And now I bask in her awe and wonder, falling—enraptured—into her presence as I drown—steadily—in love.
“Wow,” she whispers as I present the pool exit leading into one of my more favored gardens. It’s the one that’s near a trod to the human realm, which means I can get signal for my phone while I’m on the bench I built in the flowers beyond the covered patio we’re standing beneath now.
My senses track my beautiful soulmate’s delicate footsteps as she wanders the stone plateau toward the rushing water features spilling down the wall and into the pool. The shush of her long robe against the floor guides me after her. I home in on her every motion and the shape of her body’s heat, just in case she slips, just in case I need to catch her.
“You live here alone?” she asks.
Alone.
My heart twists, but I maintain soothing calm in my tone. “Yes, the goblins live in the Desolate Caverns. Technically. I’m near positive they only stop by for food.” Once, long ago, I tried to give them bedrooms and treat them like individuals, subjects,friends. I had grand schemes of educating them and pressing them into higher planes of thought. Unfortunately, they tore up their bedding, created a nest, and built a cave out of splintered furniture around it. It took half a day before they fully rioted, ate their way through my front door, and returned to their caverns. Now, I let them come and go at will.
It occurs to me, moments late, that Idon’tlive here alone anymore. Brightening, I correct myself, “Actually, you live here now, too, with me.”
She stiffens.
Which…is certainly fine. We are still very early in learning one another. It will take a moment to embrace our new lives together.
It’s hard taking in a new home, especially one so large. It makes sense she’d be apprehensive to accept the truth that everything for her has changed.
Given time, it’ll be wonderful.
All the stories I’ve read for research turn out wonderful, and many of them have much harsher starts. Ropes and chains. A reprehensible amount of forcewithoutconsent. I will only explore such options if this tender approach I’m utilizing doesn’t appeal to the fire in my beloved, but for the moment, um,no.
Alexios says that consent is important. Ever since our friendship began, he’s reminded me of it. Often. And ever since I told him I was to bring my love home, he’s texted me at least three separate unsolicitedjust remember consent is importantmessages with emojis. A feat, considering he’s only known of this for but a day. I’ll probably have yet another “reminder” come through from him right now if I go over to the bench where I get signal.
Once, before my soulmate appeared, I was trying to locate a companion through brute force, and I told him thatconsentdoesn’t pair well withkidnapping. He cleared his throat and said my name very,veryslowly. The following pep talk, of course, was filled with irrelevant suggestions.
Like, perhaps, I locate my soulmatewithoutkidnapping her.
Rude of him to imply that I should take kidnapping off the table entirely.
Women love kidnapping.
I know.
I’ve done myresearch.
And what hashedone? Nothing. No research at all. He woke up in the world, and months later, the universe handed him his forever. Truly a case oftell me you’re God’s favorite princess without telling me you’re God’s favorite princess…
Sighing, I settle my irritations, because they don’t matter anymore. I’ve always known that I’m no one’s favorite; it’s a blessing to know now that at the least I am thought of, however little.
While I’m on the topic of my dear tiny bat of a friend, I should probably check in with him and let him know that everything went well with this kidnapping—despite him being so against it. I was messaging him about my plans last night before I brought my soulmate home. He’ll be overjoyed to know that she’s not even tried to run away yet. Not in an entire evening, morning, or afternoon.
That’s, probably, an excellent sign.
Not a consequence of her sheer absence of opportunity…
Hm.
I trail after my dearest heart as she skates her fingers through a waterfall. She’s so gentle. So…subdued.
Maybe I should give her some perceived opportunities to flee before I brag about anything to Alexios? Maybe I should give them to her regardless… Maybe I should hope that she tries to take flight, if only to prove that she’s still got the spirit for freedom tucked away in her chest like a dark pixie.
If she does run away, I can tail her and save her from the redcaps in the forest before I declare that I didn’t want to keep her if she wanted to leave, but Ididhave to make sure she was safe. Such an event would likely make her fall tremendously in love with me.
Marvelous.
There are no bad endings.
