It was a sunny day in Augaurde, Ezer and Six practicing their laps on the cliffside, when Kinlear finally dared try.
She was standing at Six’s side, the way she did in his dreams. The beast was purring, the cat side of her loving the feel of the rare, northern sunlight on her fur and feathers. Ezer laughed, and Kinlear’s heart thrummed at the sound of it.
“It’s a beautiful day,” he said. The sun was warm on his face. It lit up the shades of Ezer’s dark hair, reminding him of Six’s feathers. Blues and emeralds and deep purples that were only revealed today. The two of them, Rider and raphon, were practicallyshimmering.
“Just...beautiful,” Kinlear said.
He wasn’t looking at the sky or Six.
He was looking right at her.
Something shifted in her gaze...but it wasn’t resistance. No, he sensed that maybe, just maybe, she was softening for him. Maybe she was opening the door to her heart.
Maybe she would finally let him in.
“If I didn’t know any better,” he said carefully, for he didn’t want to push too hard. “I’d say you were born for this.”
“For what?” she asked.
He smiled.
Do it,his mind whispered. His heart thumped a little faster, and for a second...he thought he might be sick. But he had only today. Only this moment, so he dared.
“For her,” he said softly. “For...me.”
Thump.
His damned heart slammed so hard, he was worried she’d hear it.
Thump.
Oh gods, what was she going to say?
The wind danced between them. Six stamped her paws in the snow.
And Kinlear waited, and waited, feeling like the world had simply paused just to spite him.
Damnit.
Perhaps he’d gone too far too fast, because he cleared his throat, and feigned indifference, sliding on that old, familiar mask.
“Oh, gods, I mean...”Don’t push it, you fool!“I mean for me and this mission. I feel as if you have been godsent, Ezer. The answer to the prayers so many of us have sent skyward, hoping the gods would take pity on this realm. I’ve never met a soul like you. You’re...unburdened.” He smiled, though inside...he had to breathe the pain of longing for her.
He would wait a bit longer.
He would wait forever, if he had to.
“There is no greater joy than to share this moment with you,” he added.
True.
All of it....true. And it felt so good to speak what was on his heart.
He hadn’t done it since he’d written letters to Soraya, so long ago...when things were pure in his mind. When he knew only thehereand thenow,and had never been burdened with the visions of what could and would be.
So, he kept going. He told Ezer of his past – only the important pieces – and of howsmallhe felt when Arawn was near. How the people of Lordach had always compared the two of them...and Kinlear had never measured up.
“That’s not what they think,” Ezer said gently, the wind tugging at her dark curls.
