Balance of the World
Chapter 11-Fairy Dust

Chapter 11: Fairy Dust

Eliasleaned on his sword in the middle of the woods, eating an apple as he glancedaround the clearing.

“I’mcurious, Angel,” he called between bites. “When exactly were you planning to make your move? Perhaps beforeI die of old age?”

Silencefollowed his question but he hadn’t expected any answer. This was the first time he had sparred withZoey, and she had said she wasn’t going to hold back. The Masked General tossed the core of hisapple away, still glancing around at the trees. A twig snapped behind him and he smirked before whirling around,gripping his sword with both hands and swung it overhead. A metal on metal clang echoed through thewoods as his blade met the cross between Elstan’s blades with Zoey wieldingthem, smirking at him.

“Haven’tperfected your Tinechor moves, Angel?” Elias teased but Zoey’s smirk only grew.

“Elstantaught me a bit about combat as well, my dear Masked Knight,” Zoeyretorted. “You don’t let the enemy knowwhere you are, unless you want them to.”

Sheshoved his blade away with both of hers, making him stumble back as she swipedat him with one of her blades. Hequickly stepped back and parried, ducking away from the other blade she came athim with, overhead. He spun one bladeaway with his sword and swung shoulder-high and Zoey guarded herself bybringing a blade up at her shoulder.

“Ilearned a new trick, Elias,” she smirked, mysteriously, making him smirk back.

Hewas suddenly shoved away and propelled across the clearing to the ground. Elias gave a grunt as leaves scattered aroundhim and he shot up to stare wide eyes at Zoey. She hadn’t even moved to usethe spell. He stood, still staring atZoey as she only straightened and smirked at him. Coming back from his shock he charged her butshe didn’t move from her position as he swung his sword at her. She only stood still and he froze,mid-stroke…involuntarily.

“Nowyou’re cheating, Angel,” he mutteredfrom his pose but Zoey smirked and shook her head. He suddenly began shrinking and his eyeswidened as he shook his head, pleading, “No, Zoey! Not again!”

Zoeyonly giggled as he continued shrinking, clothes and all, until he was, onceagain, a Gopher General. He ranted withlittle squeaks as Zoey stepped toward him, sheathing the swords and kneelingtoward him, still grinning.

“I’msorry, Elias,” she giggled. “You’re justso cute as a gopher!”

Eliasglared up at her, sheathed his tiny sword to cross his arms over his tiny chestas she held her hand down to him.

“Climbon, cutie,” she smiled, but he only turned away from her, making her give apout. She picked him up, making himsquirm, but she held him as firmly as she could without hurting him.

“Bemy cute little gopher pet for a while,” she smiled, setting him on hershoulder. He gripped the collar of hershirt as she started heading out of the woods. He seemed to realize where she was headed and started pulling on hercollar to get her attention.

“Don’tworry,” Zoey whispered, patting his head reassuringly. “I’m sure Elstan won’t make fun of you.”

Eliasstill tried to hide himself in her hair, but it was no use. When she stepped from the woods, Elstan mether and frowned in wonder as he glanced around her.

“Whereis General Blackwood?” he asked and Zoey pointed to her shoulder making Elstanfrown again but he smiled in amusement when he saw Elias still trying to hidein her hair. He nodded, mutely as Zoeygave him his blades and he stepped away to let her head toward hers and Elias’stent. She ducked in and plucked Eliasfrom her shoulder to lie down on her back, setting him on her stomach.

“See?”she grinned, using a finger to scratch the top of his head. “He didn’t even say anything.”

Shegasped when Elias suddenly began growing again, until he was hovering above heras the Masked General she loved, smirking deviously as she stared up at himwith wide eyes, filled with wonder.

“W-Wha—?”she breathed as he still smirked down at her. “H-How—? I didn’t lift thespell! How did you get out of it?!”

“Felixdidn’t tell you?” he murmured, leaning toward her face, making her heart raceand her cheeks flare. “That particularspell doesn’t stick very long, my dear. Now I can take my revenge.”

Zoey’seyes widened as he still leaned toward her, her heart pounding in panic but itturned to passion when Elias’s lips pressed against her lower one. She moved just enough toward his mouth sothat he could slide his tongue against her lip to slip it into her mouth, hislips connecting with hers to kiss her, deeply.

Shegave a moan of approval but when she closed her eyes and moved her arms to wrapthem around him, she found his hands sliding up her arms until they reached herhands and he entwined his fingers with hers. She smiled against his lips before he pulled away to look down at her,still holding her hands as she still smiled.

“That’sa strange way to take revenge,” Zoey noted. “I like it when you kissme. Don’t you know the definition ofrevenge?”

“Ofcourse I do,” Elias smirked back. “But Ihave a feeling you’ll be angry with me and I won’t be able to kiss you for sometime after I take my revenge.”

“Thenjust forget about it,” Zoey suggested. “Don’t you like kissingme? Wouldn’t you be upset if youcouldn’t?”

