Perspective: Eve
Date: January 27, 2018
Time: 2:47 AM
Location: Sylvaris - Central Park / Eve's Lodge
The rain hammered against the taut fabric of my umbrella, a deafening, unrelenting roar of water and wind that swallowed every other sound in the city.
My breath hitched in my throat, coming out in small, shaky white plumes that vanished into the dark.
K-Kai...
He was sitting on the flooded wooden bench, completely motionless. His head slowly lifted, water dripping from the wet black strands of hair plastered across his pale forehead. His blue eyes, usually so sharp, calculating, and distant, looked completely hollow. Tired. Drained of every ounce of warmth, like an empty hearth where the fire had died hours ago.
He blinked up at me through the pouring dark, his gaze taking in my yellow raincoat, my trembling hands, the wide umbrella I held stretched high above his head.
"Oh... Eve." His voice was low, raspy, barely carrying over the pounding storm.
"Surprised to see you here."
Surprised?!
H-How could you say that?! Look at you!
A hot knot twisted in my chest, making my eyes sting all over again with tears. It was almost 3:00 AM. 2:47 AM on the iron park clock by the gate. The blackout had plunged the entire city into a freezing pit of black stone and water, and he was sitting by the edge of a flooded pond like he didn't care if the cold swallowed him whole!
I reached out with my left hand, my fingers trembling violently as I touched his knuckles.
Ice.
My breath caught in a sharp gasp. His skin felt like marble left out in a blizzard. Completely numb. Freezing. There was barely any warmth left in his fingers.
"Y-Your hands..." My voice broke. "Kai, y-your hands are like ice! Why are you out here? Why aren't you inside?!"
He looked down at my hand resting on his numb knuckles. He didn't pull away, but he didn't squeeze back either. His gaze drifted toward the dark, churning surface of the pond, watching the rain strike the black ripples.
"I don't know," he said quietly, his chest barely rising with the breath.
"I just lost track of time."
Lost track of time?!
In this freezing downpour?! For how many hours?!
The ache in my chest flared so sharp it made my ribs throb. The resonance from the ring had pulled me out of my bed because his heart was breaking—because something deep inside him was bleeding so heavily that it woke me up sobbing in the dark—and he was sitting here telling me he just lost track of time!
He's lying. He's making that quiet, empty face again... the one where he pretends nothing hurts.
I stepped closer, planting my boots firmly into the flooded grass. I stretched my arms higher, tilting the umbrella so that not a single drop of rain could touch his hair.
"We have to go somewhere warm," I told him, trying with all my strength to keep my voice steady, though my lower lip wouldn't stop quivering.
"Right now, Kai. You're going to freeze if you stay out here."
Kaiser let out a slow, faint breath that fogged against the dark. His hands moved with stiff, aching slowness, shielding the small, worn paper he had been holding in his lap, slipping it carefully beneath the inner flap of his soaked wool coat.
"I'll be fine to go home now," he murmured, his voice flat, like he was trying to convince himself more than me.
"You should go back to bed, Eve. It's late."
Go back to bed?!
Leave you out here alone like this?!
I looked at his hollow, pale face. His lips had a faint bluish tint from the frost. His jaw was clenched so hard the muscles in his cheek were twitching, fighting against the shivers wracking his frame.
No. No, absolutely not!
I'm not letting you walk away into the dark alone!
"I'm worried about you!" The words burst out of my mouth before my brain could stop them, raw, loud, and desperate.
"I-I'm not going to leave you here! Come with me!"
He paused, his blue eyes lifting to meet mine again, blinking slowly through the shadows.
"Where?"
"To my place," I said immediately, my grip tightening hard around the umbrella handle.
"It's closer. It's only 5 minutes away. Please."
"Eve," he sighed, sounding so exhausted that it felt like a needle poking right through my heart.
"You don't have to do anything. It isn't your problem."
I don't have to do anything...?
Does he really think this isn't a problem?! Does he really think I ran through 4 flooded streets in my pajamas just because of some duty?!
Why does he always think people only care when they have to?!
"I know I don't have to!" I stepped right up to the bench, leaning down until my face was only inches from his, my eyes burning straight into his tired gaze.
"I want to! So please... please just come with me, Kai!"
Without waiting for him to invent another quiet excuse, I reached down with both hands, grabbed him firmly by his left forearm, and pulled with everything I had.
He was far heavier than me, far taller, but he didn't fight the pull. He let out a quiet, resigned exhale and pushed himself up from the bench, his long legs uncurling stiffly from the freezing wood. He swayed on his feet for half a beat before catching his balance in the wet grass.
He really is barely holding on... his knees are shaking...
I didn't let go of his arm. Not even for an instant.
Instead, I slipped my right arm under his elbow, tucking my forearm through his, linking us tightly together. I pulled his arm against my side, pressing my shoulder directly against his ribs.
Hold onto him. Don't let him slip away Eve.
He was towering over me, his coat dripping freezing rainwater onto my yellow sleeve, but the solid weight of him against my side made the terrifying panic in my chest settle just a tiny bit.
The wind howled across the open park, driving sheets of rain sideways like needles.
I looked up at the umbrella.
W-Wait...
He was so tall that the edge of the fabric barely cleared his outer shoulder. The storm wind was lashing from his side, pelting his right arm and the side of his neck with freezing water.
He's still getting soaked! Every drop is making him colder!
Without another thought, I shifted my grip on the handle. I leaned the umbrella far over to the right, pushing it directly over his head and his outer shoulder.
The canvas shielded him completely from the downpour. But doing that left my own left shoulder, my arm, and half of my hood exposed to the torrential wind. Freezing rain immediately battered my shoulder, the cold water splashing hard against my cheek.
It doesn't matter. I have the raincoat. He's the one who has been sitting out here for hours.
Kaiser looked down, his gaze dropping to the tilted handle, then to my exposed shoulder getting drenched in the deluge.
"You're going to get wet," he said, his dark brow creasing slightly.
"I have my raincoat on," I replied immediately, staring straight ahead at the gravel path and keeping our feet moving forward. "Don't worry about me."
"You're being ridiculous," he said, his tone sharpening with that familiar dry edge, though it lacked its usual biting strength. He gave a small tug, trying to pull his arm free from my grip. "I'm not going to collapse. Walk under the umbrella, Eve."
I clamped my elbow down like an iron lock.
Nope! Absolutely not happening!
I leaned into him, making sure our shoulders remained locked tight against each other, taking another brisk, splashing step through the mud.
