“What? We ’t lose everything she…” Heather stopped when she felt Cire’s finger over her lips along with a little jolt of excitement that she’d not felt in over a year, cloudihoughts. “Cl-” Heather murmured lightly through her blocked lip.

  “Shhh..We will discuss that moment in..a moment.” Cire cooed pyfully, then resumed her task. “Ask yourself what you’ve done since you have arrived back here.” Cire dropped her finger and slipped her hands back over Heather’s cheeks, her touch gentle and intimate. “Tell me what’s happened, what have you personally done.”

  It all started with the summons that had finally found her a few cities away, living out of a temporary motel. Without much else going on, She’d hastily packed her and Carrie up and drove back both to hear what Tatum offered and to face her own internal demons. “I arrived…Tatum and I talked like old friends and it felt right.” Heather watched as Cire pulled away and only held her hands, sending little pulses of fident-boosting magito her. “I ied the farm, she sent a ruo Rid. Shadewraiths attacked and I used the darkrealm to fight back.”

  “Where was Carrie?” Cire inquired.

  “On my chest, I used her as my anchor…” Heather’s eyes went wide as saucers. “I used my daughter to..to..”

  “Heather, did you take her on this little attack mission to save Tatum’s mind and spirit?” Cire entwined her fingers with Heather's. “I see from the look in your eyes that you did.” Cire sighed, “You’ve spent the st year proteg Carrie from everything…just to give all that up the sed you saw…Tatum, again.”

  “Tatum isn’t aer than Denise, is she?” Heather pulled the ring off a in the box with the other things that held Tatum’s memories. “I used magic that I hate to pull her spirit and mind from that thing.”

  With a little risky move, Cire slinked her arms arouher’s waist and pulled her tightly into a hug. “You did the right thing, saving her spirit. That is what a doctor would do…a healer. A person who is ed for the health of others. Body, mind and spirit…right?”

  Chills rifled across Heather’s body, at the thought of being touched by another who wasn’t her daughter. Without aatioher ed her arms around Cire’s shoulders and neck. “Right.” Pulling away briefly, Heather produced the USB drive for Cire. “Tatum’s will.”

  “See? I don’t think you were meant to do this, Heather.” Cire stepped closer and illuminated her lips with a soft yellow. “You just let her go. Let her be at peace.” With a clut her stomach that ached and caused Cire to get lightheaded, she pushed herself within a breath of Heather’s lips and waited until she felt the tiny touch of silky lips. Almost as if falling over a fun waterfall, Cire released the uplifting magi her lips and pressed herself into a delightful kiss.

  Before she knew what she was doing, Heather had Cire closer to her than anyone else other than Derek. With a slight hesitation from a tiny pang of guilt for the man she loved, it was the peaceful pulse of happiness emanating from Cire that pushed Heather onward. Fetting the issues of the st few minutes, Heather let her guard down removed the tiny distand tapped Cire’s lips. A brief clut her chest told Heather that she was excited and joyous for what was about to e. When the ache released, Heather rolled Cire’s hair in her hands as she meshed her lips with Cire’s. A warmth that she’d not felt since Derek passed, Heather hungrily threw herself into the lip-bond she’d gotten herself into. Seds passed into a minute aher opened her mouth for a necessary breath, yet kept herself attached to Cire. “I - I didn’t know..” Heather breathed heatedly.

  tent to keep right on kissiher, Cire purred while she half-heard what Heather was babbling. “Don’t - thin..think about..” She trailed off with a few more murmurs and before Cire knew what she was doing, she’d had her hands down and was squeeziher’s shapely ass. It was a flick of Heather’s tohat made Cire lose her footing and before she could do anything to stop, had fallen to the floor. Pyfully pulliher down beside her, Cire did her best to catch her breath while giggling profusely. “That…that…” Cire giggled as the moment passed.

  “Was amazing.” Heather finished Cire’s statement and ughed along with Cire.

  “Yes. Heather, yes it was.” Cire put her head oher’s shoulder. “I am more than happy to find out where this all goes…” Cire paused and poio the table. “...but Gaia told us something when I fell down.” Cire voiced and then pressed their runed palms together to give Heather a bit more reassuraatum. Let’s finish this, humm?”

  It was like a lightning bolt hit Heather. Feeding off of the creative energy that bolstered spirit, Heather had the clearest thoughts she’d had since making the decision to leave the cult to raise Carrie. “Cire, You’re right. I think it’s time to let Tatum go.” She turo the new crib and then back to Cire. “Denise and Tatum were cut from the same cloth.” She sighed and stood up, pulling Cire with her. “Ultimately they did what they set out to do.”

  “Which was?” Cire offered and picked up the e band and ha to Heather.

  “They eradicated vampires. Dozens of them if what I saw was accurate. That portal is dragging them into it.” Heather plopped the ring into her normal palm and kissed the ring once. “I’ll miss you Tatum, but I think you knew what was happening and…” She looked up at Cire, her brown eyes expressing sorrow, “...You want to be with your friend again.” Heather waved her runed hand and an explosion of white lit up the room as the detailed and diamond band glowed and hissed briefly. “Go on, Tatum. Denise needs you…I don’t think it was Vivienne she loved.” Feeling the dark magic escape the ring, Heather watched as a set of white threads unbound themselves and floated away without any fanfare or sound. “It’s just us four now, Cire.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Heather.” Cire offered and jumped bato Heather’s arms. “Let’s make something out of this pce.”

  “Then stay with me..us.” Heather offered and ed her arms around Cire’s nece more. “Carrie already has taken to you like another mother…and you being here is f.” Heather paused with a sly smile on her face. “...and not just because you zap us into a good mood either.”

  “Sure.” Cire kissed the top of Heather’s head. “Sure, I’ll stay.” She ughed, “Someone o make sure you and Carrie aren’t lost to this old pce.”

  “Mmmhumm, now then..where were we?” Heather whispered and leaned into Cire for another kiss.