“Ugh,” he moaned.
I stepped out of his embrace, sliding into my clothes while he took a seat on a rock with a huff.
When I went to join him, he spread his legs open so the only available place to sit was in his lap. I went to him willingly and curled against his chest, wrapped in his arms.
We stared out over the city for a long while.
“It’s going to be okay, you know,” he said softly.
I pulled my gaze away from the city below and looked up at him, taking in his face. He seemed more at peace, but that just left me in more turmoil because he was accepting a fate I could not.
“I need you to fight for it, though,” I said, overwhelmed by sadness that he would accept his own destruction.
He cupped my cheek. “No, you don’t understand. I’m going to be okay. This power will not drive me mad.”
I blinked. “I don’t understand. I felt like you were giving up and accepting that your fate was to lose yourself to the visions.”
“No, Goddess. It’s different now.” He reached into his tunic and pulled out the chain that held the opal against his skin. “It’s all different. This is helping, and I will get better at harnessing it. I can feel it.”
“Feel it… You mean like you know it?”
“Yes.” He took my hand and put it to his chest. “The only thing I accept is that I’ll never leave you without a fight. I’m not giving up on anything. You have me for life.”
Tears filled my eyes, and I pressed closer to him. “You sure about that? With you, I could live for a very long time, Goddess willing.”
“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. I love you, and you love me, and we are going to be together for a very, very long time.”
I kissed him then, deeply, sealing our future.
“Take me home,” I whispered. “ I need to take a nap.” I winked, letting him know my meaning.
He smiled and jumped up with me still in his arms. “Let’s go!”