"I know you're not going to collapse!" I puffed my cheeks, refusing to yield even an inch. "B-But you're cold, and I'm cold, and this is warmer! So stop complaining and come with me!"
Kaiser went completely silent.
I stole a quick glance up at him through the dark. His blue eyes were wide, blinking down at me in utter bewilderment, like he had never seen me speak with so much stubborn defiance in all the time he had known me.
H-He's looking at me like I've turned into a stranger...
B-But I don't care! If I back down now, he'll just go right back to the bench and pretend he's invincible!
We passed through the black iron gates of Central Park, stepping onto the stone pavement of the main avenue.
The street was completely flooded. Streams of muddy brown water rushed along the curbs, pooling in deep, treacherous puddles every few yards. The wind whipped between the stone buildings, driving the storm right into our path.
I looked at the road, then at Kaiser.
The curb side is taking all the splashes.
Without a single word, I took 2 quick steps, guiding our linked arms so that I moved to the outside of the walkway, placing my body between Kaiser and the street.
The wind slammed into my left side. A sudden gust sent a thick spray of puddle water flying off the stone gutter, splashing straight across my yellow raincoat and the hem of my boots.
I flinched slightly at the cold spray, but I kept my chin up and didn't slow down.
Kaiser noticed within 3 steps.
His footsteps hitched. He looked at the rushing gutter water splashing against my boots, his eyes narrowing with sudden concern. He shifted his weight, trying to turn his shoulders to steer me back toward the inner wall of the shops, attempting to trade places so he would take the road side.
"You're getting so—"
I dug both heels into the wet cobblestones and stopped dead in my tracks.
I am NOT letting you take the cold hits!
I planted my feet, leaning my entire weight back against his arm so he couldn't take another step forward.
"I'm already wet!" I glared up at him with all the fierce determination my 5-foot frame could muster. "And you're way more cold than me! So walk! We're 5 minutes from home! Don't make me mad!"
Kaiser stared down at me.
His lips parted slightly, his blue eyes fixed on my face in total, stunned silence.
"Make you mad?" he repeated slowly.
I gave a sharp, aggressive nod, jutting my chin out with all the authority I could fake. "Don't make me mad!!!"
He stared at me for 2 more seconds, then his shoulders dropped in a quiet, defeated sigh. He turned back toward the path, letting his arm settle against mine.
I-It worked!
He's quiet now!
He actually listened to me! Wow... can I actually be scary when I want to be?! Wait, no, he's just too tired to fight me... but still, that's one victory for me!
We kept walking, our boots splashing through the dark water.
Then I heard it.
His breathing.
It was shallow. Ragged. Every few seconds, his chest hitched in a small, uneven tremor, his ribs shuddering under his wet wool coat. His left arm in my grasp was trembling—not just a little chill, but a deep, violent shiver that he was desperately trying to suppress with clenched teeth.
H-He's shaking so badly...
His body is reaching its limit! He can't take this cold much longer!
I looked to our right. The wooden awning of a closed merchant stall stretched out over the sidewalk, creating a wide, dry shelter beneath its eaves.
I tugged his arm hard to the side. "Here. Under here."
"Eve, we're almost—"
"Just come here!"
I pulled him beneath the dry wooden awning, out of the direct downpour. The thunderous drumming of the storm shifted into a heavy thumping against the wooden boards above our heads.
I leaned the umbrella against the shop wall and stepped right in front of him.
He was dripping like a drowned statue. His hair was clinging to his temple, streams of water running down his cheek, soaking into his collar.
Without hesitating for a single instant, I reached up with both bare hands.
I buried my fingers into his wet, dark hair.
Kaiser stiffened instantly, his blue eyes widening in surprise.
He's so cold... his scalp feels like frost...
I pressed my palms against his head and smoothed downward, gently but firmly squeezing the excess rainwater out of his hair so it wouldn't keep running down his neck. Then I reached down to his coat sleeves, grabbing the thick, soaked wool and wringing the water out over the curb with all my strength.
After that, I grabbed his upper arms with both hands, rubbing briskly up and down through the wet fabric, trying to force friction and warmth back into his freezing limbs.
Kaiser let out a low, shaky exhale, his head tilting back against the shop shutter.
"Eve, stop this."
My hands didn't stop. I rubbed harder, my palms working over his trembling shoulders. My vision blurred as fresh tears threatened to spill over my eyelashes, my throat aching with worry.
"Almost there," I whispered, my voice thick and trembling. "Just a little longer, Kai... please."
He raised a numb, pale hand, his fingers catching my wrist to pull me away.
"Eve, I'm—"
I clamped my other hand over his wrist, holding him right there.
"You're shaking, Kai!" I looked right into his eyes.
"You're shaking so much! Just give me 1 moment!"
I kept rubbing his arms, smoothing my warm palms over his cold skin, until the violent tremors in his shoulders slowed to a faint shudder.
I reached up and pulled the lapels of his wet coat tighter across his chest, shielding his throat from the wind.
"Okay," I breathed, stepping back and snatching the umbrella off the wall. I hooked my arm right back through his elbow, pressing against his side again.
"Let's go."
He didn't pull away this time.
We stepped back into the rain, our shoulders pressed together, taking the last 2 turns through the cobblestone alleyways.
W-What happened to him tonight?
My chest ached with every step, the phantom resonance from the ring humming low in my blood.
He was so quiet. So alone. Kaiser never looks like that... he always knows everything, he always has a plan, he always acts like nothing can touch him...
Who did this to him?Why did he look at that tiny photograph like it was the only thing keeping him alive?
Before my thoughts could spiral further, we reached the front gate of my lodge.
The 2-story brick building stood dark and silent beneath the storm, sheltered slightly by the overhanging roof of the terrace. I unlocked the heavy wooden front door, pulled Kaiser inside, and shoved the door shut against the howling gale.
Click. Thud.
The wind was cut off instantly. The world went dead quiet, filled only with the steady drip of rainwater from our clothes onto the wooden floorboards.
I shook out the umbrella, clicked it shut, and leaned it into the umbrella stand by the entrance.
Kaiser stood there in the center of the small foyer. Water pooled around his boots. His coat was clinging to him like another skin, heavy with moisture.
I didn't hesitate. I dropped straight down to my knees in front of him.
Kaiser immediately took half a step back, his brow furrowing. "I can do it myself, Eve."
"Give me a moment," I said, not even looking up.
I reached out and grabbed his right boot, unlacing the muddy wet strings with quick, practiced tugs. I pulled the boot off his foot and set it aside, then reached for his left boot, unfastening the wet leather and pulling it free.
