Elodie smiled. “It’s a solid start.”
He smiled, and there was still wonder in his gaze. “You are exactly what I pictured when I heard Halla’s, or rather, Elodie’s voice.”
“Shiny and made of darkness?” She ignored the shiver she felt when he said her name.
“Eyes with thousands of stars swirling in them.”
“I suppose I should see an optometrist.”
He smiled. “Your eyes are beautiful. Your soul is gorgeous. Was that Halla in the dance?”
“Yes. She hung around to make sure that it was good for her to leave. She needed complete freedom, and I found that for her, so she took it. She gets to become a star now.”
He looked up and then down at her. “But... you are staying?”
“I will live out this life, no matter how long it is, and then I will return to the skies with Wylda.”
Robert looked relieved and then asked, “How long can you live?”
“There are stars here who have been here for over a hundred years. They leave when they feel the time is right.” Elodie grinned. “I am an elf. I can live as long as I want to.”
He smiled slowly. “Same with the seasons. We live until our partners are gone and we don’t have a reason to remain. Theway Ember and Rowan are going, Autumn is going to be here forever.”
“What?”
“They have one child so far, and he is looking forward to the second. Ember and Orla are linked, so where one goes, reproductively speaking, they both go. I would imagine it would be similar with you and Wylda.”
She blinked. “Oh. That would be different. Enmar beat the hell out of Halla because she couldn’t have children. I repaired the damage he had done, and then he passed away, so it was never delved into.”
Robert blinked slowly. “I would really like to delve.”
She paused and then laughed. “Worst flirting ever.”
He gave her a bashful look. “Sorry.”
“I like sweet honesty. This body became mine due to an arrogant abuser who destroyed the wife, who lost the will to keep fighting. I was definitely capable of fighting, so I comforted her, and then I kicked his ass before I took his life.”
Robert’s face tightened. She knew that look.
“You would like to kill him again, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
She chuckled. “So would I. I imagine the terror in his last moments was akin to what he had made her feel over and over. I really wanted him to suffer more.”
“Bloodthirsty?”
“Only for him. His death was too fast, and I made it last as long as I could.” She was grim.
Robert smiled. “I can offer you a little more revenge if, or rather when, you agree to my courtship.”
“That is intriguing.”
“Part of the gentle courtship.” He smiled.
“You have my attention, Bobby.”
He grinned. “No one calls me that.”
