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was his,” I whispered. In the language of the Old Kind when you told the person you were his or hers, it signified a declaration of love.
    Mrs. Nightshade smiled and leaned over grabbing me in a hug and patting my back. “I’m glad he had you with him at the end, thank you.”
    I took a deep breath and knew I was going to have to let go of all the anger I was holding onto. Nightshade was gone and no matter how much I wished otherwise, I had to move on.
     “I’ll grab our tea.”
    Mrs. Nightshade exited the room and I sighed and looked around thinking about the life I might have had if I had given Nightshade a chance. I reached out, grabbed his leather jacket, lifted it up to my face, and closed my eyes inhaling. The familiar scent surrounded me and I shuddered as my memories hit me full force. I burrowed my face in the jacket and breathed deeply, and then I let it unfold and swung it around sliding my arms through it and slipping it on. The jacket was big on me but I wrapped my arms tightly around my sides hugging it against me.
    Mrs. Nightshade entered the room carrying two teacups on saucers. “It looks good on you.”
     “I’m sorry I just...”
    “No need to explain, dear, I slept with one of his father’s shirts for a year after his death.”
    I took the tea cup and sipped. I didn’t love tea, not like I craved coffee, but it was rather good. “Thank you.” I liked not having to cover up how I felt about Nightshade; it was liberating.
    “You can hold onto it if you like.” She smiled and sipped her tea slowly.
    “No, I couldn’t do that, it belongs to you.”
    “Dear, I doubt I will have much use for a leather jacket. Plus its getting cold out and you need a proper jacket.” She pointed at my well-worn hoodie and winked.
    “If you’re sure,” I said wanting so very badly to keep it.
    “I’m most definitely sure.”
    “Thank you, so much for everything.” I grinned and rubbed my hand along the leather arms, happy for the first time in months. At least now I had something of Nightshade’s to hold onto.
    “Not a problem, dear, I’m glad you stopped by. Now I just want to finish boxing things up and be on my way.” She sighed, though I wondered if she even realized that she did and her eyes searched the room, as if she was looking for Nightshade.
    “You aren’t staying?”
    “No, I wasn’t the best mother to James the last few years. This place reminded me too much of his father and so I moved around. After I finish here, I head to Brazil for a while.”
     Pain was etched tightly in the corners of her eyes and mouth and I wondered if that’s how I looked when I talked about Nightshade.
    “Are you going to sell the house?” I asked, hoping she’d say no. This place fit Nightshade. It wouldn’t seem right for someone else to live here.
    “No, never,” she answered quickly. “I just don’t think I can stay here; there are too many memories. Plus with the truces falling apart, I want to be as far away from the drama as possible.” She finished off her tea with a final sip.
    “Do you really believe it’ll get that bad?”
    “The Old Kind has been at each other’s throats for years. My son’s death has given the Guild reason to be more distrustful of DS. Now with all this First Kind business, war seems inevitable. I’ve already sacrificed a husband and a child to this insanity; I’m finished with all of it.” She rolled her eyes.
    The Old Kind problem had certainly taken its toll on the Nightshade family. It may have been adventurous and fun at times with my friends, but there was death and sadness as well. And the never-ending guilt of what you could have done differently so that someone you loved didn’t have to pay the ultimate price. That’s something they never tell you in the epic movies, after the credits roll people need to live with loss and hurt that comes from war and adventure. From firsthand experience it isn’t a whole lot of fun.
    “Maybe it can be