27. Evangeline

27

EVANGELINE

S tanding hand-in-hand with Xeros, I know where my loyalty lies, and it fuels my decision.

The silence in the room is deafening, so many unspoken words etched onto the faces in front of me. I can see their prejudice, tinged with fear. My heart races, my blood turning cold as I realize what must happen.

"I get it now." I glance at Xeros, who is focused on the council members, ready to act if they do anything stupid. "Xeros and I don't belong here. We never truly did."

My voice is steady despite the sadness coiled around my heart.

"I was naive to think you and the rest of the village would welcome us. I hoped…" I clear my throat. "Well, it doesn't matter what I hoped. It's clear that narrow-mindedness rules the day in these chambers."

The council members mutter softly, afraid to speak up while Xeros is standing right in front of them, his face cold and hard.

"That's why we'll be leaving immediately. I won't spend another day in a community where one's judged not by his actions, but the bias of fear."

My words hang in the air, reverberating through the chamber. Let that sink in, you intolerant fools.

Harold's voice cracks as he speaks. "If the two of you leave now, we'll be wide open for an attack." He glares at me. "Do you not care about the fate of your people?"

" My people? The people who turned their backs on me when I made an honest mistake?" Bitterness makes me talk louder than I intended to. "The people who showed open disdain for Xeros since the moment he stepped inside the village walls? The same people who would kill him if they could find an opportunity?"

My eyes travel from one council member to the next, pinning them with the weight of my questions.

"You stopped being my people when you drugged me and dumped me far away to die ." I take a step back. "I should have realized that sooner."

Xeros's grip on my hand tightens, and I know he's got my back. This fills my heart and strengthens my resolve.

"I know that the waira threat will persist and that they're growing in strength and ferocity, but that's no longer our problem. I wish you the best in facing them."

I turn to walk away, a guilty, sinking feeling in my stomach.

"If you leave now, Evangeline, you'll be considered a traitor. You'll never be welcomed back." Hilda's voice is as cold as a blizzard.

My head held high, I keep walking without giving her the satisfaction of a response.

Xeros ruffles his wings as if in defiance to the council, his thumb caressing my hand.

The sun is bright in our eyes as we exit the council's chambers, and the sight of the village bathed in sun rays tugs at my heartstrings.

This is probably the last time I'll see any of these people.

Xeros lets go of my hand and grabs my chin to make me look at him. "I'll forever be at your side. Don't ever doubt that."

I can't help but smile. "I know that. Thank you." For a moment I want to resist the urge to kiss him, but then think better of it.

Fuck it. Let them watch in shock.

I grab at his chest, pull him lower, and kiss him on his ever-tempting lips. He smiles into the kiss and wraps his arm around me to pull me closer.

There is an audible gasp from somewhere behind us and I start to feel spiteful. I deepen the kiss. With satisfaction, I can feel people around us staring.

When we finally break apart, only because we're breathless, there's a grin on Xeros's face.

I mirror his expression. "We don't need anyone or anything else."

He nods, takes my hand, and leads me towards the home we've shared here for the last time. We walk slowly as if to take in the sights and sounds of the village and imprint them in our minds.

We pass Idel's stall, where she's preparing special meat cuts again. This kind of promotion is unnecessary in such a small village, but she's always been stubborn about that.

She gives me a small wave before calling me over. "Why don't you two try out this new type of meat? It's got a funky taste but I think it's pretty good." She hands me and Xeros each a skewer with big chunks of fried red meat.

I take a small bite and immediately get overwhelmed by the wild flavor of the meat and the sharp bitterness of the herbs she used.

Before I can say a word, Xeros lets out a satisfied grunt. "It's good," he says in between bites.

Laughter bursts out of my mouth and I don't try to stop it. I'm allowed to at least enjoy my last day here, right?

"Thank you, Idel. It's… interesting."

Her grin is wide and she starts preparing more meat skewers with increased fervor.

