641 Blade of My Heart

ELIA

They clung to each other, hands on chests, in hair, lips-on-lips, whispered words and hearts pounding. But Elia could feel her grip weakening and every time her eyes closed they took longer to open. She fought the creeping sleep. Hard. But she couldn't bear the idea of drifting away. She had to find a way to prepare him.

"Rethh," she whispered, pulling his face up so she could meet his eyes, her own half-hooded. "It'ss happening."

His face spasmed and his huge hand cupped the back of her head, kneading her neck, his fingers buried in her hair. "It's okay, Elia. Just rest. I… I love you. I love you. Do you hear me? I love you."

"I love you, too. Oh, Rethh, I jusst… I don't want to go!"

"You won't go," he said, the words thick on his tongue. "Claimed and offered, remember? You're my forever, Love. In every sense of the word."