I’ve explained the same thing three times in a row. I’m trying to be patient, but I’m getting nowhere. It isn’t like I expect them to welcome the Sumairs into open arms, not after all the years they’ve spent developing specific displeasing feelings for them. Still, the level of their reluctance is frustrating.

I’ve described their powers, purpose, Barry’s shield, and the potential war. I’ve only omitted one key point. Melanie, the future seer, is Ryan’s long-lost love. Okay, that’s a bit of a bombshell, but the timing on this ignition switch is critical to mission success. Withholding is intended to gain acceptance without emotional sway impacting their decision. Are feelings important? Absolutely. Should they be taken into account when making decisions? Also yes. Should your tinder heartstrings lead you around like a puppeteer? Yeah, no. That’s a good way to get dropped into a hot pile of garbage or some scalding hot water for a Solathair like Ryan.

Case in point? Declan. He was the first to cave. I only got halfway through round one of the explanations before he was calling out for Kiley. Her absence is problematic. I’ve spent this whole time mitigating his lingering distress. I hope she gets back soon. I can’t keep him from flying off the handle much longer.

“Tell me again why you’d do something so stupid,” Tally demands, “without me there to watch.”

Tally’s contributing exactly zero to us reaching an understanding. I could ignore it…but I won’t. “Don’t be jealous I have a heart to follow,” I shoot back.

“You’re sure?” Declan corrects my trajectory.

He needs validation again that Kiley truly does care. It isn’t a manipulative ploy to drain him to dregs. I assure him of this, and his convulsions resume. He looks a smidge calmer from the get-go this cycle. Maybe we’re over the hump.

“I feel what she feels, remember? She didn’t trick you, Declan. She loves you.”

“She loves me,” he mumbles over and over. It’s crazy, but it’s progress.

Ryan is eerily quiet during the relay, taking in everything I offer and allowing himself time to process before he says anything. Leaving him in the hospital room, I wasn’t sure he’d recover from my emotion frying. Dodged a bullet there. Whew.

“You’re a beacon of hope,” Ryan reiterates.

“They think I’m a beacon of hope. I’m the link between us and their cravings.”

“How would that work?”

“She’s a spotlight shining brightly on their food source.” Tally’s far from won over. “Am I the only one here with any common sense whatsoever? They want us to put our guard down so they can drain us.”

“Tally, does Barry strike you as the type of person who has to manipulate someone to get what he wants? If he wanted it that bad, he would’ve already taken it.”

Her hip pops so hard I fear she may have dislocated it. “I’d like to see him try.”

“If I was him, I wouldn’t bother.”

She scoffs.

“I went to see Brody last night. Connor was in a super bad state. He was lost to the craving. I helped him.”

“How?”

“I killed his desire, then coerced him into taking some of my energy.”

I squawk when Ryan locks onto my arms. His grip loosens instantly. “I’m sorry, but that was reckless, Sheyla.”

“Reckless,” Tally echoes. Lighting her on fire would be a great stress release.

I gaze into his ocean-hued eyes, a plea for acceptance. “He needed my help. I didn’t care if he took everything from me so long as he got better. The compassion I felt for him outweighed my fear, Ryan.”

He swallows aggressively. “I love you for your selflessness.”

“She’s all self. She’s not less anything!” Tally fumes. “Self-sacrifice, self-pity, self-hatred, self-loathing.”

“At least I’m not selfish.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

She rolls her eyes.

“They believe we can connect, and I can help do that. We can train them to control themselves. With my help, instead of fighting, you can live together peacefully.”

“That’d certainly be an interesting dynamic,” Ryan approves.

“Is it possible?”

“If anyone can make this work, it’s you. When will you try?”

“I’ll go first,” Declan offers. “I can’t deny myself to Kiley. In a structured environment, I might stand a chance.”

“Not that I want to burst your balloon, Declan, but I had someone else in mind.” I pat him gently on the shoulder.

Ryan looks at me suspiciously.

Bring her out, please, I project to Derry. I can do this.

Declan and Tally’s emblems light up when he opens the door. A second later, Ryan’s does, too, but Derry doesn’t initiate the glow. It’s Melanie, who’s standing one step behind Derry, terrified to move.

“Melana?” Ryan murmurs.

If he could cry, tears would be streaming down his beautiful face. As it is, he stands with his jaw slack, not believing his eyes.

Toeing the line with that name swap, Supermom clips. Little too close for comfort, no?

Mom’s been weirdly silent since our hospital secret spill. Honestly, I suspected the connection was severed. My relief in hearing her, in knowing it’s really her, is infinite. Bonus bright side: her salty commentary is still on point.

