28. Xeros

28

XEROS

W e enter the dark house and I watch quietly as Evangeline closes the door and lights up a lamp. The light is dim but offers enough illumination to let me see the expression on her face.

There's no hesitation to be found, just a steely resolve to put her words into action.

She doesn't speak, but I see her hand tremble slightly as she picks up a leather satchel with a shoulder strap. She starts going through the personal items stowed in a wicker basket.

I can't tell if she's shaking from adrenaline or because she's upset. Our bond makes me feel like she's just really worked up about being forced to leave her home, again. This time is different. This time she has me by her side.

I spot dried flowers, a pair of old, faded leather gloves, and a pale crystal roughly shaped into a cube among the things she packs.

Wordlessly, she gently wraps these items in cloth before putting them in her satchel.

Once again, I notice her fingers trembling slightly and something inside me compels me to reach out and hold her hand.

Hoping that my solemn determination shows on my face, I gently grab her chin to make her face me.

"I'm with you. Wherever you'll go."

Her smile stirs my insides, and the courage in her eyes reassures me that she will be alright. We will be alright.

"I know that, Xeros. I'm not scared. I'm a little bit excited, to be completely honest." Her voice is even, reflecting the calmness I can sense falling over her.

She puts down the satchel and takes my hands in hers.

"Every fiber of my being is heartened by you and your presence. I'm not the best with words, so I don't know how to express this, but somehow, without you even saying it, I know you'll always be by my side."

For a moment, we simply look at each other, holding hands. Our breathing becomes synchronized and I can hear our hearts beating in rhythm. I look down, her small, delicate hands seem so fragile in my big, taloned ones.

How can such an inherently weak creature hold such sway over me and my heart? Just one look and I'm ready to tear the world apart for her. This bond… It's fierce and fervent. Unbreakable.

Her eyes brighten and she squeezes my hands.

"We've spoken about our bond before… I told the council how it assures me of your loyalty… but there's so much more to it." She goes quiet, seemingly searching for the right words.

I take the opportunity to say something. "Our connection is like an invisible but tangible and undeniable thread that binds us together. I will tear down the skies for you and kill anyone who dares to stand between us."

My eyes rest on hers, and I feel myself smiling slightly—an odd sensation indeed.

"At the same time, I also want to be… happy with you. It's not something I've ever wanted before. I never even considered what happiness was. Now, I know it's in your laughter, your touch, and just being around you."

Evangeline blushes slightly. "Wow. Who knew you had such a poetic side to you?" She chuckles softly.

I let go of her hands and pull her closer to me, letting out a snort. "It's all your fault."

Her head rests on my chest and I hold her tight. We stand like this in the darkness for a while, and I stroke her hair, wordlessly marveling at how soft it feels.

This woman… she may have some idea how I feel, but she doesn't have an inkling how dangerous her hold over me is. I'd kill for her. I'd die for her. Even worse, I'd live for her.

She gently pushes me away.

"I need you to know how I feel." Her beautiful sapphire eyes look almost magical in the dim light.

"I. Love. You." She emphasizes every word. "I adore you. Every little thing you do… from the way your wings twitch when you're excited by the promise of battle to the way you look surprised when I kiss you unexpectedly. I am deeply in love with you." Her hand caresses my cheek, making my body feel warm all over.

I let her speak, not really sure what to say.

"Our connection is the truest and most profound thing I have ever known, and I know I'll never find anything even remotely close to this again."

Her voice is heavy with emotion and I can't help but be affected. "Evangeline…" I whisper her name before burying my face in her neck, breathing in her incredible scent.

She wraps her arms around my back.

"There is no way of knowing what lies ahead. We could die out there, facing hordes of waira. Or we could be persecuted by ignorant humans, hunted because of our love for each other."

She tightens our embrace. "But none of that matters, as long as we're together."

The sincerity in her voice stirs a profound warmth within me, my heart swelling with a mix of gratitude, love, and a shared understanding of the sacrifices we must make.

