"I told you it amplifies the firestorm spell by combining the spell and what magic I have left together." Asher closed the books. "And it appears to work."

Nixon stomping out a flame on the carpet flashed eyes at him. "You think? You mean you didn't know?"

"Wait, you're trying something, new, as in something you have never tried before?" Ari asked. "My God Asher, what would have happened had all your magic been stored up?"

"Get dressed. We need to go." Asher commanded, choosing to overlook the question.

"Are you out of your mind?" Ari jumped to his feet and headed for the door. "I'm not going anywhere with you. I'm not leaving her or Grant's kid in the hands of anyone else. I'm staying behind and then seeing them personally to Brokenridge, and Lake Manor."

It's your duty to protect me!" Asher stood.

Ari stopped and spun around. He shook his head back and forth and his sad eyes lowered from Asher. "I'm sorry but this battles your own."

"What about the manor?" Asher demanded. "What about the children?"

Ari threw a hand up in his departure. "Don't try that manipulation. Linn and Vince will protect them if anyone tries to get in, and the last thing I care about is the manor. It's never been a home, and you've seen to that."

Asher stood with his back to her, watching Ari go and only when a door slammed in the other room did he turn to Nixon.

"I'll go," Nixon nodded. "I know you need me. And dude, that flame throwing was a-a-awesome!" he sang the last.

"Then collect Kennedy, it's time to go," Asher said.

Nixon's gaze fell on her as he grabbed his coat from where it lay across a chair. "See you soon," he mouthed and hurried from the room.

"Do you still believe this is a dream, Elle?" Asher stood with his back to her, still and unmoving, head lowered.

"No, I don't."

"Good because nothing about it feels like a dream to me. Life with us, with me will be hard and sometimes complex and frightening. Are you sure that is what you want."

"Life was all of those before."

"Then...you've made up your mind?"

"Yes."

"Then so be it. I will see you in a few days."

Unsure of Ari's cooperation, Asher left her in the care of someone named Martaugh, who would arrive later in the day. She would stay behind with Mary, just long enough to obtain certain essentials. She would travel then the distance to Brokenridge, a place she only knew in name to Lake Manor, her future home.

Asher left and Elle was alone.

The Lake's left, taking their noise, excitement and mystery with them. They left her in the quiet with nothing but her thoughts to pacify her time.

She missed their noise.

She missed their intensity.

And she missed the way they made her feel.

When she was a child and shared such foolish notions and dreams, she thought about her future. She thought of children, a home and a husband. She thought of how it would feel to know a man wanted her bad enough that he would ask her to share his name and life. In that dream though, she never thought it would seem so...cold.

end.