I watched sadly as Bo processed my request. I knew what it meant and how she would react, but it still hurt. I was asking her to beak her most important vow. When Bo finally broke down in tears on her knees next to the bed, I put my hand out, pulling her back up to the bed. I looked adoringly at her. She was my everything and as much as I hated to ask it of her, I knew without a doubt that it was what I wanted most. I had read once in one of Trick’s books that when one’s life force was consumed, it stayed with that being until death. I wanted, no I needed to become one with her. It was the only thought that brought me peace.

”Bo you have saved me time and again. You saved me from the Liche, the Garuda, Nelson, Massimo and from myself. You set my heart free. The one I had locked away after years of hardship and turmoil, when I thought that I never deserved to have anything good in my life. All you have done is save me Bo. Now I am asking that you save me from the pain and suffering. I would rather go feeling your warmth and love, knowing that you have a part of me with you always, then to go to sleep one night and pass away alone. Please Bo,” I plead, knowing my eyes shown with the pain I tried to hide.

XXX

I stared at her, not believing what she was asking me to do, but knowing exactly why she was asking me to do it. Still, that understanding did nothing to quell the waves of nausea and despair that were rolling through my body. I squeezed my eyes shut, saying nothing for several minutes while I just held onto Lauren’s fragile hands in my own trembling ones. I reopened my eyes, taking in her beauty. Even at her age now, she was still the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on and she always would be. She studied my response the way she had always done. She could read me like a book, she didn’t need special powers. After all our years together, I could read her, too. Her eyes always gave her away regardless of that long practiced stoic facade she could instantly put in place. I also had the benefit of a power and even in her sickly state, her aura had never been brighter, she had never radiated love as much as she did right now. I struggled through the tightness in my chest to take a deep steadying breath, my eyes welled with unshed tears. I tried to speak. My mouth would open and no words would come out. I finally found the strength and managed a shaky reply.