Chandra looked at Grandmother Begay. “You didn’t need to give it a lecture,” she said. “You only had to throw it into the hole. I was getting tired holding the way open.”

Grandmother set her cane to the floor with a thump. “Beneath goddesses are so impatient.”

“How did you know how to do that?” Janet asked them, mystified.

“Coyote told me,” Grandmother said. “It was perfectly fine, Mick Firewalker,” she said to Mick, who hovered near Janet. “I needed Janet’s combination of magics to send the entity to the space between Earth and Beneath. It will be absorbed there and not bother us again.”

I heard conviction in her voice, but for my part, I wasn’t so sure. Then again, at this moment, I was aware of nothing but Colby, lying dead on my lap.

He wouldn’t be coming back to me, and I couldn’t stand that. I rocked him, my sobs unceasing. It was as though someone else controlled me, but I knew they did not. This was me, finally realizing what it was to lose someone.

Chandra’s scent of cleanness and lavender touched me. She knelt beside me, resting her hand lightly on Colby’s unmoving chest.

He lay motionlessly, his dark hair, loose from its braid, spreading across my arms. His colorful tatts were beginning to fade as death robbed him of everything.

“We can’t have this,” Chandra said softly. “I will need you whole.”

I didn’t know whether she meant me or Colby.

Grandmother stumped to her. “No,” she snapped. “That is forbidden.”

“By whom?” Chandra asked. “Gabrielle is my niece, my family. She is too young for this grief.”

“It is the way of the world,” Grandmother said in a hard voice, but she didn’t sound as assured as usual.

“Not in my world.” Without further word, Chandra closed her eyes and sent an incredible amount of magic into Colby. She withdrew her hand after a moment and sat back, watching.

I caressed Colby’s bare chest, searching frantically for signs of life, but I found none. His eyes remained empty, his body inert, his heart not beating.

I started to break all over again. Death was too powerful, nothing to stop it, didn’t matter how much I willed it. Chandra was a goddess, with immense magics, like Coyote and my mother. If Chandra couldn’t save Colby, no one could.

Chandra took my hand, hers surprisingly cool for all the magic she’d just worked, and held it with mine over Colby’s heart.

“Call him,” she said.

I stared at her in confusion for a few seconds, then understanding penetrated my fogged and pain-numbed brain.

Call him. The notes of Colby’s true name drifted through my head, the sounds he’d given me just before I’d killed him.

They were many and complex, like steps in an intricate dance, and I was surprised I remembered them all. The music wove through my thoughts, gleaming and clear as glass but with a deep tone that reminded me of Colby.

I heard another whisper, that of my own name, my spirit name, given to me at my birth by a god. I hadn’t realized until this moment which god.

I lifted my head and saw him standing at the top of the arena, in coyote form, his golden eyes still. No one else noticed him—maybe he wasn’t really there. But Coyote locked his gaze with mine, and after a moment, he winked.

Colby coughed. His true name surged through me in a brilliant crescendo, and then it dispersed, a sigh on the wind.

He coughed again.

“Colby?” I scooped him against me.

I was surrounded—Mick, Janet, Drake, Titus, Nash, Maya, Grandmother, and Chandra. All bent to Colby, all praying, I felt, to their own gods in their own way.

Colby’s eyelids flickered and his opaque eyes turned dragon black. They remained that way a moment, then like the sky scattering clouds, his eyes resolved to light blue. He opened his mouth and emitted a groan.

“Colby!” I gathered him up, reckless in my joy, kissing his face, his lips, his hair. He brought up weak hands to me.

“Did we get him?” The words were slurred, cracked, broken. Colby moved his tongue around his mouth as though trying to remember how it worked.

Mick answered, leaning to him, hands on blue-jeaned knees. “We got him, my friend. Or you did. And Gabrielle, and Ruby and Chandra. And Janet. And Maya with a great assist. The dragons owe a huge debt to Maya, actually.”

