Page 344 of Black Reign

“Now he has opinions.”

“He approves.”

“He wants food.”

“Same thing.”

The priest is laughing too.

Xavier kisses my forehead.

And beneath the blue sky, in the field where Papa once taught me to read constellations like code, I realize what we've done.

I married my Ghost.

No audience.

No announcement.

No world watching.

Just the same way we fell in love.

Privately.

Quietly.

Inside a world that belonged only to us.

Except now when I reach for him, there is a hand waiting.

We eat outside.

Bread from the village.

Soft cheese.

Fruit.

A bottle of champagne Xavier probably paid too much for.

The priest leaves after one glass.

The security men remain out near the road, carefully invisible.

The dog does not leave.

Naturally.

He sits beside me staring at my bread.

“You cannot have this.”

His tail moves.

“Sabine.”

“What?”