"And regardless of my fear, I respected that. I never once told you not to go. I never once asked you to stay behind for my sake."
Aaron's lips pressed into a thin line. He stared at her for a long moment, searching for some hesitation, some flicker of doubt in her eyes. But Adeline just met his gaze head-on, chin lifted with the same stubbornness that ran in their blood.
"So we're doing this?" he asked finally, voice quiet but heavy.
Adeline nodded without a second thought. "You can't talk me out of it."
Aaron exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down his face like a man accepting his fate. "I had a feeling you'd say that…"
But Adeline? She felt no fear. Not even a sliver. If anything, her confidence had swelled tenfold. Why should she be afraid? She had holy powers. The literal blessing of the Goddess, and lightning powers! If the Goddess herself had chosen her, then surely that meant something, right?