Beneath the leather, his thick grey socks were soaked through, dripping with icy brown water.
I took the hem of his wet socks, peeling them off 1 by 1. His bare feet were pale, almost translucent against the dark wood of the floor, cold as marble stones.
Kaiser looked down at me from above, his expression caught between exasperation and something deeply unsettled.
"This is absurd..."
I sat back on my heels, looking up at him through my messy bangs. My voice was very quiet, but completely steady.
"If I was the one shaking in the cold, you'd do the same."
Kaiser's lips parted, but no words came out.
The sharp retort died in his throat. His blue eyes softened, just a fraction, stunned into total submission by my words.
See?
He wouldn't leave me freezing on the floor... Never in a million years.
"So don't argue with me," I told him softly, pushing myself up to my feet.
I reached up to his shoulders. I unbuttoned the 3 large horn buttons of his heavy wool coat. It weighed at least 10 pounds from all the water it had absorbed. I peeled the soaked fabric down his arms, took the heavy coat, and hung it over the wooden wall peg by the door so it wouldn't drip across the living room.
Beneath the coat, his white dress shirt was completely ruined.
The fabric was drenched through, clinging translucent and wet to the broad lines of his chest and shoulders. Every breath he took pressed the freezing, sodden linen directly against his skin.
He can't keep wearing that. He'll get sick!
I stepped in close. My hands rose, my fingers reaching for the top button of his shirt.
Wait.
W-Wait a moment!
My cheeks ignited like dry kindling. A rush of scalding heat surged straight to my face, turning my ears bright pink.
I-I'm unbuttoning his shirt!
H-His actual shirt! In my house! In the middle of the night!
My fingers trembled against the wet mother-of-pearl button, trying to slide it free from the damp slit.
Suddenly, cold fingers wrapped around my wrist.
I froze.
Kaiser had caught my hand. He looked down at me, his head tilted slightly, a faint, dry smirk playing at the edge of his pale lips despite his exhaustion.
"Eve, really... undressing me too?" His voice held that low, teasing cadence, though his eyes were still tired.
"Should I be concerned about your intentions?"
Aaaah!
My face felt hot enough to boil water! The blush spread all the way down my neck, my heart hammering like a trapped bird inside my chest.
"Y-Your shirt is soaked through and you'll get s-sick!" I stammered frantically, pushing his hand away with both of mine while fumbling with the 2nd button. "S-S-Stop being dramatic! I'm just trying to keep you from freezing to death, you idiot!"
I got the 2nd and 3rd buttons undone, pulling the sodden fabric apart so the cold wet cloth wasn't suffocating his chest.
He gave a quiet, breathy laugh—the 1st genuine sound of amusement from him all night—and lowered his hands, letting me finish peeling the soaked shirt off his shoulders.
He was left in his undershirt, his chest rising and falling in slow, heavy breaths.
Then my eyes dropped to his trousers.
...Uh.
My brain came to a screeching halt.
H-His pants... are completely soaked from the knees down.
B-But... what am I supposed to do about his pants?!
I don't have magic that can instantly dry heavy wool! And I definitely don't have men's trousers in my wardrobe! What, am I supposed to tell him to strip down to his boxers?! In my living room?!
N-No! Absolutely not! I would die of embarrassment!
And then another, even worse panic hit me like a bucket of ice water.
Food!
He has been sitting in a freezing storm for hours! His body has burned through all its energy just trying to stay conscious! He needs hot food, water, sugar...
B-But what do I have in the pantry?!
Nothing! Just some dried tea leaves, half a loaf of stale bread, and water! I don't even know how to cook a proper warm meal without burning it!
Think, Eve, think! What do you do when someone is freezing and starving and you have nothing in the house?!
I grabbed the wooden stool by my small dining table, sliding it across the floorboards until it rested right behind him.
"J-Just sit," I told him, pressing my hands against his shoulders to guide him down. "Sit down right here. Wait like 2 minutes for me, okay?"
Kaiser let out a quiet sigh. He didn't protest this time. He sat down on the stool, resting his elbows on his knees.
Slowly, carefully, he reached into his inner pocket and retrieved the small, worn photograph he had been protecting all night. With gentle, reverent care, he placed it face-down on the wooden table beside him. His breathing was still deep, heavy, exhausted.
I hurried to the entrance, pulling the yellow hood of my raincoat back over my damp hair.
Kaiser looked up from the table, his brow furrowing as he saw me reaching for the door handle. "Where are you going?"
I turned back, giving him the brightest, most reassuring smile I could muster, even though my knees were still trembling.
"I'm just going to get some clothes for you!"
Kaiser blinked, glancing toward the dark window rattling with storm wind. "At this hour?"
"Yes, at this hour!" I declared firmly. "Don't move! I'll be right back!"
Before running out, I dashed into my bedroom, yanked open the top drawer of my nightstand, and scooped up a heavy leather pouch. Inside were at least 15 silver coins and dozens of coppers—my entire weekly guild stipend.
I stuffed the pouch into my raincoat pocket, sprinted back down the hall, opened the front door, and dove out into the roaring dark.
The rain slammed into me like a wall.
Fast! I have to be fast!
I reached up beneath my yellow hood, my fingers sliding into the thick pink strands behind my ear. With a quick, practiced twist, I pulled out 1 of the slender, tempered steel hairpins that held my side-braid in place.
I didn't even have to think about it. The moment the metal touched my fingertips, a strange, effortless calm settled over my nerves.
Clothing shop 1st!
I sprinted down the flooded cobblestones, my boots splashing through the dark water. The blackout covered the district in complete shadow, but these streets were etched into my bones.
3 blocks down, right on the corner of Weaver's Lane, stood Harold's Fine Weaves & Tailoring.
The front display windows were covered by heavy iron bars. But every tailor's shop in Sylvaris had a delivery entrance in the back alley.
I slipped into the narrow, dark passage behind the building, the rain cascading off the gutters above.
There it was. A solid oak door with a heavy brass mortise lock.
I dropped to my knees in front of the keyhole, shielding the mechanism with my body.
I held the hairpin between my teeth, bent the tip at a sharp 45-degree angle with my thumb, and slid the slender steel into the keyway.
1st tumbler... lift.
Click.
My fingers moved with impossible, supernatural smoothness. I didn't learn this in school. I never took a class on thieves' tools. But the moment the metal grazed the brass pins inside the cylinder, my hands simply knew what to do. It was like breathing. Like playing an instrument I had practiced for 100 lifetimes.
2nd tumbler... spool pin... counter-rotation... drop.
Click.
3rd tumbler... shear line aligned.
