Page 109 of Wayward Moon

“Destruction,” she said, “and connections. You helped me get Hado back. Connection. You helped us lock up the Hush. Destruction.”

I squinted out the windshield, the day suddenly brighter, hotter, now that we were away from the Crossroads.

“I suppose,” I said. “Maybe also for your sharp ears. Does it worry you? Us working for a god?”

“No,” she said, “because he was just the start of it. We all have free will. Even the gods can’t take that away.”

Lu snorted. “Where have I heard that before?”

I smiled. “Some wise woman might have mentioned it once or twice. If I were a wiser man, I’d have listened to her.”

Lu dropped her hand onto Lorde’s soft fur. I brought my arm down so I could lace my hand with hers. “You’re plenty wise enough for me,” she said.

“Oh! It’s our song, Hado!” Abbi started belting out lyrics, “…followed by…moon shadow…”

She got most of the words right but her pitch was way off, too high, and swooping down to completely miss the next note.

Hado hid his face beneath the jagged brush of her white hair.

Abbi bounced carefully in the seat. At least she was on beat.

We had a lot of road ahead of us. Nothing was guaranteed. Not our journey, and certainly not how much time we had together. So I leaned over and kissed Lu on the cheek.

She glanced away from the road, her hand steady on the wheel, and gave me a smile that turned the world inside out.

“Love you,” she said. This, our promise. Forever.

“Love you,” I replied, as I always would.

Then I sat back and let the wild of the world—sky and hills, and the old ragged road—spool on by.