Chapter 27: A Promise in the Dawn
As the first light of dawn filtered through the crystalline canopy, Umbra and Selene stirred, waking up together in each other's arms. The night had been filled with shared warmth and whispered confessions, but now, the weight of reality began to settle in.
Umbra turned to Selene, his expression softer than usual, but with a seriousness that she hadn't seen before. He gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his touch lingering.
"Selene," he began, his voice steady but filled with an unspoken promise, "if I don't come back, I'll leave you something to remember me by."
Selene's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively placed a hand on her stomach, her eyes widening as she understood the implication of his words. The realization hit her with both joy and fear—a future she hadn't expected, one that tied her even more closely to him.
Umbra watched her reaction, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions. He leaned closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I'll take all your pain away," he whispered, his voice soothing as he reached out with his power.
A warm, comforting sensation washed over Selene, easing every ache and sorrow she had carried for so long. She felt lighter, as if a great burden had been lifted from her soul. When she looked up at him again, her eyes were filled with gratitude and love.
As Umbra stood, preparing to leave, a portal began to shimmer into existence behind him, its swirling energy a gateway to the unknown. Selene felt a pang of fear at the thought of him leaving, and she reached out to him, her voice trembling slightly.
"Wait," she called, her eyes locking onto his. "Are you… are you scared?"
Umbra paused, his hand hovering near the portal. He turned back to her, his expression serious but with a hint of vulnerability. "Yes," he admitted, his voice low. "After all, I'm going to meet my family."
Selene's heart ached at the honesty in his words. She understood the significance of what he was about to face, and she knew that this journey was something he had to do alone. But the thought of him being afraid—of him, the One True King, facing something that stirred fear in his heart—made her realize just how much he had endured.
Before he could step through the portal, she reached out once more, pulling him into a tight embrace. "Come back to me, Umbra," she whispered, her voice filled with both hope and determination.
He held her close for a moment, allowing himself to feel the warmth of her presence, before gently pulling away. "I will," he promised, his eyes conveying the depth of his commitment. "But no matter what happens, you'll always have a part of me with you."
With those final words, Umbra turned and stepped into the portal, the swirling energy enveloping him before vanishing completely, leaving Selene alone in the dawn's light.
She stood there for a long time, her hand resting on her stomach, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. She knew that their journey was far from over, and that the path ahead would be filled with challenges. But for the first time in centuries, she felt a sense of hope—a belief that no matter what happened, they would find their way back to each other.
And as the sun rose higher in the sky, Selene made a silent vow to herself: she would protect the life they had created together, and she would wait for him, no matter how long it took.