Snap!
The heavy iron deadbolt slid back with a muffled, satisfying thud.
I turned the brass knob, pushed the door open, and slipped inside, shutting it quietly behind me.
The dark interior smelled of rich cedar wood, rolls of pressed wool, dyed cotton, and tailor's chalk.
Okay. Clothes. Kaiser's size.
I moved swiftly between the polished wooden racks, my eyes adjusting to the dim shadows.
What size does he wear...?
The memory flashed through my mind with vivid, crystal clarity.
When Kai was unconscious for 1 whole week... I stayed by his bedside every single day. I washed his shirts. I changed the heavy bandages around his arms. I cleaned the dried blood from his arms and shoulders.
I know how broad his shoulders are.
I know how long his arms are.
B-But just to be safe... an oversized shirt is better! If it's loose, it'll just be cozy and soft!
My hands flew across the men's rack, feeling the fabrics.
Not silk—too cold. Not raw linen—too scratchy.
There!
A thick, dark charcoal-grey tunic shirt made of heavy brushed cotton, lined with warm flannel on the inside. It was at least 1 size too large for an average man, which meant it would fit Kaiser's broad shoulders perfectly without suffocating him.
Next, trousers.
I pulled open the lower cedar chest where loungewear was stored. I found a pair of thick, dark wool-blend trousers with an adjustable drawstring waist, lined with plush fleece. Warm, heavy, and easy to slip on.
I grabbed both garments, folding them tightly against my chest.
Then I hurried over to the front counter.
Sitting on the polished mahogany desk was Mr. Harold's daily ledger.
I reached into my pocket, pulled out the heavy coin pouch, and dumped 6 large silver coins and 10 shiny copper coins onto the ledger. It was at least triple what the clothes cost.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Harold..." I whispered to the empty, shadowy room, bowing slightly. "I promise I'm paying full price, plus extra for waking your spirits up at night!"
I slipped back out the back door into the rain, pulled the door shut, and inserted the bent hairpin.
Click. Snap.
The lock engaged smoothly. Fully secured, just like I had never been there.
Now food!
He needs calories! He needs something rich and sweet to give his body fuel!
I sprinted back into the lane, heading 2 blocks east toward the square.
Mrs. Clara's Bakery!
The wooden sign with the carved wheat sheaf creaked in the gale. The side delivery door was wooden, secured by a standard 3-pin rim latch.
I crouched down in the dark. Hairpin in.
Twist. Tension. Click.
Snap.
Under 2 seconds. The door clicked open.
I slipped inside the bakery. The warm, comforting scent of roasted grains, yeast, ground cinnamon, and dried fruit wrapped around me like a blanket.
I crept behind the glass display counters. Most of the fresh bread was locked away in cooling bins, but on the raised wooden shelf sat a row of freshly baked, dense loaf cakes—traditional Sylvaris fruit cakes, packed with dark raisins, candied orange peel, chopped walnuts, and rich molasses.
That's it!
It's dense! It doesn't get ruined by moisture, and it's full of sugar and nuts!
I grabbed a clean sheet of brown wax paper from the roll, wrapping the rich fruit cake securely into a tight, neat parcel.
I reached into my pocket and set 3 silver coins and 5 coppers right on top of Mrs. Clara's flour-dusted scale.
"Thank you, Mrs. Clara... I'm so sorry!"
I slipped out into the rain, clicked the latch shut, relocked the bolt, and tucked the warm clothes and the cake parcel deep beneath my yellow raincoat, holding them against my stomach to protect them from the storm.
Then I ran.
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, splashing through puddles, the wind howling at my back, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs.
Hold on, Kai. I'm coming!
I reached the lodge, flew through the front gate, burst through the front door, and slammed it shut with my heel.
Pant... pant...
My breath came in heavy, ragged gasps. Water was dripping from my yellow hood, running down my nose, my bangs plastered messy and wet against my flushed forehead.
I pushed the door curtain aside and stepped into the warm glow of the lantern.
Kaiser was still sitting on the wooden stool.
His damp dark hair hung over his brow. His unbuttoned shirt fell open across his chest, exposing his pale collarbones and the lean lines of his torso. The worn little photograph was still resting face-down on the table beside his hand.
The moment I stepped inside, his blue eyes lifted.
He looked at me.
He took in my soaked yellow raincoat, my messy pink hair, my gasping breaths, and the thick bundle of dry clothes and bakery-wrapped pastry clutched tightly in my arms.
His eyes widened in sheer, speechless disbelief.
He didn't say a word. He just stared. His gaze was locked onto me, completely frozen, his lips slightly parted like his mind was trying and failing to comprehend the scene before him.
My cheeks, already flushed from the sprint, suddenly flared with a whole new wave of heat.
W-Why is he staring at me like that?!
Is my face dirty?! Is my hair a complete disaster?!
"W-What are you staring at...?" I stammered, pulling the bundle tighter against my chest, blushing furiously.
Kaiser let out a slow, breathy exhale, a dazed, disbelieving look spreading across his sharp features.
"I..." He paused, his voice barely more than a murmur, shaking his head slightly. "You really found clothes? At this hour? And food too...?"
His blue eyes drifted over my flushed cheeks, the wet strands of pink hair sticking to my neck, and the stubborn pout on my lips.
"I can't stop staring," he whispered honestly.
B-Ba-thump!
My heart did a violent, soaring somersault right behind my ribs.
Aaaaah! Why does he have to say things like that with that stupidly handsome face?!
I quickly rushed to the table, dumping the thick bundle of dry clothes and the fragrant fruit cake packet right beside him before my hands could shake any more.
I reached for the buttons of my wet yellow raincoat, peeling the heavy vinyl off my shoulders with frantic, clumsy haste. Beneath it, my pastel dress was slightly damp at the cuffs, my hair a ruffled, puffy mess. I hung the wet raincoat on the peg, spinning back around with my hands planted on my hips.
I pointed a small, trembling finger straight at his chest, trying my absolute best to look strict, commanding, and totally not flustered.
"J-Just stay seated!" I ordered, my voice squeaking just a tiny bit at the end
"Don't you dare move a single muscle! I'm going to get the towel!"
I rushed into the small bathroom, grabbed the thickest, driest cotton towel from the wicker shelf, and hurried right back into the living room.
Kaiser was still sitting on the wooden stool, his broad shoulders slumped, his wet black hair dripping onto his bare collarbones. As I approached, he lifted 1 heavy, numb hand toward me.
"Give it here," he murmured.
I didn't hand it to him.
