I shot up to my full height and peered down at Elric, my eyes narrowing into a sharp glare and my chest heaving with anger. “I’ve told you, I must pay my penance!” The words slipped past my lips with a growl, but Elric, knowing me too well, remained unfazed by my little display.
“How much longer are you going to go on like this? You’re just going to leave her here and forget about her? Hide in the caves and torture yourself some more, hmm?” He was shouting now. For the first time in all our years of friendship, Elric had finally lost his temper with me. “Do you think that’s fair to her? Is it fair to you?”
At that moment, the false reality I’d been living, the lies I’d told myself, completely unraveled. Iris deserved more–and I deserved more.
There was no way I could leave her.
I dropped to my knees and my body trembled with a sob.
“It’s time to move on, Selvyn. It’s what your mum would want. She’d want you to be happy.” Elric placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “We can fix this. We’ll think of a proper plan and fix it. You know me and Marta will do whatever we can, and perhaps Iris can help.” Elric dropped down to his knees in front of me. “I just want you to have the life you deserve.”
I lurched forward and wrapped him in a tight hug. “Thank you, my friend,” I whispered.
“You’re welcome. And it felt good to finally tell you what an insufferable ass you can be at times,” he said with a laugh.
There was a gentle knock on the door and we both rose to our feet.
Elric cleared his throat, his gaze traveling to the door. “Talk to Iris tonight, and then tomorrow we’ll tell Marta over breakfast.”
I nodded my head in understanding, wrapping Elric in another quick hug before I opened the door.
I was unprepared for the sight that greeted me.
Iris stood in the doorway, dressed in a white night dress with a thick wool coat draped over her shoulders–and a pair of worn boots on her feet. Marta had braided her hair into a series of intricate plaits, as was common with the folk, with a delicate hairpin holding several of the braids in place. Snowflakes gathered in her hair and on her shoulders, and her cheeks were flushed red from the cold.
“Iris,” I breathed her name. “You look beautiful.”
“I know.” She flashed me a coy smile, her eyes alight with mischief and her teeth digging into her lower lip.
It seemed she hadn’t forgotten my promise.
Marta laughed from behind her. “Are you going to stand there staring at her or are you going to let the poor girl inside? It’s cold out here.”
I stepped to the side and ushered the two of them into the cottage.
“This is lovely,” Iris said the moment she stepped inside. She ran her fingers over the exposed beams and stared up at the raised ceiling.
“I’m glad you like it, and you’re welcome to stay for as long as you’d like.” The loving smile Marta gave Iris made my heart swell.
I looked forward to seeing her reaction tomorrow, when I finally told her what she’d been waiting so long to hear.
I took Iris’s coat, hanging it on a peg on the back of the cottage door before turning back towards my friends. “Thank you again for dinner, and for everything else you’ve done.”
“Yes, thank you,” Iris said with a nod.
Marta rubbed her hand along Iris’s arm. “It’s our pleasure.”
“Well,” Elric said with a sigh. “We’ll let you two get some rest. Join us for breakfast in the morning when you’re ready.”
“Goodnight. And thank you again for the kindness you’ve shown me.” Iris ran her hands over her braid and looked down at her dress.
“We take care of our friends here, m’dear. Goodnight,” Marta said, and with that, her and Elric stepped through the cottage door and out into the night.
I watched them leave, waiting until they were halfway to the old farmhouse before scooping Iris into my arms.
“Mmm, my angel. How I missed you.” I hummed and nuzzled her temple. “This hairstyle, these clothes—they suit you.”
“You think so?”
