Page 47 of Tales of Earth and Leaves

“I assume you have questions.” Not that I expected her to believe me or accept our differences without investigation. We both knew that whatever was happening between us, it could not be explained away.

“I do,” she replied gently, afraid to start thinking about everything that had happened.

“There’s been a fire in the forest, it started a few days ago and the energy is still recovering.” She nodded as though she understood, but it was visible that the information flew over her like a shooting star across the sea. “My role in the district is to help conduct this energy into life,” I tried to clarify to no avail.

“Okay…” Anwen replied, expectant.

I took the fact that she accepted information as a positive so I continued.

“There are many others living here, flora, fauna, faeries, all affected by the damage. Lives were lost, homes destroyed, species became extinct. I needed to bring the energy back and help regenerate it. The day I planned to come see you, that’s when it happened. I woke up to screaming in the morning and spent the whole day pulling them out from the flames.”

“You went into the fire?” she asked, surprised. Concern traced a self-portrait onto her features.

“It is my duty,” I explained.

“That night, you came to see me. You were hurt.” It was more an affirmation than a question, a dream she thought she had that needed a reality confirmation.

“I did. I needed to see you,” I explained. “After all the death, all the suffering, you were the only thing that could bring me a shred of hope. I just wanted to see you, even from afar.”

“You kissed me,” Anwen murmured, reliving the memory.

“I am sorry.” I didn’t want her to feel used, especially since she was the one who helped me regain control. “I’ve never been the sole curator of energy in any place, it was the first time I had such a duty and the responsibility that came with it scared me. I felt lost, weak. Until I touched your lips. You gave me the strength I needed.” I sighed and gazed back at her, hoping that what I tried to convey from the tangle of feelings I felt trapped in shone through.

“Then why lie to me? Why not tell me the truth?” the woman demanded, her voice softer this time. My confession had relieved part of her anger.

“It is a very long story, one that deserves a longer time than I have right now. I don’t know how you found out, and I don’t know what light my kind are portrayed in, but know this: we are the same.”

Her eyes went wide and she stopped chewing on the piece of pineapple that kept her occupied. Anwen glared incredulously then frowned, vision penetrating with reprimand, warning me with a single look that I’d better not try to tell her that I was leaving.

“I must, Anwen,” I touched her wrist again, answering the unasked question. “I need to continue my work and I already missed a day. There are beings who depend on me.”

“What about me?” Her plea was a whisper, one that drilled into my heart. She had a million reasons to banish me from her life but still wanted my company. The realization gave me such joy that if I were a dandelion, I would have scattered into a million pieces from delight and happily faded out of existence.

I cupped her face in my hands and raised her head slowly to make our eyes connect.

“Anwen, if you’ll have me, I plan to spend every free instant I have by your side.”

She smiled and kissed me softly, gently, like we had all the time in the world to do just that.

“Can I see you again tonight?” I loosened my lips from hers only long enough to ask the question.

“Youbm bemter,” she replied through the kiss and caressed my hair as she did.

I kissed her cheek and grabbed a banana from the basket laid onto the table, then headed towards the door.

“Anwen?” I asked as I cracked it open with my foot, stepping onto the threshold.

“Yes?” she jumped up from the kitchen chair and came closer to me in a heartbeat.

“No matter how much I like to be at your mercy, can we please leave the iron chains aside this time?”

She chuckled and the sound of her laugh filled me with ecstasy.

When I stepped outside the mansion, I contemplated the woods and my surroundings with a different perspective, that of a male in love. There was no point in denying what happened between us, and after the confirmation and kisses she planted on my lips, whatever fear I had of progressing and delving into this dissipated.

Thoughts of duty and family chased me back to the Northern parts of the district but even though it seemed unexplainable, I knew, through whatever emotion announced the calling, that this human woman was my mate.

She was the one I had been waiting for, for twenty-seven years, and I was decided to explore the possibility of us being together. I never abused my role and position within the kingdom, performed my duties most of the time with excellent results and remained a satisfactory member of the royal family, not outshining the heir but offering the comfort of my strength.

---