Instead, I stepped right into the space between his knees, planted my feet on the floorboards, and threw the fluffy white towel over his head.
"Hey—"
"Hold still," I commanded, cutting off his protest before it could even start.
I bunched the fabric in both hands and began vigorously scrubbing his wet, dark hair. My hands were brisk, firm, but infinitely gentle, working the soft terrycloth against his scalp and behind his cold ears.
He's going to catch a fever if I don't dry him off immediately! Look at how cold his skin still is!
"You're going to get sick, Kai," I scolded him, my voice trembling with that persistent, nagging worry that refused to leave my throat. "Sitting out in that freezing storm... soaking wet... what were you even thinking?! If I hadn't found you, were you just going to sit there until morning?!"
Kaiser's hands came up, his long fingers lightly gripping the fabric near my wrists. He didn't push me away, but his grip was a gentle plea for stillness.
"Eve," he said softly, his voice muffled beneath the folds of the towel. "You're doing too much."
"No, I'm not!" I pulled the towel back just enough to look down into his shadowed face, my brow furrowed with fierce determination.
"I'm doing just enough!"
Kaiser looked up at me through the messy strands of black hair falling across his forehead. His blue eyes were still shadowed with exhaustion.
"I can go back to my place," he murmured, his gaze dropping slightly. "It's late. If I stay here at this hour, you'll be uncomfortable."
Uncomfortable?!
Does he seriously think I care about that right now?!
"If you go back to your room, the distance is too far!" I snapped, cutting him off before he could take another breath. "If you suddenly feel cold in the middle of the night, or if you get sick, what am I supposed to do?! How am I going to know?! I wouldn't be able to get there immediately!"
My breath hitched, my eyes stinging as I stared down at him.
"So you're staying here with me tonight," I declared, my voice wavering with a stubborn mix of tears and resolve. "You don't have to see me. You just have to stay so I know you're safe!"
Kaiser let out a slow, heavy sigh that fluttered against my apron. He leaned his forehead forward, resting it lightly against the towel over my chest for half a beat.
"Why do you care about me so much?" he asked quietly, the question sounding hollow, almost painful.
My hands went still against his damp hair.
Why do I care...?
H-How can he even ask that?!
"B-Because..." My voice faltered, stumbling over the syllables like an awkward child. "Because... you saved my life too, Kai!"
He didn't move. He just listened.
"Back in the alley... back in the market when I lost my ring..." I gripped the edges of the towel, the memories rushing back with overwhelming warmth. "You protected me! You called me a princess and pretended to kidnap me just so those dangerous people wouldn't touch me! You took me all the way back to the upper district safely!"
"That happened almost 1 month ago," he muttered quietly.
"Maybe it was normal to you!" I countered immediately, leaning down closer so he couldn't look away from my eyes. "Maybe to you, it was just an ordinary thing! You saw little old me in trouble, stepped in, and walked away without thinking twice about it! But to me... it wasn't small at all!"
Tears pooled along the edges of my eyelashes, but I blinked them back fiercely.
"Even when you cooked that meal for me and taught me how to take care of myself better... I listened," I whispered softly. "Even when you gave me advice on how to talk to people, when you brought that couple to me so I could practice and find myself... I listened to every single word! And I know you'd help anyone in need! Even if I don't know everything about you—and even if I never will—I know this much! If you saw someone sitting frozen in the dark like that, you'd reach out and help them too!"
I gave his hair 1 final, gentle rub with the dry corner of the towel, then slowly pulled it away.
Kaiser was looking up at me. His blue eyes, previously so dead and empty by the pond, were wide. Softened. Stunned into complete silence by the sheer conviction in my voice.
A small, tremulous smile touched my lips, my cheeks glowing pink.
"To me... your actions made me very happy," I told him, my voice barely louder than a whisper. "And I want to make you happy and safe too."
For several long seconds, the only sound in the lodge was the rain drumming against the roof.
Kaiser looked at me like he was seeing something he hadn't believed existed in this world for a very long time.
I cleared my throat awkwardly, breaking the heavy silence before my face could combust into flames.
"A-Anyway!" I grabbed the bundle of dry clothes from the table and shoved them into his lap. "Change into these! Right now! I'm going to the kitchen for a bit to make something warm, so don't you dare sit around in that damp undershirt!"
Before he could answer, I hurried over to the front door. I checked the heavy deadbolt, sliding it locked with a solid click. Then I walked over to the front windows, pulling the thick velvet curtains all the way shut, blocking out the black, storm-swept city.
Safe.
No one can see inside. Nothing can reach him here.
I turned and scurried into the kitchen nook, pulling a small curtain closed behind me to give him privacy.
Okay, food! Hot food!
I grabbed a small iron pot, filled it with fresh water from the pump, and set it over the small wood stove, lighting the kindling with a flint striker.
Now... what can I actually cook?!
I frantically rummaged through the small wooden pantry.
Dried carrots... half an onion... 2 small potatoes... a pinch of dried thyme... and salt.
I-Is this enough to make soup?!
I'm terrible at cooking! Every time I try to make fancy stews, the meat gets tough and the broth tastes like dishwater!
B-But simple broth is fine, right?! Just vegetables, boiling water, and salt! Even I can't ruin boiled vegetables!
I chopped the potatoes and carrots with frantic, clumsy haste, tossing them into the pot along with the sliced onion and a generous pinch of salt. While the water bubbled, I retrieved a clean ceramic bowl and a spoon, tapping my foot nervously on the floorboards.
Please taste edible... please don't be awful...
After 10 minutes of frantic stirring, the broth turned a pale, golden yellow, smelling faintly of sweet root vegetables and steamed onions. It wasn't gourmet. It wasn't a feast from an upscale tavern.
It's the best I can do...
I ladled the steaming broth and tender vegetables into the bowl. Then I grabbed the wrapped parcel from Mrs. Clara's bakery, setting it on a small wooden tray alongside a knife and fork.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed the kitchen curtain aside and walked out into the living room.
Kaiser had moved.
He was sitting on my small, upholstered couch now, the thick charcoal tunic draping comfortably over his broad frame. The oversized shoulders fit him just as I had guessed, the brushed cotton looking soft and warm against his skin. The fleece-lined trousers were tied neatly at his waist, his long legs stretched out slightly.
He looked so much warmer. So much more alive.
He looks... really good in dark grey.
My cheeks warmed instantly, but I pushed the embarrassing thought down and carried the tray over to the couch.
I set the tray down on the low wooden coffee table. Then I grabbed the thick knitted wool blanket from the armchair, draped it over his shoulders, and tucked the edges snugly around his chest.
