Page 186 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
Fate’s divine energy fell back into the Void. As it did, I thought I saw the shifting outline of others in the endless expanse.
I glanced at the prompt.
And made my choice.
CHAPTER 102
He Waited
Julian
Julian walked to the end of the bridge, following Gerda’s footsteps exactly with his [Tracking] skill.
He stopped where she’d disappeared. There was a faint smell of pine trees. Or maybe it was his imagination clinging to the last time he’d held her.
Knowing it would be the last time made it hard to breathe, so he turned his mind elsewhere.
He sat down on the bridge and waited.
He waited as the sun crossed the western horizon.
He waited while the cold sea wind cut at his face and pulled at his hair.
He waited until the first star appeared overhead. The North Star.
He waited … and still, she was gone.
When she’d walked away, he hadn’t had the heart to say goodbye. He didn’t want to hear it, and he didn’t want to say it. He couldn’t even write it in a letter. The greatest gift she could have left behind was her last, “I’m ready.”
Because he wasn’t ready to live without her … not yet. But knowing thatshewas ready made it almost bearable.
He waited and he closed his eyes and he lied to himself.
He wasn’t waiting for her. He was just waiting for this feeling to pass.
“Julian?” Arms wrapped around him from behind, and he broke.
“You came back.” He reached up and pulled her around and into his lap, burying his face into her hair so she couldn’t see his eyes.
“I did.”
Her hands were warm..
“Julian?”
“Hm?”
“I love you too.”
“I know.” He smiled.
“Your armor is poking me, and you’re freezing cold,” she stated matter- of-factly.
“Sorry.” He pulled back and kissed her cheek. “Shall we?”
She smiled and portaled them away.
“I don’t know how I feel about this …” Julian held Gerda’s hand as Their Royal Highness positively vibrated in excitement at the gift of a certain Guild Mistress.
