The third ring is Vin’s. I grip this one tighter, as if I can squeeze the life out of it. Vin, the one who suggested creating me. Vin whose idea it was to kill Aaron’s family. I whip that one into the lake as hard as I can, my anger shooting it far into the water like a rocket launched into the sky.
Ring number two. Benji. From what Zane has told me and the memories I’ve seen, I wish I could’ve known Benji. He was the opposite to the other four. The anthesis to my father. The wise man with the heart. Perseidians aren’t capable of love, yet Benji was. I am gentle with his ring, letting the waves rock it free from the shore.
The final ring is my fathers. I roll it in my hand. This ring has brought so much good and so much bad. My father had been capable of love. Somewhere in a different time, he had loved deeply. A girl walked into his life who had taught him to love so much that he turned his back on the alien part of his life and surrendered himself to a different future. Losing her had changed that, it had broken him in places that never could be repaired. It had changed him into the cold, hateful man whose body now dances on the shoreline just a few feet away. But this ring, I don’t throw in anger. This ring I don’t send gently in love. This ring, I raise my hand in the air and let go.
* * *
It is after I had tossed the last one, I realize what a moron I am. How am I supposed to get home? I glance around at the rocks and cliffs that surround me. I’ve never given much thought to traveling—real traveling—before. Using these rings lately have made everything so convenient.
It’s several hours before I manage to climb up through the hills and find a ride to Star Harbor. It’s almost midnight when I’m dropped off at the cabins. Zane’s leaning against the truck as if he’d been waiting for me since I left.
“Where is she?” I ask.
“What? No ‘hi’. No ‘thanks for your help’?” He crosses his arms.
“Fine. Hi. Thank you. Where is she?”
“I think she’s planning on going home. She’s pretty pissed you know. Or she thinks you’re dead. Not exactly sure on that one.” He lifts a finger to his chin.
“And you didn’t correct her?”
“Hey, I wasn’t sure myself. Besides, she is pretty mad at you right now. And I can’t say I blame her.”
“Eh. It’s probably all for the best anyway.” I lean against the truck next to him. “The Nexus and the rings may be gone. My father may be gone. But who knows what else is out there and who will come looking? I can’t take that risk with her. She’s happy in her other life. What do I have to give her anyway?”
“You’re an idiot.” Zane says. “Moronic, stupid, idiot. Do you really think she left? Do you think she would really go not knowing whether you died or not? You are a moron.” He taps his finger on my forehead.
“Well, that’s rich coming from you. I don’t see you running after Jayme.”
“If Jayme walks into my life tomorrow, yeah I’ll definitely bring on the charm and not let her get away. But she hasn’t. Sage showed up in Star Harbor, looking for you. You two belong together. You’re an idiot if you can’t see that.”
“I can’t. I just can’t. I’ll ruin—”
“You can either go after her and give it everything you’ve got, or you can stay here and be miserable and let love destroy you. Like it destroyed Laris.”
“But—”
“If you had a damn brain in your head, you’d go after her.”
My breath hitches as I glance across the beach to the inky black lake. I didn’t have to ask what he meant, because I knew exactly where she is.”
And as my walk turned into a run, I head for our beach. I’m going to finally be the hero in my story…and hers.
Epilogue
Sage
I stand on the main street on Mackinac Island. There is the flag hanging from the window above our favorite fudge shop, several bikes parked next to the sidewalk, red flowers bursting from pots on the street lamps. It’s exactly like I’ve always dreamed.
There are people. People I know. People I don’t. People stopping to smile.
I turn to face Stella, who stands next to me in a pale pink satin dress holding a colorful bouquet. I look down at my clothes, twirling the silk and lace skirt.
I am the bride.
The sound of horses’ hooves clattering along the pavement draws my attention back to the main street. A black horse-drawn carriage approaches, driven by a graying man in a black suit and top hat. The open carriage stops in front of me, and a man emerges from the buggy, wearing a black tux and a smile.
He climbs out and walks toward me, every step stirring the very depths of my heart. When he reaches me, he holds out his hand. But I’m shaking too hard to take it. Shaking too hard to move. Shaking too hard to breathe.
“Daddy.” Tears fall from my face, creating puddles on the ground beneath me. His smile widens, crinkling in the corners of his cheeks and his eyes.
