His hair it hangs in ringlets
His eyes as black as coal
My happiness attend him
Wherever he may go.
I am startled out of a sound sleep. It's almost light out and Ben is gone. He gets up very early now to go and have coffee with August. Maybe that's what woke me. Him closing the door.
Who is your allegiance to, Princess?
I survey the empty room. It was Lochlan's hand on my cheek and Jake's voice in my head. I knew it wasn't Lochlan's words because he reached out in his deep slumber to make sure I was still there and besides, he doesn't call me that and rarely says the word out of a reluctance to put the focus on a spectral memory when a real one is taking place as we speak.
I wouldn't leave you, you know. If Jake was alive and came right through that door after lunch I wouldn't leave you. Never again would I stray out of your reach because this is where I belong.
Hmmmm? Lochlan heard my answer and woke up. You okay?
I stare at him. I can't focus. He is not awake. Yeah, go back to sleep.
Just for a half hour.
Okay.
By the way? I wouldn't leave you either so tell Jake piss off.