So, he did want to mend fences after having been a dick most of this past week.
Good.
“You do,” I said, trying to reassure him. “What do you think?”
Another shrug. “If he can bring the titans, you’ll probably need to entertain his proposal.” He huffed out a long sigh. “I’m the only one who saw how things went in the auditorium after everyone was told about the war. It was chaos. Most of the elves and sylphim on campus are getting the fuck out. Everyone else seems split into two groups, those who are uncertain about fighting and want to stay out of it — mostly the dwarves and undines and dryads — and those who want to fight but already know we don’t have a chance in hell. I don’t care how many shifters and pixies and hobgoblins join us, our magic is barely a scratch compared to the full might of the elven forces, which includes dragons and sylphim and a good chunk of others who haven’t heard about what’s happened here on campus. We need those titans or…” Another rather fatalistic shrug.
Yikes.
That did not make me feel any better about winning this war.
I nodded. “Yeah, great, thanks,” I muttered.
“We’ll figure this out… somehow,” Vyns said, squeezing my arm. I gave him the same fake smile Myel had given me. It was going to take more than empty reassurances to win this war.
There wasn’t much to say after that, and a heavy silence hung over the room… until Myel’s phone rang. It was across the room and rang several times before he sighed and moved to go get it.
“Myel.”
He turned back to me, soulful eyes darker than usual. “Yeah?”
I honestly didn’t know why I’d called after him. Mostly I wanted him to feel better but knew that wasn’t going to happen with just a few words… so I repeated what I’d said earlier.
“After I talk to Rook, we’ll spend some time together.”
He nodded, looking tired and frustrated, then headed for his phone.
“I need some more rest,” Vyns said, getting up gingerly.
“I’ll help you back to your room,” Koar said to him, then looked at me. “I’ll be back.”
I nodded and rose myself, as did Rook.
“Perhaps a walk outside?” Rook suggested.
I nodded.
We left the large new residence and strolled around the small field outside. It was a beautiful night, the stars twinkling above us, with a soft spray of salty sea air off the ocean below the cliffs.
“So…” I drew out the word.
“Yeah…” he said, blowing out a breath. “Give me a minute. I know I’ve had tons of time to think about this, but it’s still… not really my thing, all this… talking and emotional shit.”
“Me neither, we’ll suffer through it together,” I joked.
He laughed then sighed.
“I guess the best place to start is: I’m sorry for being a massive ass over the past week.”
Yup, that was a good start.
“I said and did things I truly regret. I never should have said I was afraid of you because you were an elf. That wasn’t true. I’m not afraid of you at all.” I got the feeling there was more to that, that hewasafraid of something. I didn’t knowwhere that supposition came from. Perhaps some faint whisper of his thoughts through our mental link? “I was confused, because… I wanted to be with you and only you, and for us incubi, wanting to be monogamous is considered a mental illness.”
I laughed at that. It made sense, but it was still kind of silly to hear it said out loud.
“But… now that I’ve had time to think, I’ve realized I don’t care about any of that. I want to be with you and only you, no other women… if you’ll have me back.”
As far as well thought out and sincere apologies went, that was a solid eight out of ten. It wasn’t a ten, because I still felt like he was holding back. He still seemed on edge about something.
