Step Quietly

ETAN

He twitched the tent flap aside to find Ayleth standing there, eyes wide and pleading, Falek and Borsche behind her on either side. 

He offered her a hand and she took it, squeezing hard. But when he tried to draw her inside, she resisted for a moment. 

Stomach chilled, Etan turned back to her. "What is it?"

"Thank you," she whispered, putting her free hand to his face. "Thank you for loving me even… thank you. I won't betray you, Etan. I swear it."

He held her wide, blue eyes for a moment, then dropped to brush a chaste kiss on her lips. "You're my soul, Ayleth," he whispered. "Whatever is to come, we meet it together."