“Don’t cry,” he says, running a finger on my cheek. “You’ll ruin your makeup.”
“I don’t care.” I throw myself into his arms. He wraps his arms around me, and I soak in their strength. They are the arms that held me when I was born, the arms that held me on his shoulders so I could see over the crowds at the annual parade, the hands that comforted me the night I called things off with Hunter. “I love you so much.”
“I know.” He cradles my head in one hand and pats my shoulder with the other. “I know. We don’t want to be late.” He kisses my head before pulling away to help me into the carriage. My dress swirls around me, and I clutch material in my fists as he lifts Stella up, who squeezes in beside me. He climbs in last, sitting across from us and draping an arm across the back of the seat. He smiles, “My beautiful girls.”
Stella giggles, but I just smile.
The carriage begins to move, bumping along the street. We pass the rows of spotless white buildings and colorful signs advertising candy and fudge and gifts and books. The sky is a deep blue, the sun the perfect blend of gold and white.
A soft breeze mixes with the vibrant color. I smell the fudge and the flowers and the lake. The island is alive and gorgeous, but the sight before me trumps every bit of the beautiful scenery. My dad’s eyes, a sparkling mix of light brown and green. The tiny wrinkles in his forehead and surrounding his smile. The love shining from his face. Stella next to me, her eyes bright, her hand clutching mine. She rests her head on my shoulder.
“We’ll still be sisters, right?” Stella bites her lip.
“Always,” I say. “You will always be my sister. Just think, now you’re getting a brother too.”
She smiles and turns her gaze to the window. I glance across the carriage at my father who is watching us with love. I sigh and close my eyes.
This day—this dream—is here.
I open my eyes again, afraid to keep them closed for too long. Afraid to lose this moment. Afraid of this dream ending. The carriage moves and the buildings fade into tree-lined streets. Emerald green lawns surround us, and glimpses of water shimmer in the distance.
We’re on the drive to the Grand Hotel. It sprawls high on the island, majestic and shining in the sun. The carriage bounces along next to the hotel, passing the endless porch. Rows and rows of clean white railing and bright red flowers. The horses slow to a stop in front of the red-carpeted staircase to the porch. The stairs are empty, stark red against the white. My dad steps from the carriage first, helps Stella out, and holds his arm out for me.
“Ready?” he asks.
I nod. I am ready. But I also want to savor each moment. Every detail, every smell, every taste. I want to slow it down, but I’m on my dad’s arm, climbing the steps, my dress sweeping behind me. At the top, we turn toward the west porch. Stella begins to walk, taking the slow, careful steps she had practiced all month. She sprinkles red rose petals in her wake on the path between the railings and white rocking chairs. The sun is falling in the sky and pink mixes with the gold, casting an unearthly glow across the porch.
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“Wait,” my dad says. “Don’t forget this.” He presses the lush bouquet of pink and red roses into my hands.
We move, stepping off the red carpet and onto the porch. Rose petals flutter under our shoes and music begins to play. It’s the perfect melody.
Beautiful. So beautiful.
Each step across the porch brings a memory.
Reading Harry Potter with my dad, twirling in the kitchen, a box wrapped in pink and white paper with a heart-shaped locket inside. Adam rescuing me from the lake, water balloon fights with Lucas, skipping stones, chasing fireflies, catching fish, bonfires on the beach.
Dreaming about the boy with blue eyes, Painting the picture of Lake Superior, breaking up with Hunter. Meeting Lucas, Visiting Star Harbor, Finding Adam.
And pink roses.
Each memory blending one life with another and blurring the lines of my reality. They all lead to this same place, this same moment. The hope growing inside of me with each step closer and closer. Don’t let this be a dream. Don’t let this be a dream.
Adam waits for me, smiling.
I let go of my dad, and he squeezes my fingers and whispers, “I’ll see you later sweetheart.” I catch a glimpse of my mother in the front row, smiling and dabbing a tissue to her eyes.
Adam takes my hand and leads me to where the porch widens at the end, and the minister waits. Standing in a black tux is Aaron. He grins.
Words are read and vows are said, but I’ll never remember them. I’ll hate myself later for not listening. For not memorizing every glorious promise we make, but I’m too lost in Adam. Drifting in the sea of his eyes. I want to live there, forever part of him.
He holds my hands. He says words.
