CHAPTER 32 #4
“... But you heard what I said, right? The threat isn’t out there, it’s in here.” Lenore grabbed onto his cloak without thinking. All she wanted was for him to stay. “We—we can figure this out together here. I still have everything I need to tell you!”
“Lenore…” Conflict arose in Edmund’s face, unable to hold back his own emotions.
“Not now. I have to go. This all started when Arisa arrived. It’s a risk, I know, and it kills me to leave like this, but if she’s been leading all of this, then I have to hope—pray—that there won’t be any movement from anyone else here for the time being.
And if she really is somehow able to do all that’s just been said, then it’s better to keep her as far away as possible.
” Worry surfaced in his hardened eyes. “It’ll be safer for you too. ”
“What if... you don’t come back?” Lenore held his cloak tighter with both hands now. “It’s a perfect opportunity for her, you know?”
“She won’t. Have confidence in me.”
“Bring Azelf with you too!” Lenore looked up at him with a trembling lip. Azelf had told her not to say anything—but he was the only one that could watch Edmund’s back.
“Azelf?” Edmund gave a bewildered look before scowling. “But that traitor picked Arisa—”
“Just do it!” she cried out, shaking his cloak wildly. She was falling apart, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was his safety. All she cared about was him. “You can trust him! And if you trust me, then do it!”
Large hands wrapped over hers, stilling her movements.
“Lenore.” The way he said her name stole her thoughts away.
It was softly spoken—a whisper of reassurance for her alone.
When she looked into his eyes, her breath was nearly caught.
Undivided fondness reflected to her, woven with a longing that made her legs feel weak.
She had thought that maybe there would’ve been his usual exasperation, but he only held out a piece of his heart that made hers whole again.
When she calmed down, he turned away, the bottom edge of his cloak fluttering with the quick movement. Briefly, he stepped back into the darkness before returning with a woven basket in hand.
“Here.” Edmund’s arm swung it in Lenore’s direction.
The awkward gesture made her laugh as she furrowed her eyebrows.
“What? This is...?” She took it from his hand, then lifted the cloth, and her lips parted slightly in pleasant surprise.
An assortment of supplies greeted her eyes—a jar of honey, a bottle of moon nectar, dried meat, and other various foods, as well as a small sheathed knife and fur-lined gloves.
She let out a gasp. Nestled on a midnight-blue cloth was the earring she lost when Hesper had clawed her ear. The tiny blue gem glistened as she picked it up. “You… found this for me?”
“Well, you didn’t find it, so somebody had to,” Edmund mumbled.
Her face glowed with rosy warmth. “Oh, Edmund…”
Edmund’s face flushed red as she uttered his name with sweet tenderness. His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “I trust you on everything else, including trusting Azelf, but I can’t trust you to take care of yourself while I’m gone.” He scratched the back of his neck.
A small laugh slipped out, a delicate sound compared to the quickening pulse of her heart. “This is beyond sweet. Thank you, Edmund.”
“The food’s hardly anything compared to what you made, but it’s all just in case you need to feed yourself quickly.” He drew closer. “Be safe.”
"Well, now, you’re making me look forward to cooking you a meal when you get back.” Her blush deepened when Edmund smiled at her.
“I look forward to that then,” he said softly. They stared at each other, the air between them humming with unspoken words and thinly veiled affection. It was Edmund who reluctantly broke off contact. He threw his cloak’s hood over his head.
“I have to go.” He frowned sternly. “Don’t do anything rash. If anything puts you in danger, don’t even think about it.” When Lenore nodded, his expression eased. “If you’re going to do anything remotely dangerous, work on your hunting skills.”
That earned him a light thwack on his side from the basket. “Very funny,” Lenore said. Her hands tightened on the basket’s handle. “Safe travels. Don’t do anything rash either.”
“No promises,” he replied, and she couldn’t help but smile at the flicker of mischief that passed his eyes. He turned then, footsteps fading into thudding paws. The shadowy grass swallowed his moving figure, taking him out of her sight.
The light in her heart felt as if it withered away. I’ll miss you. It took every inch of her not to chase after him, and she wondered if there was a moment he wanted to turn back. Cold crept in, sending goosebumps along her skin. Unable to help herself, she glanced upward at the moon.
The moon stared back at her, cold, and watchful. Before Lenore could dwell on it—before all that had transpired could creep back into the crevices of her mind—she turned away.
It’s not all hopeless, she silently told herself as she continued on the dimly lit path. Just keep your wits up, Lenore. Keep your eyes open.
There’s still time, she thought. So don’t waste it.