CHAPTER 58 #3
“I’m not... I’m not doing any of that again!” Lenore began to wail, throwing herself against Edmund’s chest as tears sprung free from her eyes. Her body shook with her sobs.
Edmund held her tightly, soothing her by stroking her hair. “You won’t.” Reassurance threaded his low voice. “I won’t ever let you go through that again.”
“I was so scared!” Lenore’s muffled voice sounded through his chest. “I hated—I hated every moment of that!”
“I can imagine,” Edmund said. “I don’t know how you did it, but it was even more remarkable that you did.
” He continued to pet her. “You put me through the worst levels of stress and panic with the idea of losing you at any second, but…” he smiled softly.
“You stayed strong until the very end. What you did at the ball helped save us all. You’ve become an excellent werewolf, Lenore. ”
Lenore whimpered. “I want to—I want to be a pampered princess from now on.”
Edmund paused, then burst into fond laughter. “If you’re fine being a princess in the woods, I can do that,” he said.
“And I want you to take me out to a city!” Lenore said. “It doesn’t even have to be Arkhaven—I’d rather go somewhere way more werewolf-friendly. I just want to go on some occasions!”
A quiet, reluctant groan escaped Edmund next. “... Just know I love you very much when I say yes to this.”
“I love you very much, too.” Lenore tightened her hold on him. She continued to sniffle, rubbing her tear-streaked face all over his chest. “What about you? What... what can I do for you?”
“Me?” Edmund hummed in thought. “Well…” His fingers lightly brushed the small of her back. “What I would like is for us to elope by tonight if possible—”
Lenore lightly swatted his chest and stepped back, glaring at him through dewy tears and reddening cheeks. “Edmuund!!”
“What? You asked.” Edmund sighed in disappointment. “What else would I want?” He grew thoughtful before the corner of his lips tugged into a light smirk. “A family—”
“Edmund!” Lenore intoned. A mix of happiness and embarrassment fluttered in her chest. His smirk grew wider as he stepped closer, pulling her to him.
“I want to drink a tea blend that you’ve made only for me, and us just talking through the entire night, or playing Ashenspire, or all the other games I want to play with you.
” He brushed the lingering tears off her face.
“I want you to come with me to visit some hidden gems in the forest, for you to try opening your first geode when we search for them... I want you to go stargazing with me. I want you to make your delicious food again.”
His eyes flitted to the side before he mumbled out, “I’m not against getting a massage from you either.
I never was. And if we are going to visit some of the cities...
then I want to go on an airship with you.
That sounds mildly interesting. Just a little.
I want you to show me everything, and all your favorite kinds of places. ”
Lenore laughed, a warm and jubilant sound. “This sounds like you want to do everything with me!”
Edmund smiled back at her. “That’s right. I want to experience everything with you. I want a life with you.”
Lenore’s blush deepened. Her heart skipped a beat. “I feel the same way,” she replied.
Their eyes held each other, basking in each other’s honeyed affection. They leaned in, sharing a kiss that briefly stole away the exhaustion that weighed on their bodies, leaving only a sweet warmth flowing through their bodies. As Edmund held her tighter, the group began to whoop loudly.
“Stars, is that really Ed?” Auden guffawed. “I missed way too much!”
“Already can’t resist giving your girl a true love’s kiss? Looks like you’re a wolf like the rest of us, Eddy!” Azelf grinned from ear to ear.
Charie giggled. “You two are so cute.”
Edmund’s face immediately soured. An annoyed noise hummed in his throat. Lenore couldn’t help but giggle too. Her laughter softened his gaze, and he kissed her again, this time on the crown of her head.
“Ready to head back then?” he asked.
Lenore looked outward as everything brightened underneath the sun’s touch. She blinked, noticing that between the cobblestones beyond the gazebo, a small white flower bloomed. Its pale white petals glistened under the sunlight.
Melancholy tugged at her heartstrings. But then she looked toward her newfound pack, the jubilance of life written across their faces. Her gaze turned back to Edmund—her breath nearly taken away from the gentleness of his expression, and the love that shone in the depths of his eyes.
The corners of Lenore’s lips curved before she broke into a bright smile. The sunlight sparkled against the silver adornments in her hair. Her face glowed with radiance. Edmund’s own breath quietly hitched, enraptured by her shining beauty that danced with the first light of morning.
Lenore slid her gloves off her hands, holding them in one hand as she reached for Edmund’s with the other. The scars that once marked her right arm were gone. Her soft, delicate fingers interlocked with strong, rough ones.
“Yes,” she said. “Let’s go.”