Chapter 5

Damian

Thirty-three years ago

"I loved once and lost. To love a second time and lose again makes me a fool." ~ Damian

"Eleni, you look beautiful tonight, my love."

She returns my gaze with a smile. A smile that doesn't reach her gray eyes.

The night is serene. The moon casts a soft glow on the grassy field where we sit. The stars twinkle above us, and the gentle hum of crickets fills the air. Fireflies dance around us, creating a magical ambiance.

"Is everything all right?"

"Yes, my love. I'm just tired." The tone behind her reassuring words adds to my worry. I brush it aside to enjoy our anniversary dinner. The blanket beneath us provides warmth, and the scent of fried chicken mixes with the earthy aroma of the grass.

One year ago, Eleni knocked on my door with a seductive look in her eye.

She'd come for a no strings attached relationship that turned into more.

After Katarina's rejection, Eleni came to me like a breath of fresh air.

She unknowingly helped me see I could love again.

We haven't spent a night apart since she came to me. Three hundred and sixty-five days of bliss. Each day was a new adventure, from spontaneous road trips to quiet evenings watching movies. She made me feel alive again.

I spread the blanket in the grass while she unpacks the picnic she brought for us.

Watching the fireflies under the stars is our favorite pastime. Well, mine, but she puts up with it for me. She'd rather sit in my jacuzzi tub.

Her mood tonight makes me eerily aware that the last few times she soaked her naked body under the soapy bubbles, she made an excuse to bathe alone.

Déjà vu hits me like a tidal wave, submerging me in a sea of memories.

Is Eleni pulling away from me? Does she have a human lover like Katarina?

She pops the bottle of champagne I brought for the evening. I hold the glasses for her to pour the bubbly liquid into.

She sets her flute beside her against the basket without taking a sip. My stomach sinks. Champaigne is her favorite.

I watch. Praying to Helios that I'm wrong.

I take the fried chicken she placed on a paper plate for me and force myself to eat half. I set it down when it's clear she has no appetite.

I promised her my forever six months ago. Again, I couldn't bring myself to admit the death of my one true mate. The only one I could ever share that pain with is her—the one I'll never hold in my arms. To speak of her with someone who could only hold a tenth of my heart feels like a betrayal.

I've been watching Eleni for several minutes while she stares at the stars. She's not fooling me.

Like pulling off a Band-Aid, I can't wait another minute for her to break my heart. "Why are you breaking up with me?"

Her head turns quickly in my direction. Tears pool in her eyes.

"My parents suggested I enroll at LSU and seek a human. They know my clock has ticked and my mate hasn't come running." She looks back at the stars.

Her words are a punch in the gut. She doesn't have to tell me what she told them for me to know the answer. She's going.

Without a word, I stand and walk away. I don't look back. She doesn't call after me and beg me to stay. She doesn't ask for one more night together. I wouldn't give it to her, anyway.

My heart bleeds with the realization that my love and word weren't enough for her.

The nights she spent alone in the tub, the distant looks, the lack of appetite—it all makes sense now.

I must face the truth. No heifer will trust that I'll give them forever unless I confess my loss. And I'll never admit it to a soul.

As I make my way home, the fireflies seem to dim, their light fading into the darkness. The champagne bottle, now half-empty, stands as a symbol of our broken dreams. The stars, once a source of comfort, now feel cold and distant.