let go of that guilt now?” I placed my palm on his cheek.

“I do. I think I may check in on her from time to time. Make sure I’m doing right by her in how I raise Willow.” Lines appeared near his brow. “Is that okay?”

“If that’s what you need. There is room in our lives for Willow’s mother.”

“Good. I think I can finally relax and embrace what we have.”

“That’s good.” I took his hand and placed it on my belly. “Because Willow’s going to be a big sister, and both your babies need a happy daddy.”