Everlasting (The Immortals #6)(88)
“So… we’re going to the Summerland version of Italy?” I say, trying not to sound as disappointed as I feel.
But Damen just laughs. “No. I had two reasons for coming here—one, to see if we could—and two, because I wanted to beat the traffic. We’re departing out of LAX. Our plane leaves at—” He glances at his watch then at me. “Our plane leaves in fifteen minutes.”
“But we have to go through security! And get to the gate, and—”
My words stopped by his own when he says,
“Shhh… just close your eyes and picture yourself in seat three-A with me sitting right there beside you…”
chapter forty-five
We land in our seats. And despite my fears, there’s so much preflight commotion no one seems to notice how we just suddenly appear.
And when Damen busies himself with placing my bag in the overhead bin, that’s when I notice how he failed to bring one of his own.
“What about you?” I watch as he takes the seat beside me. “I know it’s going to be an adjustment, but you can’t just manifest new stuff whenever you need it, you know? You’re going to have to actual y go to the store and buy it. You’re gonna need money and credit cards and passports and—oh my gawd, did you remember to bring money and credit cards and passports? And why are we even flying? Why didn’t we just make it so we landed in Italy?”
Damen grins, stops the flow of words with his lips. Instantly dissolving my worries, reminding me of what matters most.
He pul s away, brushes his hand across my cheek, tucking some stray strands back behind my ear when he says, “No worries. I’ve got it covered. Everything’s handled. We’re good. Oh, and as far as the plane goes, you wanted to be normal…”
“First class is normal?” I glance around the spacious, wel -appointed cabin, then back at him.
“It is with me.” He laughs.
I nod, enjoying the warmth of his hand in mine, gazing out the window as the plane makes for the runway. Unable to stop marveling at how far we’ve come—how far we’ve yet stil to go. Realizing I feel happier than I have in a very long time—perhaps maybe, ever.
Just about to direct my attention to the safety video (now that I’m no longer immortal I’m forced to worry about mundane things like that), when I see her.
Standing on the wing, jumping up and down and waving at me.
Riley.
My adorably sassy, ghostly little sister—and from what I can see, Buttercup is right there beside her.
I gasp in amazement, press my hand to the window. Wondering if the vision is real, if I’m truly able to see her now, or if it’s just wishful thinking. Then Buttercup barks and wags his tail, as Riley looks al around, as though she’s expecting to see somebody, as though she was fol owed.
I turn to Damen and yank on his sleeve, wanting him to see what I see. But by the time we turn, she’s gone. And try as I might, I can’t bring her back. But I saw her.
I know for a fact it was her.
I also know that I’l see her again. If not lol ing on airplane wings, then on the other side of that bridge. I just hope that one doesn’t come anytime soon. The plane pitches down the runway, gaining in speed, so I lean into Damen. My head just meeting his shoulder when a beautiful red tulip drifts down out of nowhere and lands on my lap.
The same tulip Damen tried to manifest earlier. We look at each other, our eyes wide with wonder, having al the proof that we need that it real y is true.
Everything that can be done in Summerland, can be done on the earth plane too—it just takes a little longer, that’s al .
I place my hand on the stem, as Damen places
his hand over mine. The two of us leaning into each other, feeling happy, content, eager to embrace whatever comes next, as the plane lifts into the sky.