Josephine stood for a long moment after he had disappeared. She had to lock Galohisdi. Every moment it remained open was a danger to her world. She stepped forward with determination, raising her hand to do what had to be done?
And hesitated.
Her body couldn't stop remembering how his had felt next to her. And her heart misgave her at the dread she'd seen in his eyes at the prospect of returning to his world. A world with a king who wanted something he could never deliver.
There is always a way.
But was there? This time, was there a way to get what they both wanted? My love. A love that spanned two worlds, two races, two ways of life? His magic-what place did it have in her world? Her people would never trust him. Her father might never accept him if she did not put things right.
She covered her face with her hands and knelt in the tall grass before the portal. She could smell it, like roses in a river, enticing, calling. She raised her right hand and held it before the live portal, felt its energy reach out to her, closed her eyes and thought of Drake on the other side.
My love.
She saw him then, as if he were just in front of her, as if the portal didn't separate them at all. And he turned to look back, just as he had before stepping through the portal. But then he squared his shoulders and continued, determined to carry on with his mission.
And as he walked away from her, she knew what she had to do.