“It’s good to have friends.” Colby met my gaze, his smile tired but full. “And more than friends. Gabrielle’s a good kisser. Don’t stop, sweetheart.”

“Sounds like he’s all right,” Janet said, her thankfulness clear.

I did kiss Colby. A long, heartfelt kiss as tears poured down my face. His lips could barely move in response but his hand pressed hard on mine.

When I let him up for air, Colby’s grin was stronger. “I’m liking this.” Then his eyes softened. “Are you okay, baby?”

I managed a nod. I had no idea if I was all right or not—if I tried to stand up I might pass out or throw up, and who knew how injured I was—but I knew what he meant. I was alive. And whole. At least for now.

Colby blew out a breath of relief. “Then I guess that means we go out for pizza.”

He wasn’t going anywhere soon, but I laughed and kissed him again, warmed by the laughter of my friends and family.

I sensed Coyote, high above us, turn and go.

---

My dad married Gina at her family’s home outside Farmington, in a hogan that had been built and blessed specifically for them. I held Mick’s hand as we entered the hogan, the groom’s family keeping to the north side, Gina’s family spread across the south.

The small space under the wood and mud roof was crowded but blissfully cool. The October air was mellow but warm in the sun, the hogan’s shade welcome.

Mick watched the ceremony in fascination, his eyes going dragon dark as Gina scooped up water with a dipper and washed my father’s hands, and then my father did the same to Gina.

I heard a sniffle somewhere to my left—Grandmother, her chin stuck out, surreptitiously wiped her eyes.

A feeling of great peace came over me as the rite continued—Gina’s sister set a basket of cornmeal mush in front of the bride and groom, and Gina’s father sprinkled white and yellow pollen in two circles over the mush. He then crossed the lines to symbolize Gina’s and Dad’s joining.

My dad, resplendent in his velvet shirt and silver and turquoise jewelry, took a pinch of the mush and fed it to Gina, and she did the same to him. They both laughed when the crumbly cornmeal got everywhere, my father showing a relaxed mirth I rarely saw in him.

My eyes filled, and I squeezed Mick’s hand. Gabrielle, on my other side, started to clap. Not really what she should do, but it caught on, and soon the entire hogan was cheering.

After the bride and groom fed each other, we all were invited to eat the mush and the mountains of food piled in the other baskets. We streamed out of the hogan to finish the feast, the picnic tables outside laden with food. Gina’s family had been cooking day and night.

My father flushed as his friends teased him, but I saw his happiness, and whenever he looked at Gina, his eyes betrayed his love.

I was touched by how many people had come to wish Dad well. I figured my large, extended family would fill out the crowd, but they were joined by most of the population of Many Farms and a large number from Chinle, Round Rock, and other communities, as well as Gina’s friends and family from Farmington and surrounding towns. My shy father had cultivated the respect and warmth of many over the years.

Grandmother stood ramrod stiff at the end of a picnic table. Her mouth had moved along with Gina’s father’s during the blessings, as though she willed him not to get anything wrong. Next to her was Chandra—Grandmother had been certain the hogan would fall down when a goddess from Beneath walked into it, but it hadn’t.

That convinced me more than anything that Chandra was not the embodiment of evil my mother was. Blessed ground is a powerful tester.

Gabrielle wandered to us, alone for the moment. She’d been plastered to Colby’s side since the two had arrived together.

She wore a colorful print dress in blues and reds, her hair falling in a silken wave over her shoulders. The high heels she navigated with ease made her tall and stately. I wore a traditional long skirt, velvet blouse, and silver jewelry at my grandmother’s insistence, but I felt graceless in them and kept tripping on my hem.

Gabrielle planted herself in front of Chandra. “Where have you been? I thought you’d be at the C when I went back to work, but no.”

Chandra shrugged. “Here and there. Maybe I was putting things in place so I can take up my medical practice again.”

“Why do you need to? You’re a goddess.”

