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wouldn’t bother her—at least she didn’t think so, but Amberlee hadn’t just got in a fight with her. She’d been instrumental in sending Venus to Earth, killed her irrihunter, and convinced the people of Alayeah that Venus was a traitor. Amberlee studied Venus. The goddess seemed sincere. Amberlee grabbed Palmo’s hand and walked over to the stairs. “Thanks, Venus, but don’t do me any favors.” She bolted up the stairs, leaving the thousands of souls, including those of her parents, below with Venus and Michael and Dervinias.

 
     
     
     
     

    She watched her sister run up the stairs. When she couldn’t hear Amberlee and Palmo’s footsteps any longer, she let out a sigh.
    “How you holding up?” Michael asked.
    “Fine.” It was true. Physically there wasn’t a scratch on her. Emotionally, though, she’d been through a lot.
    Michael looked like he wanted to say more, but Dervinias stepped into view. He’d been so quiet she’d nearly forgotten about him. “What are you going to do?” he asked.
    “Take Chev’s soul in your hands. Hold her steady. Do not let go.”
    Dervinias swallowed, but did as she said.
    Venus could hear Chev’s soul crying, begging for release. She went to it. “Hush. Everything will be okay.” Chev quieted her cries, but they didn’t stop. Venus reached out and whispered in the strange tongue the words that would make her forget everything. Venus sensed the numbness flow through her friend’s soul. It would last a few hours. “Take her home, Dervinias.” She created a Transport out of thin air. If she hadn’t been so overwhelmed she would’ve thought it was totally cool.
    Dervinias’s face filled with the surprise and wonder she wanted to feel. “You really have changed, V.”
    Venus couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, Dervinias, I have.” She remembered Zaren’s Ostwallow sword and called it to her. It appeared immediately in her hand. “Take this, just in case.”
    He took it and stepped into the Transport, Chev’s soul in his hand. “Are you going to give her back her body?”
    “Of course. As soon as the door is closed.”
    “You’re freaking cool. I’m just saying.”
    “We’ll see if you still feel that way once you’ve returned.” She gave him a pointed look. It was difficult to imagine Chev’s child growing up without her. Venus cared for the human and as much as it pained her to think about the King and Queen of Alayeah, the people she’d believed were her parents for so long, she was glad she’d had them in her life. Venus shuddered. The child needed Chev and Chev needed her child. They would be in each other’s future; she could sense that, though the sense was vague without having the child nearby. But she knew their lives would intertwine again one day.
    Dervinias was looking at her strangely. She cleared her throat. “There isn’t time to look for your daughter now. I need you to come right back.”
    Venus sensed his epsis speed up and saw the way his eyes scrunched as though he were fighting back emotion. “I know.” He pressed a button on the Transport and it purred to life. “It pains me. I want to look for Tawny and my daughter, but I owe you and I promised. So I’ll be back.” He cuddled Chev’s soul, wishing he could talk to her, see her smile, but that wasn’t an option either. “Close the door, Venus,” he said dejectedly.
    She pressed the button, watching it close. When it was sealed, she said the words that would return Chev’s body and soul to each other, but the girl would remain asleep. When she woke she would be back in Wyoming and would never remember the aliens, including Michael. All of those memories would be wiped clean.
    The Transport rose, picked up speed, and then shot out of sight, leaving her alone in the cavern with Michael.
    The air suddenly felt chilly. Michael pulled her so that her back rested against his chest. She allowed him to wrap his arms around her.
    “What’s next?”
    His breath moved