“Yes,but I must be avenged,” he growledsoftly, closing in on her again. “That’sthe second time you’ve done that tome, you little minx. I can’t have it getaround that I’m a ‘Cute Gopher General,’ can I?”

“Oh,why not?” she pouted. “It could work for you, somehow.”

“Ihighly doubt that,” Elias murmured,leaning down to leave kisses over her neck.

Zoeycouldn’t help herself when she wrapped her arms around him with a moan as hisarms slid fully around her waist. Shereveled in his touch a moment longer before asking, “Where will we go afterthis?”

“Whoknows?” he admitted, not pulling away either. “Is there anywhere in particular youwould like to go, Angel?”

“Youknow this place better than I do,” she giggled. “Where should we go?”

“PerhapsI’ll take you to Velaro’s camp in Menel?” he replied. “I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you again.”

“TheGriffin camp?”she wondered and he only gave an affirmative noise as his kisses worked theirway down her neck to her shoulder and she asked, “Do you think Varen’s alright? You’ve been gone for so long.”

“He’sa capable lad,” Elias assured her, working his way back up to her mouth. “I doubt he would go looking for trouble.”

Meanwhile...

Varengritted his teeth nervously as he stared up at the Mela Ear, sitting in a row boat with Namir and the men she’d takenashore. He was dressed in one of thepirate’s clothes and had made sure to make himself look as though he’d been atsea for years. When the boat came alongside the ship, Namir was the first to climb up the rope ladder leading to thedeck, Kaysar waiting for her at the top.

“Well?”he questioned, hurriedly. “Did you replaceout where Blackwood and that wench are headed?”

“Varensaid they were headed into the Menel plains,” Namir lied smoothly as the menclimbed up one by one after her. “Wouldyou like me to send—?”

“Youdo nothing unless I order it! Do you understand?!” Kaysar snapped just asVaren climbed, unnoticed, over the railing. The shout caught the young man’s attention and he looked to the scene,paying close attention. “You do not think ahead or assume what I wantyou to do! You do not take liberties to go over my head on my ship!”

“Aye,Captain,” Namir nodded, surprisingly calm. “Forgive me, Sir. What would Your Majestylike me to do?”

“Sendone man to the Menel plains to followthem,” Kaysar ordered. “When the momentis right, dispatch them both.”

Namirnodded and replied, “I know just the man for the job, Sir.”

“Carryon, then,” Kaysar nodded and was about to head toward his cabin before hestopped and turned to order, “Meet me in my cabin at sunset.”

Namirswallowed before nodding, “Yes, Sir.”

Shewatched him head toward his cabin before turning to march toward Varen, barkingorders at the crew to get busy.

“I’veseen enough,” Varen nodded when she reached him. “I’ve heardenough. This isn’t our king. He’s possessed by Dark Fairy dust.”

“That’swhat I thought as well,” shewhispered. “Will you need help?”

“I’llbe fine,” he nodded, climbing over the railing again. “Sorry for the short visit.”

“TellZoey I am well when you report to them,” Namir requested. “I’m sure she’ll worry for me when you tellher about this.”

“Iwill,” he nodded, climbing down the ladder. “Be careful.”

“Andyou,” she replied, watching him climb into the boat below.

Night...

“Elias,”Zoey whispered, glancing around the dark forest and holding onto him frombehind as they rode slowly through the trees. “Why are we riding through a forest…at night…with no other light?”

“Areyou nervous, Angel?” he smirked over his shoulder, feeling her face bury intohis back.

“Well,I’ve been almost drowned, kidnapped and nearly trampled by a troll,” sheretorted. “Yeah…I’m nervous.”

“There’snothing to fear here, love,” Phantomassured her. “Trust me.”

“Don’tgive it away,” Elias hissed, lightly jabbing the horse’s side.

“Youkeep doing that and the two of you are going to end up in a pile on theground,” Phantom warned. “Much as I’msure you’d like that—!”

Eliasyanked Phantom to a stop, making Zoey gasp and hug Elias even tighter.

“Quiet,both of you,” Elias whispered through a grin. “It’s midnight.”

“Whathappens at midnight?” Zoeywhispered, slightly.

“Justlook around, Angel,” he whispered over his shoulder.

Zoeyfrowned in wonder before resting her head on Elias’s back, her gaze to hisright. She noticed a slight glow frombehind a tree and frowned in wonder, squinting to get a better look as shelifted her head. Her eyes widened andshe gasped when she suddenly found herself surrounded by little lights ofdifferent colors. Yellows, whites andpurples illuminated the forest with trails of sparkling dust behind them,gathering around Phantom’s legs.

“It’sso beautiful,” Zoey breathed, watching the fairies dance around them, one ofthe white Truth Fairies floating in front of her face and making her giggle.

“Thisis the Shee forest,” Elias murmured over his shoulder at her. “The fairies live here.”