He didn't resist. He just watched my frantic, fluttering movements with that quiet, bemused tilt of his head.
I dropped down to the floorboards right beside the couch, sitting on my shins so I was level with his knees.
I picked up the bowl of soup. The porcelain was scalding hot, the steam curling into the cool air of the room. I dipped the ceramic spoon into the golden broth, scooping up a tiny piece of potato.
I lifted the spoon toward his face.
"Say ah," I said naturally, tilting my chin up.
Kaiser froze, staring at the spoon inches from his lips.
"I can eat it myself, Eve," he said, a faint, wry smile tugging at the dry corners of his lips.
"Stop being annoying and just listen to me!" I puffed my cheeks, holding the spoon steady without flinching. "You've been out in the rain for hours! Your hands are still recovering! Just open your mouth!"
Kaiser stared at me for 2 beats, then gave a quiet, resigned shake of his head. He opened his mouth.
I paused, realizing the broth was piping hot. I quickly pulled the spoon back to my own lips, blowing 3 soft, careful puffs of air over the golden liquid until the steam subsided.
Then I fed it to him.
He took the broth, swallowing slowly.
I watched his throat move, my breath held tight in my chest.
D-Does it taste terrible?!
"How is it?" I asked nervously.
"It's salty... but still good," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "It's warm."
A wave of pure relief washed over me. I dipped the spoon again, blowing on each mouthful before offering it to him, feeding him like an attentive little wife until the bowl was completely empty.
Next, I unwrapped the parcel from the bakery. The rich, sweet scent of molasses, roasted walnuts, and dried berries drifted into the room. I used the knife to cut a thick, generous slice of the dense fruit cake, broke off a bite-sized piece with the fork, and held it up to his lips.
He opened his mouth without fighting me this time, taking the sweet pastry.
As he chewed, his blue eyes drifted to my face.
"Why aren't you asking?" he asked suddenly, his voice quiet.
"Asking what?" I paused, the fork hovering over the cake.
"Why I was sitting out there," he said. "Why I was by the pond."
My heart gave a small, painful throb.
I want to know.
I want to know who hurt him so badly that the ring cried in my sleep.
"I want to ask," I admitted softly, looking down at the crumbs on the plate.
"Of course I do. But I won't. Not right now. 1st, I just want to make sure you're okay."
Kaiser leaned his head back against the cushion of the couch, a faint, low chuckle vibrating in his chest. His gaze drifted over my flushed cheeks with a dangerous, playful gleam.
"If I touch you," he murmured, his voice dipping into that velvet, teasing timber that always made my stomach flip, "I'm not going to stop. Tell me now if that's the problem."
My brain instantly short-circuited.
W-W-WHAT?!
TOUCH WHAT?! STOP WHAT?!
Steam practically whistled out of my ears! My cheeks turned the color of ripe cherries, my hands flailing wildly in the air!
"W-What are you saying?!" I shrieked in a furious whisper, stammering frantically. "Stop! You're going to touch what?! Why would you say something so shameless right now?!"
"I'm just teasing you, Eve," Kaiser said, letting out a quiet, genuine laugh, the tired lines around his eyes crinkling with amusement.
"S-Stop saying random stuff like that!" I smacked his knee with my palm, pouting furiously while trying to hide my scalding face. "You're unbelievable! Here I am worrying myself to death, and you're making bad jokes!"
"I'm fine now," Kaiser said, reaching down, his fingers brushing against mine as he attempted to take the fork from my hand.
"Let me hold it."
I pulled the fork out of his reach.
"I believe you are," I said, looking straight into his eyes.
"B-But I want to make sure you're more fine."
"That doesn't make sense at all," Kaiser countered, his brow furrowing in genuine confusion.
"It makes perfect sense!" I retorted with total confidence, waving the fork like a tiny wand. "You're fine, and I believe you. But I'm going to make sure you're more than fine! That's my job tonight, so deal with it!"
Kaiser stared at me for a long moment, then surrendered with a quiet sigh, letting his hands fall back onto his lap.
I smiled victoriously, leaning in close to feed him another piece of the fruit cake.
And that was when I saw it.
The lantern light flickered, casting a sharp shadow across the left side of his face.
Right across his high cheekbone, stretching down toward his jaw, was a faint, angry red mark. A welt. The distinct, swollen impression of an open-handed slap.
My entire body froze.
The air vanished from my lungs.
A mark...
Someone... slapped him?!
My jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached. A wave of ice-cold fury—so sudden, so sharp, so completely unlike anything I had ever felt before—surged through my blood. My eyes narrowed, my fists tightening until my knuckles turned white.
Who dared lay a hand on him?!
Who hit his face?!
For 1 brief beat, a terrifying, suffocating pressure flickered behind my ribs, an instinctual urge to hunt down whoever had touched him and tear them apart piece by piece.
I closed my eyes, forcing a slow, shuddering exhale through my nose.
Calm down. Not now. He needs care, not anger.
I set the plate down on the tray. I reached into the drawer of the side table, pulled out a small, clean cotton cloth, and dipped it into a bowl of warm water.
I leaned over him. With my left hand, I gently cupped his jaw, my fingers holding his face steady.
Kaiser flinched slightly at the contact, his eyes narrowing as he tried to turn his head away.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Don't move," I said, my voice low and quiet.
I refused to let him pull away. My fingers held his jaw firmly, while my other hand brought the warm cloth to his cheek, dabbing the swollen welt with feather-light touches.
"Who did this to you?" I whispered, my teeth grinding behind my lips.
"It's nothing," Kaiser said dismissively, his voice flat. "Stop worrying about it."
It is NOT nothing!
I set the cloth aside, but I didn't take my hand away from his face.
I closed my eyes, focusing my mind on the mana coursing through my veins. I remembered the simple healing spells Kaiser had explained to me weeks ago, combined with the restorative cantrips I had watched the clerics use during guild quests.
Heal.
Take away the pain.
A soft, warm, pastel-pink light bloomed beneath my palm. The gentle pulse of restorative mana seeped into his skin, cooling the inflammation, soothing the torn capillaries, and melting the red welt away until his pale cheek was smooth and clean again.
Kaiser let out a soft, barely audible breath as the ache faded, his blue eyes watching my face in quiet wonder.
I pulled my hand back, my cheeks flushing slightly under his gaze.
"There," I muttered, picking up the fork again to feed him the last piece of cake.
Once he finished, I set the empty dishes aside. I rose to my feet, stepped behind the couch, and placed both hands on the base of his neck.
