Harmony held the chair for Destiny. "We were thinking that since tonight is Halloween, and we're home in time, we might celebrate Samhain together, but maybe you're not up to it, Des?"

"I'm up to anything." Destiny lowered herself into the chair by biting her lip. "Tonight at the castle? What time?"

"You can't walk to the castle," Storm said. "You can't even sit in a chair without pain. I don't think this is a good idea."

Morgan cleared his throat. "We could celebrate Halloween here, or Samhain, I suppose I mean. If that would be all right with you?"

Storm did a double take. "A witchy Samhain ritual, Morgan? Here? We don't want to chase you out of your own home."

He shoved his hands in his pockets, embarrassed by the way he'd acted at Harmony's Midsummer ritual. "I won't leave this time. I'd like to take part, if you don't mind?" He looked down to catch Destiny's pleased expression. God, he loved her. Then he saw Meggie, Horace, and Buffy standing behind her, and he grinned. "Tonight's the night that the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest, isn't it?"

Destiny followed his gaze, but apparently her sisters didn't see what they did. Morgan rather liked having a psychic gift her sisters lacked. He cleared his throat again. "There's something you should all know about me."

Aiden waved away his explanation. "We told the girls that you'd been a priest."

"There's more, something I was hiding even from myself. I'm psychic. Clairvoyant. So was my twin sister, Meggie. She died when we were twelve."

"Meggie's here right now," Destiny said. "Morgan was on the water when the lightning storm began, and she saved him and led him to me after the tower collapsed."

"No way." Storm looked around. "Can you see her, Des? Morgan?"

"We do. But that's not the point," Morgan said. "Samhain ritual here tonight, right, so Destiny doesn't have to walk all the way to the castle, though I could make her a soft bed in the wheelbarrow and roll her there."

Destiny winced. "Over my bruised body."

Morgan sipped his cider and winked. "That's what I thought. What do we have to do to get ready for Samhain? I'll do whatever I can, but Destiny's not up to anything except a preparatory nap."

King stood. "Do we need to get the Oak King altar over here, or will the gateleg table in the kitchen do?"

"We'll make do," Harmony said. "Storm and I will bring the ritual supplies, and you and Aiden are going to bring one of the fainting couches from the castle, so Destiny can rest in the ritual circle. Great job of decorating for Samhain, though, Destiny."

King looked around and nodded. "The place looks like a home for the first time in years."

Morgan realized it was true. "It feels that way. Des and I plan to dress as Horace the lighthouse keeper and his wife Ida tonight. What kind of costumes are you all wearing?"

King raised a brow. "I guess we'll have to find something. You're a new man, Morgan. Sounds like something went down here while we were gone."

"You set us up." Morgan raised his chin. "But what went down here isn't a story you'll ever hear."

Harmony herded a protesting King out the door.

"Don't forget your ritual baths," Des called after them. "Morgan and I have already taken ours."

Chapter Forty-seven.

SHORTLY before midnight, with Morgan by her side, Destiny welcomed her sister, Harmony, dressed as Lisette, the gentle ghost who'd helped Harmony rid Paxton Castle of the spirit haunting it. Harmony's husband, King, dressed as his many-greats grand-uncle Nicodemus, who bought and settled this private island, Paxton Island, where the castle, the windmill, and the lighthouse stood.

Aiden and Storm had also found their costumes in the Paxton Castle closets, outfits belonging to second-generation relatives, once removed, descended from Nicodemus's brother, King's many-greats grandfather, who inherited the castle and passed it through the generations to King.

None of the Samhain ritual participants wore anything belonging to Gussie, wife of Nicodemus, the castle's dark spirit, who Harmony had tamed and banished. Why take the chance?

At midnight, with the veil between the realms gossamer thin, Destiny played the sound track from The X-Files. Perfect background music for a Samhain ritual.

Harmony, their high priestess, announced that they should begin, then she consecrated the ritual space and its participants, blessed the elemental tools they would use, and cast the circle with her athame.

Harmony and King, Storm and Aiden, lit the four tapers for earth, air, water, and fire, while Harmony called the quarters: "North, south, east, and west."

Morgan lit the fifth taper, the one in the center of the gateleg altar. "For spirit," he said. "The spirits of our friends and relatives-but especially my sister, Meggie-who have passed from this earthly plane."

Destiny and Morgan lit the two sweet-scented pillar candles, one for love and one for peace, respectively. Destiny suspected that Morgan chose the candle engraved with love as a message to her, and she appreciated it. She wanted it, except that she didn't see how a life together could possibly work between them.

She'd always been attracted to him and wanted him for a boy toy, a playmate, because forever never seemed possible, given their different beliefs, which had changed but not.

He may no longer debunk witches and ghosts, but he'd always retain his basic faith. Yes, he was participating in their ritual, but how did he really feel about it?

She was so confused right now. She'd ask the Goddess for guidance as the ritual continued.

Harmony blessed the altar while she and her sisters walked the circle three times clockwise, Caramello and Samantha following them and amusing Morgan.

Harmony circled and cleansed with salt; Storm circled and cleansed with water, each invoking the Goddess of death and rebirth on this special night.

Destiny circled and cleansed with incense: "I invoke Meggie's spirit of joy.

You have a brother and sister for eternity.

I invoke Buffy's protectiveness,

And thank her for her protection.

"I invoke Horace and his family,

Dear Ida and their babe.

Horace will soon be with you.

You have a family for eternity."

That's when Destiny realized why she hadn't been able to say yes to marrying the man she loved. Yes, they could be together in this realm, but there would be no single place for a couple of their diverse faith and belief systems in other realms for eternity.

Not being able to move on with Morgan didn't bear thinking about.

When the circle walk ended, Destiny retired to the fainting couch, where Morgan waited for her. Would he always be forced to wait?

In her heart, Destiny prayed for a miracle.

God, Goddess,

Those who've gone before,

Help us find a way

To a life evermore.

The ritual circle had been outlined with colorful crystals, alternating with vases of orange and gold bittersweet, to honor the harvest; red and green holly to honor the Holly King; and red, yellow, and orange oak sprigs, to honor the Oak King. Marsh grass had also been added to honor their ritual location.

Morgan sat on the edge of her fainting couch and took her hand.

"Are you okay in the middle of a witch circle?" she whispered.

"Nearly content," he whispered leaning close, "except that I'm on pins and needles waiting for my fair witch to say yes."

"Pray for the right answer during the ritual."

"Oh, I am," he said, kissing her brow.

She cupped his cheek. "So am I."

On the altar, candle colors and scents honored the season as did the orange altar cloth, the wooden bowl of apples, pomegranates, pumpkins, and gourds-gifts of the harvest-and a pentacle made of bittersweet branches. The ritual cauldron held a smoking smudge braid of sweetgrass, which gave off a soothing scent. Also on the altar, Harmony's ritual knife, her athame, their three wands, one tipped with amethyst, one with aquamarine, one with citrine, and a blue ceramic chalice. On this particular day of the dead, a cornucopia of candy also sat on the Samhain altar for Meggie, their child ghost.

In the dark parlor, candles shed the only light from every corner, creating a spiritual and ghostly ambience. Floating tea lights stood on each dark, invisible stair, tapers on mantels, and pillar candles in harvest wreaths on tables and chairs.

Caramello purred in Morgan's arms, and Samantha snored in Destiny's lap. Family filled her heart and mind.

Meggie, with Buffy and Horace, stood quietly to the side, watching.

Destiny sent a nod their way, and Meggie waved as Destiny began her chant: "Call down the moon,

Lift the veil,

Call down the sun,

Let us hail.