Gabrielle’s directness was rude, but I wondered the same thing. “I like to stay busy,” Chandra said, shrugging. “And I need something to do while I keep an eye on you. I am a good doctor, and I like to heal people.”

“I don’t trust doctors,” Grandmother said darkly. “They take perfectly functional bits out of you and too late realize they didn’t need to after all.”

Chandra broke into a smile. “I said a good doctor. Whenever you need looking after, old Crow, you come and see me.”

“Humph,” Grandmother said.

---

The feasting lasted well into the night, as did the dancing as we circled Dad and Gina, singing and chanting. Colby really got into the dancing, asking my cousins to teach him some of the more intricate steps. Even Drake and Titus—Grandmother insisted on inviting them—unbent and clasped hands with Dad’s friends as they moved around the circle in the firelight.

At last, it was time to go, to leave my father and his bride to begin their life together.

I hugged my dad and kissed his cheek. “Be well.” I tried to keep my tears at bay, but they slipped out. His eyes were wet too, and when he hugged me, his wiry strength was comforting.

“Blessings go with you, child.” He smoothed a strand of hair from my face. “Mick will take care of you now.”

“He already does.” I hastily wiped away my tears and pointed a finger at my father’s chest. “You’d better give me away at my wedding.”

Dad’s face creased with his kind smile. “I will. And if your grandmother has her way, it will be an even bigger ceremony than mine.”

I groaned and Dad chuckled. We hugged again, then I turned away, happy for him and sad for me, and left him.

Mick and I took Grandmother with us to the Crossroads so she wouldn’t have to face an empty house that night, as Dad and Gina were staying in Farmington. They would leave soon for a honeymoon trip to Hawaii, courtesy of Mick. Dad wasn’t much for traveling, but he’d gladly taken up Mick’s offer, saying he’d always wanted to see the place. Gina vowed she was going to learn to surf. I imagined her, large and calm, standing on a surfboard, wind in her hair, daring the board to dump her over.

At the Crossroads, the extra guests had emptied out. Cassandra was very happy with the money we’d made, though she hadn’t charged full price to those staying in the lobby or outside in tents. She stated that the Crossroads was a haven, and she was not out to gouge those in trouble.

Most of the guests had insisted on paying for our hospitality even so, which pleased Elena, because they’d eaten a lot of food.

Mick and I escaped very late and wandered to the railroad bed, where we stood to look up at the stars.

“Our wedding next,” Mick said.

“I know.”

“Hey.” Mick turned me to face him. “I heard that gloom in your voice. You want out of it?”

His question was teasing but I saw the trepidation in his eyes, his fear that I’d tell him, Yes, let’s call it off.

I let out a heavy breath. “Do you think we can have a wedding without Earth entities, dragon slayers, demons, Nightwalker attacks, dragon binding spells, vortexes opening, or you fighting to the death in an arena?”

Mick pretended to consider this. “We can try.”

I laughed, and then I folded my arms, shivering in the sudden coolness. “It’s going to be like this all our lives, isn’t it? A Stormwalker and a dragon will never be able to stay out of trouble.”

“Or cease saving the world.” Mick moved behind me and slid his arms around me, his warm lips touching my hair. “But if I’m going to spend my life fighting demons, Nightwalkers, dragon slayers, entities, and goddesses from hell, I want to do it with you at my side.”

“Why, so you can watch me get my ass kicked?”

“No, so I can watch you kicking ass. Like the amazing woman you are.”

I turned in his arms and laced my hands behind his back. “Well, if you put it that way …”

Mick answered me with a kiss. I rose into him, his strong arms holding me safely, while his wickedly sexy kiss stirred up desires I would definitely act upon as soon as we were back inside the hotel.

I ignored the yip of the far-off coyote, which sounded too much like satisfied laughter.

---

“Maybe they’ll go inside,” I said as Colby and I watched Mick and Janet rise into their kiss a little way down the railroad bed. Mick scooped Janet closer to him, and she slid her leg around his thigh.