Ryan’s feet move of their own accord to Melanie...Melana…whatever. I’m just calling her Mel. Look at me, compromising for the win.

Mel ducks behind Derry. Her fingers tighten on his shirt, causing him to flinch. He’s losing his nerve.

Trust her, Supermom orders him, causing him and I to jump. We all have to trust her now.

I swallow down my nervous lump and walk with Ryan to the porch.

“Ryan, you need to break the tie. It can be reknit. I promise. Right now, though, you need to snip it.”

“I c-can’t,” he stammers. “It’s been s-so long.”

“If you don’t cut it, I’ll have to do it for you,” I warn him.

“C-cut it.”

And I do.

I don’t hesitate. I simply sever the string binding them. Unfortunately, as it’s my first go, the string frays. Stitching it back together will take effort, but I’m cool with that. It just means more time for them to get used to each other again, as well as more time to get used to my new supervisory role.

Mel peeks around Derry, her raven hair falling over ice-blue eyes. Ryan smiles the warmest smile I’ve ever seen, moving the strands from her face.

“I’ve missed you,” he croons.

“Can you ever forgive me?”

They’ve been apart for a thousand years, yet her only concern is if he can forgive her. They’ll be fine. With his compassion and her insight, we’re right as rain.

Derry lets out a relieved breath. Does he not realize our privacy is on permanent hold status? Hello, indefinite babysitting detail.

“It’s probably for the best,” he whispers in my ear. “I’ll just have to be more creative in convincing you how hot I am.”

Sparks ignite in my cheeks. Knock it off. We have an audience.

He smirks.

“I should check on Brody.” Ryan grabs the phone I’m attempting to turn on, pressing a few buttons before he hands it back. Conveniently, there are no waiting text messages. He shrugs when I lift a curious brow. Guess he’s saving me from whatever Tally and Declan sent me.

“Thank you.” I slip away from Derry to wrap Ryan in a warm embrace. “For all this, for everything you’ve taught me, and for everything you’ve yet to teach me.”

My phone vibrates, breaking us up.

R U OK?—Brody

Good. How R the troops?—Sheyla

Debriefing now. Talk soon—Brody

On cue, a Volkswagen bug pulls into the drive. Somehow, Barry squeezed himself into it.

Declan pulls himself up from his heap and is at the car before Kiley can even get out. “I’ll never have to let you go now.”

“Never,” she promises him.

Tally stomps to the van, gets in, slams the door, and revs the engine. She isn’t giving Barry any sort of warm reception. He doesn’t seem to mind. He blows her a kiss and walks over to us.

“I’ll have to work for it,” he states.

I furrow my brow. “You really want to?”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.” He guffaws. “I like a challenge.”

He kisses me on the cheek and trots off toward the van. Tally reverses rapidly, squealing the tires on the roadway as she pulls up the lane with Barry chasing after her. When she gets too far ahead, she slows down so he can catch up, then guns it again. She seems to be enjoying watching her hunka beef run a tad too much to stop the game of chase.

Everything feels right for the first time in a long time, possibly ever. I don’t question my footing. The ground is as solid as it can be. I don’t want to suppress my spark. I want to keep it burning for as long as I can.

I’m past the anger I harbored toward Fate for allowing me to hurt those around me. She’s finally given me a way to atone. I find forgiveness, even forgiving myself. Everyone in my life is dangling by a dangerously thin line. While my fire could easily disintegrate it, I won’t let it. They need me, and I won’t let them down. The dark days are gone. I don’t need to wait for sunrise to see the sun. I’m the sun. I’m responsible for lighting the path to lead us all from the darkness, and our future started with a willful spark refusing to be suppressed.

“We better get you home,” Derry notes.

I groan.

We pull into the driveway just as the sun skims the tops of the trees. I pump my fist in the air triumphantly. “Not a moment to spare.”

Derry wipes an imaginary bead of sweat from his brow. “Whew, close call.”

“I’ll give you a reason to sweat, Hotshot.”

He grins mischievously. “In your driveway?”

“In my house.” My correction has his smile falling off his face. “I’m introducing you to my father.” Now, he’s seriously sweating.

I pull his resistant form from the SUV. “If I’m getting in trouble for toeing the line, I’m not doing it alone.”

He stops me on the porch. “Never alone.” He steps in front of me. “I won’t let you endure it alone.”

I don’t doubt that. I never will. I smile as the sun makes its grand debut in the sky, lightening the bronze in Derry’s hair. It doesn’t matter that it only presents itself three days a month. Derry offers me perpetual Morning Glories and Sunshine. I’m the fuel keeping the lamp burning, and he’s my flame.