“Idon’t see any Dark Fairies,” she noticed.

“They’reon the other side of the forest, far from this spot,” he assured her. “Like the mermaids and sirens, the forest issplit in half.”

“Thisis so romantic, Elias,” she whispered, hugging him and snuggling her cheek intohis back. “You’ve outdone yourself, thistime.”

“Ooh,here that, Elias?” Phantom whinnied. “Told you she’d like it.”

“And,time to dismount the noisy horse,” Elias shot back, gesturing that Zoeydismount. She frowned at him but did ashe instructed before he dismounted himself and walked Phantom toward a tree. “Stay here.”

“Yes,General,” Phantom retorted.

Eliasturned back to Zoey and took her hand to walk her down a narrow path throughthe trees.

“Elias?”Zoey frowned in wonder, making him look back at her in wonder. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes,Angel,” he smiled, lifting her hand to kiss it, tenderly. “I just wanted to enjoy the scenery withyou.”

Zoeysmiled and nodded as they stopped and Elias leaned back on a tree as she gazedaround in awe. Fairies whizzed past her,some going so fast they blew some of her red hair up with the breeze from theirwings. She giggled when it happened afew times then stepped closer to Elias to stand in front of him as he wrappedhis arms around her to pull her against him.

“Ithought you’d like this,” he murmured in her ear.

“Ido,” she nodded with a grin. “It’s agorgeous light show.”

Eliasonly smiled and they sat in content silence for a time before he licked hislips and cleared his throat. Zoeyfrowned and turned to him in wonder as he smiled down at her.

“I’vebeen doing some thinking, my dear,” he began, making her frown deepenslightly. “I told myself I would wait,but it seems I’m an impatient man.”

“Elias,is everything alright?” Zoey breathed, lifting her hands to either side of hisface.

“Don’tworry, Angel, everything is fine,” he murmured, still smiling and Zoey gave asigh of relief as he took her hands into his. “I’m sure Felix thinks I don’t know, but I found out that he and Eonawere lovers. I see by your expression hetold you?”

Zoeynodded, her eyes wide with worry.

“Donot look so worried, my dear,” he smiled. “I’ve known for some time. Ifound them together once and I was upset at the time. Circumstances changed me more than you mightever understand and…as a result I never thought I would replace anyone I could love,or anyone that could love me.”

“What…changedyour mind?” Zoey wondered.

“Well—”

“Oi! Love birds! Somethin’s coming your way!” Phantom called.

“Damnhorse—!”

“Elias,it’s Varen,” Zoey breathed, looking down the path to see a few fairies leadinghim toward the couple.

Eliaslooked up in wonder as well as he shoved off the tree when Zoey hurried towarda disheveled and panting Varen. Theyoung man collapsed on his knees just as Zoey reached him and she knelt down tohold him around his shoulders, letting him lean on her.

“Varen! What happened to you?!” Zoey breathed, movinghis sweat-matted hair from his forehead.

“Iwas…at the shore,” he explained through his pants as Elias stepped back toPhantom for his canteen filled with water. “I had to…tell you…”

“Varen,don’t strain yourself,” Zoey pleaded, looking to Elias when he stepped towardher and he handed her the canteen. “Catch your breath. Drinksomething.”

Shehelped him drink from the canteen before he grabbed it from her and drankhimself. After a moment, Elias kneltdown in front of Varen who wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

“Varen,why aren’t you in Edan?” he questioned. “Who did you leave in charge?”

“ColonelAyaki is watching the camp, Sir,” Varen replied, taking a quick swig from thecanteen. “Namir, the King’s first matecame to me after you left for Roch. Shewas worried about his majesty. I had togo aboard his ship to see it myself. It’s the worst, Sir. Our king hasbeen sprinkled with Dark Fairy Dust.”

Eliasstared at Varen in astonishment as Zoey looked to the young man with wide eyes.

“Forhow long?” Elias questioned.

“Sincethe morn,” Varen replied. “Namir thinkshe was sprinkled with it in his sleep.”

“Andyou say you saw it with your own eyes?” Elias recalled, wanting to be sure.

“Idid,” Varen nodded. “He’s acting theexact opposite of his usualbehavior. If he caught me on his ship hewould have killed me, I’m sure. Namirsaid he slapped her for voicing heropinion.”

“That’snot Kaysar at all,” Zoey breathed as Elias stood and she looked up at him. “What’ll we do?”

“Theonly way to cure a creature sprinkled with Dark Fairy dust is to dispel it,”Elias replied. “Only a Wizard can doit.”

“I’lldo it,” Zoey nodded. “I’ve done itbefore with Liona. I can do it again.”

“Itcannot be you, Miss Zoey,” Varenobjected, turning their attention to him. “He believes the two of you are conspiring against him to rule overKalina once Jellina is defeated.”

“Howcan he think that?!” Zoey questioned in astonishment.

“TheDark Fairy was obviously under the employ of the Mor Witch,” