Epilogue
Pandimora walked toward Drew's home as the snow fell gently all around her. Still very much in tune with her homeland, she felt its chaos through every part of her body. She had not returned to her dear Aisywel nor had Lukais tried to follow them, if he was still alive.
The faerie realm faced a bleak future unless a fearless leader could unite the worlds. Her homeland was breaking apart, her family was still missing. As of now, she had decided not to activate a portal until she had formed a solid plan of action. Aisywel had become too dangerous and unstable. Now she had to find Lilja, if indeed she was on the earth realm.
Drew was at his brother Grey's ranch on the outskirts of town since the weather had hampered his efforts until today. Amazingly, Drew's home appeared untouched from the explosion. Pandimora wondered if Irfin had somehow thrown the explosion into another dimension. As for fulfilling her bargain with the goblins, Drew had promised to see what he could do for the next Halloween celebration in town. But it would be a celebration for adults only. He didn't want to take a chance on children inadvertently coming into contact with the goblins.
Pandimora reached the front of the house as Drew's truck pulled into the driveway. She met him halfway and they shared a lingering kiss. "You'll freeze with no coat," he chided, pulling an extra heavy coat from his truck and helping her button into it.
"Faeries don't feel the cold," she reminded him, but she snuggled into the coat and inhaled his scent.
"There's something in the pocket for you," he said.
Looking at him, she pulled out the rolled up black cloth. Her breath caught with excitement as she saw the crystals inside. "Where did you get them?" she asked in soft amazement.
"Irfin. From what I can figure out, he cut all ties with Lukais. I imagine he's kept them protected and hidden in some way. He wanted you to have them."
"Oh my, oh my." She pressed them to her chest.
"Pandimora, I thought about this on the way home. Is there a way to ask the crystals about your family?"
She nodded, and still holding the crystals to her chest, she closed her eyes a moment. A hologram appeared as they stood there. Pandimora, her brother, baby sister and her parents sat eating at a large wooden table. Laughter and conversation flowed, their caring for each other evident. Clare stood and walked around to each of them, one arm cradling the infant, gently touching each of them on their shoulder and kissing the top of Pandimora and Kirklas' heads. She leaned against her husband. Declan, hair dark and eyes a sparkling green put his arm around her waist. Clare looked so different from the other hologram. Love and calm assurance shone in her eyes for those gathered.
Drew saw the tears in Pandimora's eyes. "I didn't think Irfin could make up for all he did wrong, but seeing the look in your eyes now, I was wrong," he said. "He's given you an unbelievable gift."
Without words she wrapped the crystals and put them almost reverently back into the jacket pocket.
"Thank you." She finally said, softly. "I was always fascinated with human life. I visited upon occasion, but never did I envision I would come to love a human so profoundly." Her kiss stirred the embers of the fire never burning far from the surface in Drew.
He held her in his arms as the snow fell on them.
"Were you able to see your brother?" she asked.
Drew nodded. "Yeah, it was odd though. I'm sure I saw a woman but then she disappeared. My brother Grey didn't want to talk about it and I could see he was torn up about something. He did mention a woman's name. Lilja. Kind of unusual --"
Pandimora gave a high-pitched scream. "My sister!"
Grey tensed. "Lilja -- you never said her name! There could be only one, right? We need to go to my brother's ranch. Your sister was there."
Pandimora put a hand to her heart as joy raced through her.
They walked swiftly to his truck. Pandimora was so excited her trembling fingers had trouble opening the door. Drew reached past her and pulled it open, helping her into the vehicle.
They reversed out of the driveway and into the road. Pandimora squeezed her hands tightly. Lilja was found!
Now she had to find Kirklas.
Find Me: Faeries Lost Page 31