"Eve, you don't have to—" Kaiser began, tensing instantly.
"Sit still." I commanded softly.
I dug my thumbs into the tight, knotted muscles of his shoulders. He was stiff as stone, every tendon locked tight from hours of enduring the freezing rain. I pressed firmly, working my fingers in slow, steady circular motions, kneading the tension out of his upper back.
Gradually, under the persistent rhythm of my hands, the stiffness in his frame began to dissolve. His shoulders dropped. His head tilted forward slightly, letting out a long, shuddering exhale of genuine release.
I worked in silence for several minutes, pouring every ounce of warmth I had into his tired body.
Finally, I stepped back around to the front.
I pulled a small wooden chair close to the couch, sat down, and took both of his hands into mine. His fingers were still cool to the touch. I began rubbing his palms between mine, breathing warm air onto his knuckles, interlacing our fingers to share my body heat.
Kaiser looked down at our joined hands.
"You've already done too much tonight," he said, his tone gentle, almost apologetic. "I think it's time I left."
"No," I replied immediately, not letting go of his hands. "You're going to sleep here too."
"Excuse me?" Kaiser stared at me.
The realization of how that sounded hit me like a runaway wagon.
Aaaah! What did I just say?!
My face erupted into flames, my blush threatening to melt my skin off!
"I-I mean... you can sleep on my bed, and I can sleep on the floor!" I stammered frantically, squeezing his hands so hard my knuckles turned white. "That's what I meant!"
"No. I'm not taking your bed, Eve," Kaiser said, shaking his head firmly. "I'll walk back to my lodge."
"You are NOT walking back out into that storm!" I tightened my grip, leaning forward with fierce, stubborn eyes. "You're sleeping here! This way... this way I know you're safe and warm!"
My voice softened, pleading with him from the bottom of my heart.
"Please, Kai."
Kaiser froze.
"Since when did you start calling me Kai?" he asked, a quiet, startled chuckle slipping past his lips, his blue eyes blinking in surprise.
"You always call me Kaiser."
H-Huh?
My breath hitched. I paused, looking down at my hands.
I... called him Kai?
The hand resting on his fingers—my left hand—bore the silver ring with the swirling pink and blue stone. The Sea of the Heart. I slowly lifted my hand, pressing the cool metal against my chest, right over my furiously beating heart.
I didn't even realize I said it... it just came out so naturally...
"I don't know," I whispered honestly, my cheeks still burning pink. "I just wanted to call you that. Is it... is it wrong?"
"It's not wrong," Kaiser said, looking at me for a long moment, the faint, soft smile remaining on his lips.
"I'm just surprised."
My heart fluttered with sudden, overwhelming joy. A bright, radiant smile broke across my face, crinkling my eyes.
"Then I want to call you this," I said softly.
Before he could respond, I noticed his damp black hair was sticking up in messy tufts from the towel.
"Wait right there!"
I jumped up, darted to my vanity, grabbed my wooden hair comb, and rushed right back.
"Good grief... you can't possibly be this stubborn," Kaiser groaned, rolling his head back against the cushion.
"Hush," I told him, stepping behind the couch again.
I gently began running the smooth wooden teeth through his dark hair, untangling the damp strands with delicate, patient strokes. His hair was thick, soft, and surprisingly silky once combed out. With every stroke, I smoothed it neatly back from his brow, making sure he felt clean, warm, and cared for.
"You're really not going to let me leave, are you?" he murmured from beneath my hands.
"I won't let you leave, even for 1 moment," I answered firmly.
I know I shouldn't pry.
I know I'm in no position to demand what broke his heart tonight. Even if I asked, he'd probably just deflect with another half-truth or a clever joke, just like he did when he teased me about being jealous back then.
He doesn't want to show his wounds. And that's okay.
If he wants to keep his secrets, I won't force him to talk. All I care about... is making sure he doesn't have to carry the cold alone tonight.
I set the comb down on the table, walking back around to face him.
"Okay," I said, pointing toward the bedroom door. "Go to sleep. The bed is yours."
"I'm sleeping on the couch," Kaiser stated, crossing his arms over his chest with immovable resolve.
"Kai! The couch is way too small for you!" I protested, throwing my hands in the air. "You're over 6 feet tall! At best, you can only sit on it! You can't even stretch your legs out!"
"Then I'll sit," he replied smoothly. "It's more than enough."
"It's not enough! I want you to be comfortable!"
"I'm not kicking you out of your own bed, Eve. If you try to force me in there, I'm walking out that front door right now."
I glared at him, puffing my cheeks. He held my gaze without wavering.
He's serious. He really would walk out into the storm just so I don't give up my bed.
"Fine! If that's what you want... fine!" I let out an exasperated huff, stomping my foot.
I snatched the empty tray and soup bowl, carried them into the kitchen nook, and washed them quickly. When I returned, I blew out the main oil lantern, leaving only the small, faint candle flickering on the dining table. The living room was plunged into a soft, amber gloom, the shadows dancing gently against the wooden walls.
Kaiser was sitting on the couch, wrapped in the blanket, his eyes closing as exhaustion finally caught up with his body.
"Goodnight, Eve." He murmured.
I didn't answer.
Instead, I walked straight over to the couch, lifted the corner of the knitted blanket, and sat right down beside him.
"What the hell...?" Kaiser's eyes snapped open. He turned his head, staring at me in complete disbelief.
"You wanted to sleep on the couch, right?" I declared, my face burning in the dim candlelight, but my chin lifted in total defiance.
"Then I'm staying here too!"
"This is completely unnecessary," he said, trying to lean away.
I grabbed his left arm, pulling it against my side, and wrapped both of my arms around it tightly.
"Come on," I urged softly, leaning my shoulder into his. "You need to sleep. And I'm going to lull you to sleep."
"I'm not that tired that I need someone to lull me," Kaiser countered, a helpless, exasperated smirk touching his lips.
"Shh. Yes, you are."
I reached out with my right hand, placing my palm gently over the center of his chest.
Pat. Pat. Pat.
I began tapping his chest in a steady, slow, rhythmic beat—the exact soothing cadence my mother used to use when I had nightmares as a child. Because the couch was narrow, I had to perch on the very edge of the cushion, my hip partially resting against the corner of the low side table just so he would have room to lean back.
"If you're going to force yourself into this position, we might as well have just gone to the bed," Kaiser said, looking down at my awkward posture, his brow creasing.
"Yeah, right!" I scoffed, rolling my eyes at him. "Go to the bed, and the moment I fall asleep, you'd sneak back out to the couch so I'd have the whole mattress to myself!"
