Chapter 11
Adela
I managed to find him some old sweatpants that were well worn and stretched, and that could fit over his muscular thighs. We would need to get him proper clothing eventually.
He was sipping a cup of tea as he watched the sun rising higher in the sky on my porch. No words escaped him as he contemplated the life out here. His eyes followed the birds, the critters daring to venture into my yard.
When we touched, when we joined together, each time he felt less like stone, less like the statue he started as. The soul spark between us allowed us both to experience something that shouldn’t have existed.
Iris was going to lose her mind when I told her about all of this.
My phone buzzed away in my pocket. Fishing it out, the bold name of the mayor flashed across it. Wait, the mayor?
“Hello?”
“Adela! What did you do with the statue? I thought you were going to fix it, not take it home!”
Oh. Yeah, I guess I hadn’t considered how noticeable it would be that he was gone. We had been so distracted with each other that I completely forgot that he had been a main fixture of the Everlyn town square park.
“It needs to be back. I think its wards were keeping things together. Lewis’ glamour failed in front of a tourist. Lewis! Do you know how to explain a slime demon to a human? It’s very difficult, Adela!”
“Sir, I didn’t mean to cau—”
“I know, I know. Whatever you’re doing to the statue, do it quickly and get it back! The tourist was so alarmed they ran their car into the Wisteria Inn! We obviously can’t have that happen again. Luckily, no one was hurt, just surprised.”
My eyes flicked to Korvex. He was listening, likely hearing the panicked mayor from my phone. My heart tightened at the thought of him leaving already.
“Yes, sir, I will get it handled.”
“Please and thank you. Please call me when you finish.”
I hung up the phone. The warmth was already fading from him.
With much effort he stood up straight, setting his cup of tea back down. He took a long, deep breath. His mouth was a firm straight line as he gave me an acknowledging nod.
“No.” I said. “Nope. We will figure something out.”
“My love, I have to go back to my perch.”
“Nope. I am not going to allow that.” I crossed my arms.
A faint smile danced across his face before fading away. “It is my duty, it is why I was made.”
“It’s not fair! It’s not fair to you and it’s not fair to me.” My hands reached out for him, wrapping around his. “You only just arrived in my life, I don’t want to lose you so soon.”
His expression softened as he looked down at me. “I thought it was fate allowing me to be with you, Adela but duty is calling me. I must protect your town. Without me there, the ward is not complete, this will continue to happen. I was made to do so, for eternity.”
I shook my head as the tears welled up. No, I was not going to lose him. It was cruel that he has to stand there, fully awake and aware of everything, yet unable to interact with us at all. I didn’t want to just have one night with him, I wanted every night with him.
“Bond with me,” I declared.
“What?”
“Cement what we have and bond with me.”
He furrowed his brow, confused by what I was asking. “It’s how we can magically bind our souls together. You can stay here and I’ll be able to keep you.”
He took my hands in his, looked down at me with kind eyes as tears flowed down my face. “Adela, I have a duty.”
“No, you don’t. You’re supposed to be here. You’re supposed to be with me! I’m your duty!”
Sobs were erupting out of me, ugly and heavy. I had searched for so long to find someone whose soul matched mine, and I finally found him. I didn’t want to lose him just like that.
“My duty is to keep Everlyn safe, to keep humans from discovering the magical world. Oh, how I’d love to be here with you,” his thumb wiped away my tears.
“But if I don’t go back, if I am not on that pedestal, then this town is not protected.
You are not protected. What life would I be living if I knew I caused everyone’s strife and endangerment? ”
“But…” my lip trembled. I couldn’t even give another excuse.
His strong arms pulled me to his chest, wrapping them and his wings around me, holding me tightly. The cool of his chest quickly warmed at our contact. He held me as I cried into his chest.
“Thank you, Adela. You have given me something I never thought I’d ever have and I will forever be thankful.”
I cried harder, tears flowing down my cheeks, wetting his body. He held me, letting my sobs continue as he comforted me.
Duty.
I hated duty. It was unfair. It was cruel. He shouldn’t have to spend eternity alone just to protect the town.