Sixteen

Ihated this. Every last fucking second of the three hours Jordan had been gone had stressed me out more than any other single minute in my whole damn life. And for me that was saying something, but never in my life had I loved someone so much that a part of me would die if he was hurt—or worse.

"I thought Buddy would be back by now," I mumbled, and squeezed Jordan's hand, and he squeezed back. My eyes widened as I looked from his face to his hand. "Jordan? Did you hear me?"

"What is it? What happened?" Roger said, and the three of us stood over Jordan. Then Buddy was there, laying over the top of Jordan before he hopped up and barked at me, but not in warning. No, his bark was sheer happiness.

"Buddy? Is Jordan okay?" His tail wagged, and I wished once again that he could speak. But then Jordan's eyes fluttered and I dove to my knees to be closer to him. "Jordan?" I whispered and clutched his hand to my chest.

"Bran?" he choked out and licked his lips before his eyes opened.

"I'm here, baby, oh my god I'm here," I said, and tried not to burst into tears because right then every nerve and emotion was about as raw as it could get.

"It's okay. Everything is okay," he said before he pulled me to him, and I rested my head on his chest.

"I thought you were gone. I wasn't sure what was going on, but when Buddy didn't return, I thought something really bad had happened," I rambled with my mouth pressed against him.

"I wasn't sure either and when I first got there, I was scared. But then Buddy was there, and he let me know I wasn't alone. Then Edith appeared, and she helped me so much. I wish she had just talked to us when she was at the hospital, but I know now that was impossible."

"She was confused," I said.

"Yes, you know about the wraith?" He pulled back and tried to meet my eyes.

"Roger and Emilia have been filling me in. I had no idea about any of it. I thought it was a malicious spirit, but it's far more than that."

"Yes, it is. But it's also afraid of what it knows we can be if we work together. With your necromancer powers and my seer abilities, we can defeat and destroy it." Jordan's voice took on a determination I hadn't heard from him before. Gone was the doubt and confusion, now he was confident and more than ready to destroy what was becoming our greatest threat.

"Seer? So, you decided—" I left the thought hanging knowing full well he'd chosen to take up the power his family had passed down for generations.

"Yes, it's meant to be, and the fates won't be denied," he said, and cupped my jaw. "I love you so much."

"I love you too. You are my fate; no matter what else happens we do it together." I meant it to my bones, there was no one else for me. No one who could understand the craziness of my life, and no one who was an equal the way Jordan was.

"Edith taught me a lot. We need to talk, all of us. The wraith has been busy planning how to destroy us all for decades, possibly centuries. It's had lots of time to figure out our weaknesses and exploit them. It destroyed Edith, and if it could do that it can destroy us just as easy." Jordan sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the couch. "None of the seers are safe, and their lineage is in danger. The wraith is trying to destroy us all for good."

"We explained about us needing another when the spirit is thrown out of the body," Roger said.

"Edith had her partner watching over her body when the wraith was finally strong enough to cross into this world. First it made sure her partner couldn't help her return then it stole Edith's memories and knowledge, making it hard for her to find her way back from the other side. When she finally did, she was left in a coma with no way of breaking free. It stole her life. Her partner died of a heart attack, but she thinks it was the wraith."

A look passed between Roger, Emilia, and Jordan. "If you are truly the seer then all of us will be responsible for you to pass safely and to guide any spirits that need your help," Roger said.

"Which makes you three the biggest targets of the wraith. We'll need to find a way to protect you, or I won't cross over no matter how much I'm compelled." Jordan looked between us all.

"It's not going to destroy anyone I care about," I said, and looked at each of them. "I don't understand everything about the seer or what exactly it means for you to throw your spirit, but I know it's important, and I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you're safe. All of you."

"The wraith must be destroyed. It was brought into being by a mistake, and since then it's been pushed away and temporarily stopped, but it comes back each time. And each time it takes more spirits and uses them before finally using them up and forcing them to live out eternity in limbo," Jordan said.

"Do you know what magic they used?" I asked.

"No, only that it's very old, and nature based. They were not trying to bring it here. They were trying to ensure that their relatives would cross over to the other side or be reborn. It uses our love against us, and tortures those of us that are ready to cross the veil," Jordan said.

"I'll help any way I can." Just as I spoke Justice walked into the room.

"This is what I was trying to tell you about. The veil is not safe. Many spirits who try to cross aren't able to, or they're absorbed by the wraith. It's building its powers. If you wait too long, it'll be too strong. It's not like it was the last time. It's worse," he said.

"Justice, I want you to know you don't have to avoid me anymore. I won't be in pain when you or any other spirit is nearby," Jordan said, and met my eyes again. "I'm not going to fight it anymore." Justice looked at me as he floated just above the ground. Roger and Emilia fussed over Jordan, and he looked between Justice and me. "It's going to be okay."

"I think we need to talk to Janis and see if she's aware of how the wraith works, and how your family is tied to the veil," I said, and kissed his forehead. "I'm so damn glad you're back and you're okay."

"Janis will be thrilled to know I finally understand what was causing me pain. She's tried everything and nothing was working. Now we can get to work on what needs to be done. Because if we leave things how they are now, none of us are safe. Including her brother. The first thing the wraith will want to do once it's powerful enough, is to influence him. It's tried before and all that stopped it was Jimbo's friends and his husband. Love is the answer but also the weakness," Jordan said. "I think I need to go home and rest." His eyes fluttered, and I realized even though he'd been unconscious he wasn't sleeping, and he needed to rest now more than anything.

"Come on, let's get you home," I said. Justice walked through the wall to wherever he went when he wasn't with us, and Buddy stayed close by. Roger and Emilia both hugged Jordan and shared whispered words of love and support before pulling me into the hug too.

"You're a part of us now," Roger said, and I was shocked at how emotional those words made me. Jordan's eyes met mine and were filled with so much joy and love my heart clenched. I was a part of them, but they were just as much a part of me. And together we could do anything. "You too, Buddy."

"I knew you knew he was there," I said, making all of us laugh. It felt so fucking good. So normal and so totally not what I was used to. I wanted more of this feeling, and more time spent with Jordan's family. "Jordan, make me a promise."

"Anything," he said with a grin.

"No more throwing your spirit without a little warning." I knew what had happened wasn't his fault, but I had to say something to make myself feel better. He curled into my side and kissed my neck. Once again, we were together and both of us had survived.