“Sweet,” Colby said. “You know what they’ll be doing tonight.” He turned to me, his eyes dark in the starlight. “What will we be doing?”

“Sneaking back to Vegas?” I asked hopefully.

Colby took a step closer to me. “That’s a long drive. Be morning by the time we get there, and we’ll miss breakfast.”

“True. But I don’t think we’ll get much privacy here.”

“That is a point.” Colby snaked his arm around my waist. “You really like your job at the C, don’t you?”

“I do.” My heart squeezed. “It’s something I can do—something I’m good at. And there’s a place for me there. I’m not Janet’s appendage, or her insane sister, or what-trouble-is-she-getting-into-now? Cornelius is the first person who’s seen me as me, you know what I mean?”

Colby looked affronted. “Hey, I met you before he did.”

I pushed at him but not so hard that I’d dislodge his hold. I liked his arm around me. “Yeah, but you just wanted to boink me.”

“Huh. That’s what you think. I wanted to know you—the beautiful, strong, totally out of the ordinary woman.”

I went toasty all over. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Colby’s eyes twinkled like the myriad stars above us. “That is the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

I nestled against him, touching a kiss to his sweatshirted chest. “You should have told me.”

“Well, I’m telling you now.”

I snuggled in, hearing his heart pound strongly beneath the warm shirt. Colby had not shown any ill effects from being dead for a few minutes. Chandra was right—she was a hell of a good doctor.

Colby and I had been a little shy with each other since then. During the battle, we’d given each other our true names, a large piece of what we were. That sharing was intimate, profound, and we weren’t quite sure how to act with each other yet.

“You know,” I said, making my voice light. “Vegas is a bit far, but there’s a very nice hotel in Winslow, less than an hour from here.”

“Mmm, that’s true. And my motorcycle is big enough for two. Of course, the hotel might be locked up for the night by now.”

“Nothing we can’t get around. We’ll pay up in the morning. Their computer won’t know we never checked in. Think we should go for a suite?”

Colby’s arms tightened around me. “I like the way you think, Gabrielle. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.”

I popped my head up in confusion. “Friendship?”

Colby rumbled a laugh. “It’s a line from Casablanca. I meant, you and me could have a lot of fun together.”

I relaxed. “We can. And we will.” I sent him a mischievous smile. “Just because I’ve realized I’m not totally evil doesn’t make me good.”

He caressed my back, his fingers strong. “Thank all the gods for that.” He glanced down the railroad bed. “Wait, I think they’re leaving. Libido grew too much for them, I bet.”

Mick was leading Janet down the bank, steadying her until they reached the flat land behind the Crossroads. He caught her hand, and they ran for the hotel and the private entrance to her suite, Janet’s laughter trailing behind her.

“Aw,” I said, my heart warming. “I’m so glad she found someone like Mick. Janet needs to be happy.”

Colby kissed the top of my head. He slid his arms from me but clasped both my hands. “Am I hearing you say good-bye to sibling rivalry?”

I watched Mick tow Janet inside the hotel and shut the door, the heat of her need for him reaching me through whatever bond she and I shared.

I turned back to Colby, tilting my head to regard him. “Oh, I’ll keep her on her toes. No need to get maudlin.” I glanced back at the hotel, chuckling to myself when the light flicked on in Janet’s bedroom and then as quickly off. “But my big sis—she’s not so bad.”

“No, she’s not,” Colby agreed. “And I can even put up with Mickey. But I’m happy I’m with little sis.” He grinned down at me. “Ready to go?”

“Oh, hell yeah.” I started down the railroad bed at a run, Colby giving a startled shout before he ran after me.

I headed for the shed where his bike was, the keys to his Harley flashing in my hand—I’d lifted them from his pocket.

Behind us, the coyote, who hadn’t ceased his yipping, raised his head and let his howls rise to the vast sweep of stars.