partner was with his Gemini, Lydia, who I’d not met yet. I only recognized her because their matching colors were blinding. The Elders were there, too.
It was still weird seeing them all together.
Sophie was my guardian when I was a kid, so now wrapping my head around her being an equal or even a subordinate took some getting used to.
And Eli. Seeing him with Lailah, when I could still recall dating him.
Yeah. Still weird.
But none of that mattered, because this was home.
I had a family. Genesis.
Remie removed his hands from Phoebe’s eyes, and her jaw popped open.
“Oh my gosh.” She threw her hands over her mouth. “It’s so pretty.” Her eyes welled with tears as she walked around the room, admiring the decorations and the spread of food on the table.
“Merry Christmas. I’m so glad you came.” Sophie pulled Phoebe into a hug, running her hands over Phoebe’s hair. “It’s going to be okay, child. I promise.”
Sophie and Phoebe were always close. Sophie was like our mother figure after she rescued us from the foster demon.
My role as Eternal Mother didn’t feel like I expected it to since Eternalizing. I still didn’t see myself like Sophie.
Nurturing.
Protective? Hell, yeah. But nurturing?
Sometimes I wondered if I didn’t get the mothering gene. Or maybe I just wasn’t that kind of mother.
What did Eternal Mother mean, anyway?
Phoebe pulled away, wiping her eyes. “You did all this for me?”
“We love you.” I stepped beside them.
Phoebe turned around and hugged me, whispering into my ear. “Thank you, Zoe. I love you.”
“Love you too, Phoebs.” I squeezed her, nodding at Remie.
Remie reached for her and pulled her into his arms. “Let’s eat.”
We sat at the table with the Christmas feast. All the usual favorites waited—ham and turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, lots of different sides and desserts.
Man, was it good. Those Eternals could cook.
I was no domestic goddess, which is probably why they didn’t ask me to help.
We ate and joked. Laughed. Like we didn’t have a care in the world.
It was a nice change from a few days ago.
After eating, Remie stood and picked up his wine glass.
“I want to thank everyone for coming, for making this Christmas special for Phoebe.” He chugged down the drink for some liquid courage then reached his hands down toward her. “I have one more surprise for you.”
She stared suspiciously, wrinkling her nose.
I grabbed Cade’s hand. “Come sit with me?”
He nodded and followed me to the piano on the makeshift stage they’d set up.
We all took our places while Remie pulled Phoebe to her feet, leading her to a chair in front of a microphone.
Once Phoebe was settled, I started to play.
Phoebe held in her tears as the notes from her favorite 80s song echoed through the hall.
The acoustics in the Great Hall were off the charts.
“This is for you, Phoebe. Because no matter what happens, I’m yours. Faithfully. Forever.”
Remie started singing.
I watched in awe, playing piano from the corner of the stage.
Remie sang sweetly to his girl.
Phoebe cried her usual happy tears.
Being Eternal was amazing, but I did kind of miss the human side of living. It was something I’d never have again, and to be honest, with watching the scene unfold before me, I was a little jealous of my best friend.
Remie’s words reminded me, though.
This journey of falling in love time after time was pretty freaking sweet.
I glanced at my Gemini sitting beside me as I played.
Cade’s gaze was glued to mine, an expression of pure peace exuded from him.
He really did adore me. It was written all over his face.
I realized then there was absolutely nothing to be jealous over.
I had my Gemini, and this was exactly how it was meant to be.
Now Phoebe would have hers too.
We played the last chords of the song, and Remie set down the guitar, moving toward his girl.
Phoebe rose to her feet, and Remie pulled her into his arms,
It was still weird seeing them all together.
Sophie was my guardian when I was a kid, so now wrapping my head around her being an equal or even a subordinate took some getting used to.
And Eli. Seeing him with Lailah, when I could still recall dating him.
Yeah. Still weird.
But none of that mattered, because this was home.
I had a family. Genesis.
Remie removed his hands from Phoebe’s eyes, and her jaw popped open.
“Oh my gosh.” She threw her hands over her mouth. “It’s so pretty.” Her eyes welled with tears as she walked around the room, admiring the decorations and the spread of food on the table.
“Merry Christmas. I’m so glad you came.” Sophie pulled Phoebe into a hug, running her hands over Phoebe’s hair. “It’s going to be okay, child. I promise.”
Sophie and Phoebe were always close. Sophie was like our mother figure after she rescued us from the foster demon.
My role as Eternal Mother didn’t feel like I expected it to since Eternalizing. I still didn’t see myself like Sophie.
Nurturing.
Protective? Hell, yeah. But nurturing?
Sometimes I wondered if I didn’t get the mothering gene. Or maybe I just wasn’t that kind of mother.
What did Eternal Mother mean, anyway?
Phoebe pulled away, wiping her eyes. “You did all this for me?”
“We love you.” I stepped beside them.
Phoebe turned around and hugged me, whispering into my ear. “Thank you, Zoe. I love you.”
“Love you too, Phoebs.” I squeezed her, nodding at Remie.
Remie reached for her and pulled her into his arms. “Let’s eat.”
We sat at the table with the Christmas feast. All the usual favorites waited—ham and turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, lots of different sides and desserts.
Man, was it good. Those Eternals could cook.
I was no domestic goddess, which is probably why they didn’t ask me to help.
We ate and joked. Laughed. Like we didn’t have a care in the world.
It was a nice change from a few days ago.
After eating, Remie stood and picked up his wine glass.
“I want to thank everyone for coming, for making this Christmas special for Phoebe.” He chugged down the drink for some liquid courage then reached his hands down toward her. “I have one more surprise for you.”
She stared suspiciously, wrinkling her nose.
I grabbed Cade’s hand. “Come sit with me?”
He nodded and followed me to the piano on the makeshift stage they’d set up.
We all took our places while Remie pulled Phoebe to her feet, leading her to a chair in front of a microphone.
Once Phoebe was settled, I started to play.
Phoebe held in her tears as the notes from her favorite 80s song echoed through the hall.
The acoustics in the Great Hall were off the charts.
“This is for you, Phoebe. Because no matter what happens, I’m yours. Faithfully. Forever.”
Remie started singing.
I watched in awe, playing piano from the corner of the stage.
Remie sang sweetly to his girl.
Phoebe cried her usual happy tears.
Being Eternal was amazing, but I did kind of miss the human side of living. It was something I’d never have again, and to be honest, with watching the scene unfold before me, I was a little jealous of my best friend.
Remie’s words reminded me, though.
This journey of falling in love time after time was pretty freaking sweet.
I glanced at my Gemini sitting beside me as I played.
Cade’s gaze was glued to mine, an expression of pure peace exuded from him.
He really did adore me. It was written all over his face.
I realized then there was absolutely nothing to be jealous over.
I had my Gemini, and this was exactly how it was meant to be.
Now Phoebe would have hers too.
We played the last chords of the song, and Remie set down the guitar, moving toward his girl.
Phoebe rose to her feet, and Remie pulled her into his arms,
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