Kaiser went quiet for half a beat.
"Wow. Caught red-handed," he said, a slow, dry chuckle escaping his chest. "You read my intentions perfectly."
"Meanie," I muttered, pouting at him. "You were just going to sneak off the moment my eyes closed."
I kept my hand on his chest, patting him in that slow, calming rhythm.
Pat. Pat. Pat.
"Go to sleep, Kai," I whispered, my voice wrapping around him like a warm blanket. "I've got you."
Kaiser didn't argue anymore.
His eyelids fluttered, heavy with hours of accumulated grief and freezing exhaustion. His breathing gradually deepened, his head lolling back against the sofa cushion.
As his consciousness began to slip away, his left arm moved.
Slowly, instinctively, his long arm reached around my waist, his broad hand resting against my side. With 1 gentle, effortless pull, he drew me securely away from the dangerous edge of the couch, tucking me firmly against his ribs.
"Try not to stay so close to the edge," he mumbled sleepily into my hair. "You'll fall..."
My heart stopped.
Then it exploded like fireworks inside my chest!
B-BA-THUMP! BA-THUMP!
H-HIS ARM IS AROUND MY WAIST!
H-HE PULLED ME AGAINST HIM!
A scorching blush washed over every single inch of my skin! I was pressed completely against his side, his body heat radiating through the charcoal tunic, wrapping me in a cocoon of safety and warmth.
No, no, Eve... calm down!
Don't make a sound! Don't move! You'll wake him up!
He's exhausted... he needs this rest...
I slowly let my head rest against his shoulder, letting out a tiny, contented sigh.
"It's not cold anymore, Kai," I whispered into the quiet dark. "You're safe."
The storm raged outside, rattling the window panes, but inside the lodge, everything was still.
I looked down at my left hand resting over his heart.
The Sea of the Heart ring caught the faint amber glow of the dying candle.
In the swirling depths of the stone, the soft, pastel-pink light had expanded, wrapping completely around the edges of the ring like a protective embrace. Beneath that pink warmth, the dark, stormy blue in the center was slowly changing—the harsh navy fading, turning into a calm, gentle, luminous azure.
He's healing.
His heart is resting now.
A warm, sleepy glow settled deep into my bones.
Sleep, Eve. You did good tonight. Just sleep.
I closed my eyes, letting the steady rise and fall of Kaiser's chest carry me into the dark.
*
Pale morning light peeked through the slit between the velvet curtains.
My eyelashes fluttered, my senses slowly drifting awake to the soft, rhythmic patter of gentle rain outside. The violent storm had passed, replaced by a calm, overcast dawn.
Mm... so warm...
I stretched my toes, but the moment I moved, something was completely different.
Wait.
The surface beneath me wasn't the hard, narrow cushion of the couch.
It was soft. Plump. Smelling faintly of lavender and fresh linen.
A mattress?!
My eyes snapped wide open.
I was in my bed! Under my thick feather duvet!
H-How did I get here?!
Then a heavy, solid weight registered across my stomach.
A long, muscular arm was wrapped securely around my waist, holding me firmly against a warm chest. My back was pressed directly against Kaiser's front, his face buried slightly in the unruly nest of my pink hair.
W-W-WHAT?!
HE CARRIED US TO THE BED?!
My brain completely melted into mush! Steam billowed from my ears, my heart hammering so violently against my ribs that I was terrified it would wake him up!
H-He must have picked me up after I fell asleep and carried me here!
And then... and then he laid down with me?!
Aaaah! What do I do?! What do I do?!
I looked down at his arm. He was holding me so tightly, but his grip was so gentle, so protective.
Wait... am I crowding him?
What if he's uncomfortable?What if my hair is in his face and he can't breathe?!
Panicking, I tried to gently, carefully wiggle backward, attempting to inch away so he would have more room on the mattress.
The moment I shifted, Kaiser stirred.
He let out a low, sleepy rumble in the back of his throat. Instead of letting me go, his arm tightened, pulling me right back against his chest until there wasn't a single millimeter of space between us.
His head shifted on the pillow, his face turning toward my cheek, his eyes still closed tight in deep sleep.
"Elfie...?" he mumbled groggily, his voice thick with dreams. "Aren't you... wakey wake...?"
I froze.
Every single thought in my head came to a dead halt.
Elfie...?
My heart thumped, a strange, quiet ache twisting through my ribs.
He stirred again, his brow furrowing slightly in his sleep.
"Are you okay...?" he mumbled into my neck.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, speaking in the softest, gentlest whisper I could manage.
"I-I'm sleeping..."
Kaiser's breathing hitched, his sleepy features relaxing slightly, though his lips pouted in faint protest.
"No, you're not..." he murmured, his voice slurring into the pillow. "It's still too early... sleep more, okay...?"
With slow, unconscious tenderness, his fingers lifted from the sheets. He gently brushed the messy strands of pink hair from my forehead.
Then he leaned down.
And pressed a soft, warm, lingering kiss directly onto my forehead.
...!
"Sleep, a little longer..."
My soul completely left my body.
H-He...
H-He kissed my forehead?!
Kaiser sighed contentedly, letting his hand drop back to my waist, his cheek pressing against the top of my head as he drifted straight back into a deep, peaceful slumber.
I lay there completely paralyzed, my cheeks burning with the heat of 1,000 suns, my chest rising and falling in shallow, stunned breaths.
Elfie.
The name echoed quietly in the silence of my mind.
I've heard that name before.
My gaze drifted toward the bedroom door, thinking of the small, worn photograph currently resting on the dining table in the other room.
The girl with the bright smile in the picture... is that her?
Did he mistake me for her because of my pink hair...?
A tiny pang of sadness brushed against my heart, but then I looked at the boy holding me.
His face was completely peaceful. The hollow, dead emptiness from the night before was gone. The dark shadows under his eyes were softened, his breathing steady, deep, and tranquil.
For the 1st time since I had met him, Kaiser looked truly at rest.
The sadness melted away, replaced by an overwhelming resolve that flooded every corner of my chest.
It doesn't matter.
Whatever he's carrying... whatever pain is locked inside his memories... I'll check the photograph later.
Right now... he's warm. He's safe. And he's resting.
A tender, radiant smile curled across my lips.
For a single instant, the deep pink in my eyes flickered, flashing into a brilliant, crystalline azure blue, before shifting gently back to soft pink.
I did it, Kai.
I nestled back against his chest, pulled the duvet a little higher over his shoulders, and closed my eyes, letting the quiet morning rain lull me back to sleep.