I repeat them.
More words, more prayers, more blessings.
And I am wrapped up in Adam, in his kiss. The sky above us darkens before exploding into green and blue and pink waves of light. They dance around us in breathtaking patterns, creating colors I’ve never seen before.
“The northern lights,” I say when the kiss ends. “So beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you.” Adam pulls me close. We’re joined by a piano and a violin, and we’re dancing. He twirls me and holds me and kisses me. The song is haunting, a bittersweet blend of hope and love and the heartache it took to get here.
The moment is perfect, and I want to hold on so tight. Lucas interrupts us. “Got to dance with the ex,” he says with a laugh.
“Lucas,” I smile. “How are you?”
He smiles and points across the room to where Brianna swirls across the dance floor in Adam’s arms. A diamond glitters off her finger.
“Oh, Lucas,” I gasp. “Congratulations.”
“Shhh,” he says. “She didn’t want to ruin your day.” It’s strange, reconciling the Brianna she was with the Brianna she is now. My father’s death changed the course of so many lives.
Lucas releases me and before I can blink, I’m in Aaron’s arms. “Hey princess,” he says. “I’m so glad this day is finally here. That little brother of mine can go on and on—”
“Aaron,” I interrupt him, pointing to a table where my roommate sit with a handful of my college friends. His breath hitches when he sees her. The redheaded girl laughing with them. “Adam told me,” I continue. “He told me that you didn’t want to interrupt her life, but if she ever walked back into yours…”
He looks back at me and then to her again. “Sage, I—”
“Go,” I say.
The song changes, and I’m back in Adam’s arms. We’re dancing again, holding on so tight that there is no longer two of us. Just one being, beating and breathing together. He cups my face and kisses me. He wipes tears and hair from my eyes. He smiles. Oh, how he smiles.
The melody, the lights, the guests, the hotel disappear. It all disappears.
“It’s almost time to go, isn’t it?”
He presses his fingers to my lips and smiles.
“I love you. Forever and ever,” he says. “I once promised you. That someday, somehow, I would find you again. On the other side of the stars.”
He pulls me close, his lips on mine. I taste our tears, the sorrow, the pain, the hope, the happiness for the lifetime of kisses ahead of us.
I blink.
This time, my eyes are fluttering open to a beach pink with the sunrise.
In Adam’s arms.
Also by Carrie Bastyr
One Starry Knight (The Starry Knight Saga Book 1)
The Lost Knight (The Starry Knight Saga Book 2)
Acknowledgments
To my family and friends who supported me (even if you didn’t read the book), thank you so much!!!
To my readers, thank you. It’s surreal to know that strangers are reading my words, and every time someone has reached out to say how much they’ve enjoyed it, it’s brought so much encouragement. Your words hang on a buckle board by my desk.
To everyone I acknowledged in the first two books, one again thank you. I could not have done this without you.
This book has been a struggle. The last few months have been one of the most heartbreaking and difficult times in my life. So, I’d like to give a special shoutout to the people who’ve kept me going.
To Cera, your holiday visit was exactly what I needed. Laughing with you and telling old stories was so much fun. Please move back.
To Liv, thanks for the text messages asking if I’m alive. I am.
To Jon for your wisdom, Ali for your macarons, and Teddy for being cute.
To Cheddar and Brie for their emotional support and to Luna for keeping things ‘interesting’
To Mariel, for your adorable drawings of Adam and Sage.
To Deb, I really don’t know what I would do without you. Thanks for being there.
To Hailey, for your amazing and kind heart. For sharing your helpful ‘teen’ advice, and for being my TV show/ movie binge buddy. I am blessed to have such an amazing daughter like you. And yes, you matter.
To Anna, my Yoda. Thanks for your amazing help over Christmas break. Thank you for generosity and that caring heart of yours. I am so, so proud of you.
To Joe, for absolutely everything. You’ve read even though you hate to read, you’ve taken over the business side so all I have to do is write, you’ve let me talk when I need to, cry when I have to, and given me the ‘kick in the butt’ to finish this. You’ve held my hand through all of this and I couldn’t love you more.
To my grandpa, thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me. You have been an amazing grandfather. Even in the end, you thought of me first, asking me about the books. I’m glad I got one last goodbye and one last ‘I love you’. See you soon.
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