I let out a shaky breath and pick up more snow, then push it into the ground forcefully. Kai’s jaw ticks.Alright, time to get to the point,I tell myself.
“They decided that I would be required to retrieve you from Earth as soon as possible. To give me even more of an incentive, they stripped me of my wings until I returned you. Using some sort of light magic I’ve never witnessed before, they seared my wings off without laying a finger on me. Luke simply raised his hand and severed them off. I braced myself for the absolute worst, but it didn’t physically hurt as much as I anticipated. Didn’t even leave a mark. After that, they gave me a mission. If I returned you to Eloras in one piece, they’d give me my wings back. Nial softly—surprising for him, I know—assured me that ‘it’ll be as if they never left.'”
I scoff, lifting my eyes to meet his for the first time. His eyes burn with an ire I’ve never seen before.
“I’m so sorry. I know this is the last thing you wanted to hear. Frankly, I was eager to comply. You left me, Kai. You didn’t even say goodbye—”
My voice unexpectedly breaks at that. I clear my throat and shake my head.
“In my distress, I agreed to their terms, assuming it’d be simple to bring you back to Eloras. Initially, I planned on teleporting us back to Eloras as soon as I reunited with you. But after seeing you, I realized I didn’t have it in me to do it right then. And, as we spent more time together, I determined I made a terrible mistake in lying to you. So, I made a change of plans. I’ll make all this up to you.”
I nod, scooting closer to him and pleading with my eyes that he’ll somehow find it in his heart to forgive me. He fixes his gaze on the lake, his jawclenching again.
“They hurt you.” His low voice rumbles like a drum.
“What?” I pause, assessing his tense expression. “No, I told you, losing my wings didn’t physically hurt—”
“You specified that it didn’t physically hurt, but not all wounds are physical,” he concludes in a flat tone, ice lacing his voice.
I stare at him, stunned. Why is he so fixated on this? This part of my confession has the least to do with him. Suddenly, he rises and reaches his hand out to help me up. I grasp it and follow him to stand.
“Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“To the sky.”
My stomach drops.
“No, you’re getting it all wrong.” I shake my head and glance down at my feet, then frantically search his eyes. “You’ve been happier on Earth over the past twenty-four hours than almost your entire time up there. Iwantyou to be happy. More than anything, youdeserveto be happy. So, I’m going to march back up to Eloras and plead your case. I’ll find a way for you to stay down here. Please, I know I shouldn’t have lied to you, and I couldn’t be more sorry, but I can fix it, love. If you’ll let me.”
I cup his face delicately and pierce his gaze with my own. I can’t read his expression, so I try one more time to get through to him.
“You’re always helping everyone else. Let me help you this time, okay?” I whisper, leaning into him.
“Cleo, we’re going back to the Middle Realm together. You’re getting your wings back. As for what happens to me, consequences be damned.”
He repeats the phrase he told his sister weeks ago with an edge to his voice I don’t particularly enjoy. His hand remains on my waist, but his hold is different.
“No.” I scowl, my brows upturning in protest. “I refuse.”
“This ismychoice.Mine. You can’t decide my fate for me,” he says, breaking eye contact and glancing at the lake again. “If I knew this would happen to you, I never would’ve left. You hear me? This wasn’t worth the cost of your wings. Yourpain. I’m undoing this right the hell now.”
I shake my head and close my eyes. He’s not listening. What if they banish him? What if he gets imprisoned? A cold chill runs down my spine at the thought of what will happen to him. He has no idea what lies ahead. He’s broken so many rules… This might be the Archangels’ breaking point.
He begins walking back toward the lake house, letting out a sigh.
“Thank you for sharing this piece of your life with me. I’ll treasure it forever,” he whispers, stopping at the foot of the porch’s stairs. “Time to say goodbye. Knowing you, this might be your last time seeing this place. Take your time. I need some time to think.”
Then, I watch him walk away. I should have expected this. I lied to him. The cold shoulder is the least of what I deserve.
I turn toward the front door of the cabin and walk up the little steps to say goodbye to it.
He’s right. This will be my last time visiting.
Just before turning the knob, a subtle movement to my left catches my eye. I gaze toward it, capturing it just before it disappears.
A dragonfly.
