Michael was actually awake when Serapha came in. “Serapha! You’re all right!”

“Yes,” she said simply.

“What happened?”

“I really don’t want to talk about it,” she said. She sat down on the bed next to Michael. He slowly sat up, careful of his still tender head, and put one arm around her. She leaned against him and closed her eyes, the tension finally going out of her.

“Whatever happened,” said Michael, “I’m glad I didn’t lose you. I don’t know what I’d do if you were gone so soon after coming back to me.”

She opened her eyes again and looked up at him. “I’m very glad I didn’t lose you either.”

“Serapha… I’ve discovered how much I care about you. When I thought I’d lost you and you were with someone else, the way I felt… I couldn’t bear it. And tonight, when I was afraid I’d loose you for good… I love you. I don’t want to ever be without you. Serapha…”

“Stop,” said Serapha softly. “Please. I know what you want to say. And in a lot of ways I feel the same way. I do care for you very deeply. I think maybe I even love you.”

“But?” said Michael sadly, hearing the unspoken word in what she’d said.

“But I’m not ready. I can’t give my heart yet. My mother told me once, her people love only once. Once mated they never marry again, even if their loved one dies young. And that’s a part of me too. She warned me not to give my love too easily, and I didn’t listen. Now… now in a way my love has died, not because Gabriel died, but because the person I thought he was died. That person never existed, but I thought he did, and when I found out otherwise, it was like he died. It broke my heart. I know you would never break my heart like that. You’re exactly who you seem to be. But I can’t just jump in again. I can’t say ‘you’re the one for me.’ Not yet. I’m sorry if that hurts you. The last thing I want to do is to hurt you, but I can’t lie to you either.”

“I’m sorry too,” said Michael. “I’m sorry that Gabriel hurt you like that. But… you said not yet, you didn’t say not ever. Maybe… maybe for now we can go on as very close friends. But do you think maybe by this time next year I could ask you again?”

She smiled. “Yes,” was her simple reply.

“If that’s what you need, then I can wait,” said Michael, and he kissed her once, softly, and wrapped his arms around her and held her close.