Bo suddenly collapsed against Bruce. Everyone was silent, even the usually inappropriate Mesmer. Bo searched the room as she sat within the cradle of Bruce’s arms, her eyes acknowledging the presence of Vex for the first time. ”How long have you been here?”

Tamsin, worried at the confusion she interpreted in Bo’s eyes, spoke for him. ”Not long.”

Still looking at Vex, Bo interrogated him whilst holding the scarf. ”You brought this…”

Vex nodded, his body still as stone.

”Where?” she asked, becoming more alert.

”Barcelona.”

”And you saw them.” Droplets of hope began to drip and mingle with her blood, triggering alertness that neither Tamsin nor Bruce had seen from Bo in so very long. Vex nodded again.

Bo openly wept as she leapt toward the empty air, ”She’s alive!” She turned to Bruce and grabbed his arms, remembering that he had said the charm on the scarf right before her. ”You saw her, them! Kenzi!”

”Yes, my Queen,” he assured her.

”Is that who you saw?” Tamsin said to the pair on the bed.

”She’s alive. I couldn’t have seen her through this,” she held the scarf aloft, ”if this wasn’t hers, now could I?”

”You can only evoke the memories attached to the charmed object, and its owner,” Bruce confirmed.

”Vex!” Bo pushed herself free from Bruce. ”Take me to them.”

”That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, love,” he looked at Tamsin, ”I don’t know where they are.”

Tamsin raged, ”Explain!”

”Flew the coop. Took a powder. Made like a tree, and—”

”—Enough.” Tamsin shoved Vex back a step. ”And you didn’t go after them?”

”I lost their scent and besides, darlings, I’m a Mesmer not a tracker. But…”

”But what?” Bo was on her knees and felt the rapid beating of her heart.

”If one had a nose like a wolf, it shouldn’t be too difficult to follow their tracks now that I’ve made actual contact.”

Bo inched her way off the bed and planted her bare feet onto the floor. Steady. She rooted herself there for what felt like an eternity to the trio in the room. She took slow and deliberate steps across the room, stopping in front of the full-length mirror that had been ignored these many months. She took in her own reflection as Bruce, Tamsin, and Vex slid into view a few paces behind her. Bo concentrated on the figure standing there, absorbing the shadows beneath her eyes, her waxen color, and the surprising thinness of her once taut muscles. She cupped the crown of her head into her palms and turned toward the center of the room. The mausoleum, into which her heart had been entombed, had at last been cracked open—setting Bo free and choking for life, for Kenzi—for Lauren again, her as it always will be.

She approached the giant and hugged him tight to her chest. ”You have my blood oath that this was the last time.” Then turning to Tamsin, ”And thank you both for bringing me back.”

Vex stood the furthest away and was unsure not only of what Bo might say and do to him but also for concealing the existence and whereabouts of her beloved. Bo surprised him with a declaration of longing, ”Did she think of me? Does she—”

Vex debated with himself on how to answer, aware that if she heard the truth that Lauren did not once ask about her might send her running back into darkness. Tamsin sensed Vex’s hesitation and stepped in front of him, smiling softly at Bo. ”Maybe you should ask her yourself. C’mon,” she said placing her hands on Bo’s shoulders, ”let’s go get your girl.”