The ruins were dying a slow but unavoidable death. Each winter, each storm, each outburst of an angry god tore away just a bit more of the temple, mad... one of the towers that much weaker. What the fire had not accomplished all at once, the storms would, in time. One day, the compound would crumble to rock and rubble and broken timber. Isolated. Alone. Then it would be nothing but a tale. A legend. Lost to the ages. Silmaria leaned against Rael’s solid form so she woudn’t feel quite so. She loves Ted. I tried to remember the last time someone had said that to me. Sliding the phone back into my pants pocket, I focused on Gretchen, instead. ‘Hans took them to Boston. Abort the pickup and make tracks for those kolaches.’ Gretchen only nodded. ‘He can be very persuasive when he tries. Let’s get breakfast and I’ll just have to meet them some other time. They seem like nice enough people, but it’s really you that interests me.’ She said it so matter-of-factly, I felt… I don’t know. A tingle of cool frost shoots from my lips to my spine and all the way down to my feet. I sigh and lay my head on his shoulder, content to dance forever with my lover, surrounded by the gods and goddesses of the night, smiling and doting on us, but it could not last. As we swirl through the calm vacuum of space, we come closer and closer to the fever of day. I cling tight to my moon, his body shielding mine from the bright light, seeping past the slumbering body of my Mother Earth. ‘You have to. ’ ‘You’ll hold her hand and kiss her too, right?’ River asked, surprising Ben. ‘Where did you learn that?’ ‘Nana dates,’ River said almost haughtily. ‘She told me.’ Ben sighed. He’d have to remind his mother to watch what she said to River. River moved to stand in front of his father. ‘Daddy, are you happy?’ ‘Of course I’m happy, River,’ Ben answered. River reached out to give him a hug. ‘Then I’m okay with you dating Ellie.’ ‘Thank you, buddy. That means a lot to me,’ Ben said, returning the.