If this were to happen days ago, I would have been shocked to my core. Somehow, I was starting to understand her purpose. She existed in many times and places. She had a duty to fix the unfixable. Although it hurt, I wouldn't stop her.
"Where will you go?" I asked.
She looked back into the clouds and inhaled. "The future," she said.
I had my mother again. For a limited time only. No purchase necessary.
Well, I had her with me for the day. Could I really complain about something so lucky? There was no time for sleep. This was another goodbye, but I had to keep assuring myself that we'd meet again.
"I want to marry you both," she told me on the way down from the watchtower.
We dropped to the deck, and she meandered through the corridors, leading me to chambers with technology I couldn't be bothered to understand. At the end of one hallway, she turned and smiled, eyes glowing green. She was just so beautiful that it hurt.
"A small wedding," she said. "With the people who love you."
"I'd love to, but we don't have a spot to host the ceremony," I said. I glanced down at my left hand's bare knuckles. The blood crusted where the skin frayed back. "Not to mention, Lucian and I didn't exchange rings."
"That is hardly an issue," she said. "Lucian is a good man. You're a good woman. You deserve a fresh start."
&nbs
p; Without uttering another word, my mom continued walking until she reached a door. She opened it and stepped aside. Lucian was on one knee. A ring was carefully resting in his palm. "My sweetness," he cooed.
I was shocked. His mutation was gone. My mom must have given him the cure. He smiled radiantly.
I touched his face, tracing my fingers over his smooth lips. He was still bigger than ever, but all of his murderous features had turned normal. "You… you found the serum," I said.
Kahn stood behind him, looking joyful and dapper. "Lucian feels guilty about the whole ordeal," Kahn said, voice even-tempered.
My mom walked around us. She stopped and met my dad near a long outside table. I had to admit, it was a little weird seeing my young mother standing with my aging father, but it was also extraordinary. They were travelers of love, and they worked tirelessly to make sure things went according to plan. I couldn't thank them enough for their sacrifice.
"I'm sure Lucian will learn to deal with his handsome face," Mom said.
He chuckled. "Well, I didn't have much choice in the matter. She injected us while we were sleeping."
"Mom!" I shouted.
She blushed. "You can thank me later."
The grounds were covered with the same sunflowers that were near the outside of the wall. It wasn't customary for a woman to lower to the man's level during a proposal, but I was too weak in the knees to stand up straight. Plus, we were equals. We helped each other get out of the muck.
"We made it," I whispered. "Can you believe it?"
His eyes were glossy but confidence pervaded him. "I couldn't have done it without you. That's why I want to marry you. That's why I'm giving you this ring," he said. "Lilly, I am yours."
I put out my hand, and my eyes widened. Slowly, he slid the ring toward my knuckle. Lost in a dream, I folded my palm and looked at the diamond-encrusted band. I knew where it had come from. I had seen it in all of the pictures. It was my mother's ring.
"I didn't think it was possible for me to find love," I said, tearing up. "But I found you, and everything changed."
"You were easy to fall in love with," Lucian said.
He rose, and my dad met us near the sunflowers. Dad took off his ring and held it against the sunlight. "Lilly, this is yours to give," he said. "Lucian, you better give my daughter all of the love and happiness the world can offer."
My father opened my hand and gave me the ring. "Dad… Oh, my God."
Lucian bowed his head. "My entire life is devoted to her wellbeing."
"You saved our lives. You know that you have my blessing," he said.