177 Loving Magic

Zeir's heart cracked under the weight of his own words. He didn't want her to go and leave him here, but he had to give her the option to do it. Elytreea wasn't her home, and it would be unfair for him to demand she stay. And begging wasn't his forte.

His arms wouldn't listen to his commands anymore, clutching her tighter in his embrace. Why did his mouth and his body go for opposite approaches? Why could his mind control the words coming out of his mouth but not his bones? Perhaps because his body felt like an empty husk at the simple thought of losing her.

"Zeir, why does your heart beat even faster now than when we were in immediate danger?"

Her question jolted him out of his trance. His inner anguish had seized control of his body, and no appropriate words came to his lips this time.

"Agatha, I…" He stopped, trying to grasp what he wanted to say.