“You are alright,” he whispered into her hair, his shadows curling around her ankle protectively. “You are alright.”
Eleanor firmly wrapped her arms around Osiris, tears prickling her eyes as she closed them tight.
If Elias had not stepped in when he did, something really bad could have happened.
Eleanor’s eyebrows furrowed as she pulled back slightly, turning her head to look past Osiris and his shadows as they were worrying over her, to glare at Elias who was still dry heaving.
“How did you know we needed help?”
Elias held up a finger as he spat out more blood, muttering curses under his breath.
Standing up straight, Elias used the back of his hand to wipe the remaining blood off his lips. “It was hard not to know. The whole enclave heard the screaming, only I actually recognized your voices. I figured you could use a hand.”
Osiris turned to look at Elias, his hold on Eleanor tightening. “The beings… do they know?”
“Who you are with?” Elias shook his head, relief flooding over both Eleanor, and from his loosening grip, Osiris as well.
“Though, I hate to ruin whatever moment you two might be about to have, they are all waiting for your return, Osiris. What are you going to do about your human?”
“Osiris,” Eleanor started, “if you do not want them to know—”
“Hush, Symphony,” his voice hardened with resolve, “they would have found out eventually. It is important that they know.”
“But your enclave, your garden,” she argued, gesturing back at their home, “what if they tell you that you are no longer welcome?”
Osiris shrugged his shoulders. “Then we make a new enclave. We build a new cottage. We tend to a new garden.We createa new home.Together. What I have matters naught if I do not have you to share it with.”
Eleanor shook her head, wanting to dismiss his declarations and soothing whispers of sweet nothings, yet her damned cheeks began to hurt as she couldn’t stop smiling.
“I love you,” she whispered.
Osiris’ shadows wrapped around her waist pulling her closer as his hands cupped her face, his thumbs brushing away the streaks of wetness running down her cheeks.
“I loveyou, my dearest Eleanor. I am so proud to call you mine. It is time for a new era. One where beings and humans must not live in fear of one another.”
“It will not be easy,” she mused.
“It will not, but you are a cunning, sharp-tongued woman. You will show both our people a brighter path, and I will stand behind you as you do.”
28
ELEANOR
Eleanor stood behind Osiris, shielded by his shadows as they stepped into the enclave. Her heart thundered as she forced herself to remain still, listening to the whispers of the other beings.
Osiris’ shoulders were stiff. She pressed her forehead against his back, focusing on his smell as she eased her worried mind, his shadows wrapping around her ankles as they so often did. A gesture that had become a great comfort to her.
What would the beings think? Would they flee? Or would they force them both to leave?
Osiris doesn’t deserve to be kicked out of his own home…
“Why have you summoned us?” a man started, his voice deep and rugged. “We were worried by the noise, and then we hear that we are to meet you here, at the edge… and why are your shadows out? What are you hiding?”
“I have found my partner. My bride,” Osiris answered, shifting his stance, “she is someone I must introduce to you all, but, she is not one of us.”
“She is from beyond the enclave?” the same man asked, seeming to speak for the other beings. “We welcome all manners of beings, you know this.”
Osiris tensed slightly, his shadows tightening their grip on her. “She… what I mean to say is…” he released a breath. “I have always done what was best for our people. So I ask, that you trust my judgement, and know that there is a better way to live. A way to live unhidden.”