I pick her up, holding her slightly above me so she looks down into my eyes. Her legs instinctively wrap around my hips.

"And we'll always be together, Evangeline."

Her hair tickles my face as she leans her head forward to brush her lips against mine. The simple act makes my heart flutter. This time, I'm not annoyed at my body's response.

Our lips meet in a kiss that embodies the depth of our connection, sealing our commitment to one another and fortifying our resolve to face the world united.

When she pulls away, breathing fast, I put her down, trying to calm myself lest I take her right here and now.

She picks up the satchel again.

"Before all that, we need to pack." She rummages through a heap of cloth in the corner of the room. "Here." I take the large shoulder bag she holds out to me. "You can help by taking anything edible from the kitchen."

I search through the items in her cabinets, packing all the dried meat and fruits, nuts, and hard cheese I find. I also pack the water pouch hanging on the wall.

When I return to her, Evangeline sits on her bed, holding the flowers from earlier. She's staring into nothing, her fingers gingerly playing with the petals.

She looks a little forlorn. Should I say something to cheer her up? Or should I leave her to work through her thoughts and emotions? Humans are so complicated.

I clear my throat to get her attention.

Her head snaps to me and it's obvious she was lost in memories. She smiles faintly, holding up the flowers.

"These are from the first Night Wind Festival I attended. It's held every two years at a neighboring village. It's three times as big as ours. They celebrate the winter night wind that keeps them safe from tanku, small predators that can't handle the cold too well."

I sit down next to her, listening intently. Listening to others go on about their personal feelings and experiences was something that I had no interest in before meeting Evangeline.

Now look at me. My ears are perked as if I'm hearing the most intriguing tale of battles and wars.

"I picked these flowers to remember the day because I made a friend there," she placed the flowers back in the cloth, wrapping them neatly. "She died not long after that from a sickness that affected her lungs."

With a smile that belies the sadness in her eyes, Evangeline shows me the crystal she had earlier. It lacks color and is almost translucent, but brilliantly reflects the light of the lamp.

"This crystal was meant to bring me the one thing I wished for most. It was a gift from a man I was kind of seeing."

A sharp vine of jealousy winds itself around my heart.

"Oh, don't look so upset. He's not important." She holds up the crystal. "This is what's important. Back then, I didn't think it would actually work, but it did. It brought me you ."

I frown, puzzled.

"The day I did the incantation that freed you, I had this little guy in my belt pouch. I was hoping to find really good herbs. Instead, I managed to find a gigantic, scary-looking beast who stole my heart and soothes my soul."

She laughs, stowing away the crystal again.

"I'm definitely keeping that. Who knows what other great fortune it will bring us?"

An hour later, we packed everything Evangeline felt she needed. I have the shoulder bag with the food and she carries the satchel with her meager personal items. She also has extra warm clothes, which she bundled up and tied to my bag.

It's good that we're carrying light. Our travels won't be easy and extra baggage will slow us down. We'll be able to forage and hunt for food as we go anyway.

I throw the bag over my shoulder and we walk through the front door for the last time.

Evangeline leads the way, not even looking back at her now-former home.

"You know, this place has been both a place of pain and a catalyst for our love. It was within these walls that I realized I can't live without you." Her eyes sparkle playfully. "And that you have a soft spot for little girls with big, brown eyes."

Her words threaten to make me scowl but I manage to remain stoic. "I have no idea what you're talking about." The small rocks in my pocket seem to emit a soft warmth that makes my heart feel a little lighter.

Laughter bubbles from her throat and makes the world seem brighter, more beautiful, for a moment. She takes my hand, her fingers lovingly caressing mine.

"Come on. We've got a long road ahead of us."

I nod, our shared determination and sense of purpose coursing through my blood.

Hand in hand, we walk out of the village gate into the chill night, starting a journey we know will test our resilience and strengthen the bond that has become the anchor of our shared existence.