Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

“C'est de la folie! [This is lunacy'] Kas, no. You’ve gone insane,” Delilah cries and stands up from her seat when I finish telling her and Marco my plan about three hours into our flight to Paris. She paces with her hands over her mouth. Her eyes are midnight blue when she finally stops and looks at me, “No. Ican’t let you do this to your soul. I won't allow it.”

“Delilah, I'm not asking your permission. I started this centuries ago and I have to finish it. I’m telling you because you and Marco are my best friends and I love you,” I explain as calmly as possible, “I’m asking for your support and understanding. If the worst happens, I would like you two to take care of Cora until she finds Dante and is ready to leave the pack.”

“We'll take care of your daughter...err... sister, Kas. Don't worry about that. But you're sure Bronx don’t know nothin'?” Marco leans forward and puts his elbows on his knees, wringing his hands together.

“As far as I can tell, he knows something’s wrong, and he’s worried about me, but he doesn’t know any of what I just told you. And it’s going to stay that way. Do I make myself clear? I can’t let him try to stop me. This needs to end. I need to see it through. Don’t make me use my Luna voice to order you to keep this a secret and definitely don't make me use my goddess voice because for all I know, something bad could come of that,” I cross my arms in front of myself and swipe them down in an X motion.

Delilah sits down across from me with her hands on her cheeks. Tears are threatening to spill from her eyes, “Oh Kas. Just like Bronx says to you, I-I can't lose you. Not like this.”

“You haven't lost me, Delilah. Not yet anyway. But I have one more favor to ask,” I take her hands in mine.

“Of course, Kas, anything,” I watch her lip tremble as her voice jingles in the alr.

“If you think the influence of the Mavri Magea has corrupted me and I'm too far gone, don’t try to save me. Just protect Cora. Whatever white magic it takes to keep her safe. Whatever realm you need to take her to, even if it is a matter of keeping her safe from me, do it. Okay?” I watch as she nods her head and puts her hand over her mouth again, stifling a sob before she makes her way to the bathroom for some privacy.

“Kas, I got you,” Marco says plainly, “I get what you're tryin’ to do. If people know they're gonna try an stop you or they're gonna get in the way. I got your back.”

“I’m scared I could hurt someone, Marco. Sometimes I can already feel it. Like a storm cloud that gets stronger when my mood changes and the dark wants attention,” I twist my mouth up trying to figure out how to describe it, but I can't, “Even now, I'm worried I can’t always control it. It just feels, I don't know, right?”

“If you really go through with this, like, all the way to the end like you sayin. It’s gonna start a war. There’s gonna be consequences, Kas. People are gonna get hurt or worse,” Marco’s eyes look out the window as if he is remembering something from his past, “and you're right. Ain't no way Bronx would let you go through with it if he found out. But in my mind, you're doin the right thing. Like you said, you started it, you gotta finish it. They need to be stopped.”

“Thank you, Marco,” I put my hand on top of his and give him a grateful smile,

“I Knew I could count on you.”

“I’m gonna fight alongside you until I can’t fight no more. Just remember, I got pups on the way. And if Amari is right, and there’s any chance my little girl could be a goddess like you, she’s gonna need her daddy, Kas. Or if my little boy could be a Guardian like Bronx, I gotta be there to raise him right. Don’t make me regret this. If I’m goin all in, you are too,” his light brown eyes bore into me.

“I'm all in, Marco. Honestly, I don’t have a choice,” I lean back in my seat and let the conversation fall silent as we both let our minds absorb the situation. ‘

of the bathroom and sits next to me. Her back is stiff, and

Iokaste Mason, give me your hands,” she says curtly and holds her hands out for me to take

I look at her, confused. We had not discussed her using magic on me. We talked about

go down without a fight. This is going to be the strongest protection spell I can on you before it’s too late. It won't stop the inevitable, but it will at least give you more time,” Delilah explains as she taps the tops of my hand to get

my hands in hers obediently, surprised by her strict

be careful, don't do anything to put Alexander at risk, okay?” I say to give

he strengthens me,” she dismisses my concern. She takes a deep, ragged breath and closes her

filament surrounding me, gently winding itself around and placing a layer of white light around the little storm cloud that has been tagging along with me everywhere I go. I can feel it fighting against the light, wanting

feel the warmth dissipate and a sense of calm comes over me. I open my eyes and look at Delilah. When she opens her eyes, they are a light sky blue. She

will not start crying again, I let her go. “Well, I guess there’s one thing left

Tyree and Freddie?” Marco

galley where Tyree went to talk to

kkE

in my mind, "I can't wait to see her reaction.

I try to settle her. Her excitement is making me more excited as I tiptoe down the hall.

you!” I step into Delilah’s room and flump onto the bed next to her, letting myself

could use a break from the heavy foods James insists on,” she groans as she rolls over and removes her eye mask

but we can go out and find ones with ham and cheese baked into them

is this surprise that has you

her while I mimic her French accent. “Yes? What about it? You woke me early to remind me of that? We are on vacation, mon ami. Please let me sleep,” she puts her eye mask back

in a hug through the blanket, “I pulled a favor and also got you an appointment to get styled for

took off yesterday,” I pull the eye mask off of her face and give a sly grin, “She got you an appointment with Maria

in a single blink betray her calm outer shell, “Dior? Maria? As in Maria Grazia Chiuri? I’m going to get to meet her? In person?

storefront downstairs for two hours so we can shop

big and open my mouth wide with exaggerated excitement, hoping she will be excited too. I know

pair of heels that she saved up for months

at me for another few seconds before the happiest, most excited scream i have ever heard erupts from her. It sounds like church bells ringing at

her legs

there?” Tyree