I might have known that this was coming, but it didn"t stop the fact that it hurt to have to say goodbye to the afterlife. Especially when it meant saying goodbye to Aken too. While that had been just as true as every other year, it was harder this time now that we"d spent so much time together at the house.
But the call back to the land of the living was deep within me, and there was no way that I could ignore it. I dreaded to think what would happen if I did.
I turned to the man standing stoically beside me. "I"m sorry I have to go."
He offered me a small smile. "You don"t have to be sorry about doing your duty. I understand."
"That doesn"t change the fact that I feel bad."
He stepped forward and pulled me into his arms, his hand brushing across my cheek gently. "You shouldn"t feel
