Chapter 103

Before Matt could answer, he heard a distant sound, a familiar sound, Vic’s voice on the wind calling his name. He turned in the direction of the voice, pulling his hand free from Vic’s. “Vic?”

He expected a gruff, “Right here behind you, babe,” but all he heard was his name, faint on the breeze, calling from far away. There was a tinge of panic in the sound. “Matty!”

Matt circled around and found the lion he’d been touching moments ago was gone. He glared at Roxie. “Where is he? Where’d he go?” Raising his voice, he cried out, “Vic!”

On the wind, closer now. “Matty!”

“Vic!” Matt took a few steps down the yellow brick road, suddenly lost without his lover. “Where are you? Vic!”

Behind him, Roxie said, “You have to go home.”

“Vic ismy home,” Matt told her. He sounded so alone and dejected that Sadie padded to his side, whimpering as she nuzzled against his leg.

She came closer, those ruby slippers clomping on the yellow brick. “Say it again.”