“Zoey’s exploded all over the tree.” James and Kevin studied the perfectly normal-looking bark. “But nothing’s there now. And I think each candle blew up as they entered the portal, but I couldn’t be sure because there was so much light.”
Kevin nodded. “Yeah, I still have spots in my vision. It was pretty incredible.”
“She’s powerful,” James said.
“Yeah—and her circle is amazing. I’ve never seen anything like that strand of light that tied them together.”
“Now that I think about it, seeing that—getting closure with your sister—and meeting Kacie was all worth having my arm sliced up.”
Kevin grinned. “See, dude! Your attitude is already better.”
“Didn’t know I had an attitude problem,” said James.
“You were the only one who didn’t.” Kevin cracked his knuckles again. “Shit. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to do this.”
“Well,” he pulled a small knife from his pocket and flicked it open. “I’m gonna cut myself, and then I think you should take a page from your sister’s playbook. Just invoke spirit and have love call Aphrodite. She did say she’d be listening for you.”
“You’re right! I’m ready when you are.”
Stark drew a deep breath and then cut a long, thin line up his forearm. As it bled freely, he allowed it to drip against the exposed roots of the tree. Then he looked at Kevin and nodded.
“Okay. Here goes.” Kevin faced the messed-up but oddly cool-looking tree. He cleared his throat, ran a hand through his hair, and invoked: “Spirit, I have need of you. Please come to me.”
Immediately Kevin sensed the distinct swirling presence of spirit. It was like being at an incredible concert and hearing that one amazing song—the one that means something so special that it causes the hairs along your arms to lift and your soul to swell with pleasure.
That’s what invoking spirit was like for Kevin.
Kevin’s voice was strong and joyous. “Spirit! Thank you for answering my call. Now, please go to my love, Aphrodite, who is in Nyx’s Realm, and tell her I’m ready to come home. She’s waiting for me, so she should be easy to find.”
Kevin felt spirit flow from him and go out seeking … seeking … seeking. And suddenly, the tree began to glow softly with a green light that reminded him of moss and trees and fields with sprouting alfalfa. It shimmered, then the tip of an enormous horn, black as fertile earth, materialized and touched the tree. Like a sheer curtain being drawn aside, Aphrodite was revealed. She was standing on the other side of the door smiling at him.
“Hi there, Kev.”
“Hi there, Aphrodite.”
Her gaze went to James. “You going back too?” she asked him.
“Yup.”
“Well, okay then. Come on.”
Kevin and James shared a look and then Kev said, “Um, how?”
She laughed and the green glow sparkled around her. “Just step through the veil, handsome. It’s easy once it’s parted. And stop looking up. There is no heaven in the clouds. Realms exist side by side—it’s just that not many people can see them.”
“Oh. Well, okay then,” Kevin said. He glanced at James.
“After you,” James said quickly.
Kevin cracked his knuckles and strode forward—and walked right through the door and directly into Nyx’s Grove.
“It worked!” he said.
“Of course it worked.” Aphrodite laughed. “I told you I’d come when you called.”
“Oh, I believed that. I just didn’t think it’d be that easy. It was a lot harder to get here the first time.”
Stark appeared at Kevin’s side and the glowing door disappeared immediately. “Yeah, you’re telling me,” he said.
“You’re bleeding again,” Aphrodite told him.
James wiped the cut on his jeans and shrugged. “Well, yeah, but not as bad as last time.”
She started walking and Kevin and James fell into step beside her. “I’m kinda surprised that you’re going back to your world.”
“To be honest, so am I,” James said.
“Why didn’t you stay?” she asked.
“Because I realized I could never be happy chasing a ghost or loving someone else’s girl.” Then he hastily added. “And I don’t mean that in a douchebag sort of a way.”
“I get you,” Aphrodite said. “What about you?” she asked Kevin. “How was it to see the other me?”
“Interesting,” he said. “She’s coming to our world. Should be there right now. Darius couldn’t go with her, so I swore to be her Warrior and protector over there.”
“That was nice of you.” She cocked her head to the side and looked at him. “I’m not picking up any big surge of heartache or romantic longings from you. The two of you didn’t hook up?”
“No! And I’m not comfortable talking about it with you. Sheesh, Aphrodite.”
She grinned. “Oh, come on! I’m dead. And no longer capable of being jealous. Apparently, I can still be curious though.”
“Or nosy,” James muttered.
“I heard that, Bow Boy.” She returned her attention to Kevin. “I just want to be sure you’re okay.”
“I’m okay. I’m not going to hook up with Aphrodite. I realize that’s not what I want.”
“What do you want?”
“You,” he said.
Her smile faded. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me too. But it’s getting better. It’s helped to see you again.”
“I’m really glad about that.”
They didn’t speak for a little while as they made their way through the verdant grove that was only a tiny portion of Nyx’s Realm. This time Kevin noticed birds perching in the boughs of the emerald-leafed trees that were so brilliantly colorful that they looked like crystals glittering under spotlights. Butterflies drifted with the breeze, which was scented with oranges, and fat yellow-and-black bees buzzed lazily.
“Wow, I didn’t see all this before.” He stared around him. “This place is amazing.”
“Oh, Kev, someday you’ll see more of it, and it’ll take your breath away,” said Aphrodite.
“Do ghosts breathe?” asked James.
“We aren’t ghosts, Bow Boy. We’re spirits. Now hush and let the grown-ups talk.” She turned to Kevin as she led them around a cluster of silver-and-white marble boulders that glistened like moonstone and diamonds. “So, what’s up with Neferet?”
“Our Neferet broke her out