We continue our walk and I hand Xeros my unfinished meat. He's too grateful and the enthusiasm makes me chuckle.

As we follow the same path through the village I've taken so many times before, the sinking feeling in my stomach becomes heavier. A sick, green tightness envelops my heart.

It's not fair. This was my home, and I loved it so much. Why did things have to work out this way?

Xeros intertwines his taloned fingers with mine and I instantly feel reassured. We are in this together.

Determined to actually enjoy our time left in the village, I lead Xeros through my favorite areas. From the wishing fountain to the shops I frequented when looking for something nice to wear, I take a literal walk through memory lane.

The sun starts to set as we wind our way through my favorite haunts. While most of the people on our way keep their distance, a few of them greet us and make small talk.

Not everyone here is bad. I wish I could take the good ones with me…

We pass a tiny garden filled to the brim with wildflowers, a clear sign that the homeowner doesn't like tending to their little patch of land.

Xeros stares at the flowers for a few seconds before grabbing a handful and handing them to me.

I raise my eyebrows in question.

"It's a human custom to give your woman flowers, is it not?"

I take the flowers from him, grinning. " Your woman?"

"Are you not?"

With a shake of my head and a happy chuckle, I stand on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek.

"I suppose I am."

We really do come from different worlds… but it's okay. We can make things work for us on our terms. Whatever that turns out to be.

We near my house and I'm about to open the door when a sudden squeal makes me turn in surprise.

Xeros's body is stiff, and he's ready to fight the oncoming threat.

Sasha's loud laughter makes us both relax instantly. She rushes over to Xeros, grabbing hold of his legs and staring up at him with her big, brown eyes.

I almost expect him to ask for my advice but he simply bends down and picks her up. The tender way he holds takes me even more by surprise.

The little girl makes happy noises like only a child of her age can, and I feel myself unable to resist a big smile. She's easily the cutest toddler in the village.

"Play?" she asks Xeros, who slowly shakes his head.

"I have to go. There's no time for that."

Her eyebrows lower and the corners of her mouth turn downward.

Oh no.

Before she can start crying, Xeros lifts her up and spins around, eliciting a loud and happy scream from her.

He stops and puts her down, his taloned foot preventing her fall when she stumbles. He picks up a small rock and kicks it away.

Sasha happily runs after it.

"How did you know to do that?" I ask him, my curiosity piqued.

"Do what?"

"Don't play dumb. You knew exactly how to stop her from crying. I didn't think you had it in you to be fatherly ."

He shoots me a glare. "I'm not… fatherly . I'm great at observing, and that's what I saw her mother do with her." He shrugs. "It's like a battle. Know your enemy and you'll be able to counter any attack."

"Of course you'd compare handling a child with a battle." I laugh at his unique way of looking at things.

Sasha brings back the rock, and the two of them play their game of fetch for several minutes before she gets bored. She walks up to Xeros again, holding out her arms to be picked up.

With a dramatic sigh, he scoops her up and lets her sit on his shoulders. She clings to his face with her little hands and I burst out laughing at his annoyed expression.

She leans to the side to touch his wings and Xeros flinches. He looks even more annoyed when she mumbles ‘pretty' while trying to stroke them.

Spotting her mother, he quickly puts her on the ground again. "We have to go now."

Sasha nods, her big eyes shining with tears. She reaches into her dress pocket, which I'm surprised could hold anything—it's full of holes.

My heart melts when she takes out small, colorful rocks. Holding her two hands out, the rocks nearly falling from them, she looks at Xeros. "For you."

He hesitates for a second before he bends down and lets her drop them in his gigantic hand. She giggles and gives him a tight hug, her little arms barely able to wrap around his neck.

Xeros sits uncomfortably through the display of affection, avoiding eye contact with me.

I hide my smile with my hand as we wave her goodbye, her mother dragging her away ‘to wash your filthy little ass.'

I turn to open the door of my home, the weight of my decision falling on my shoulders again.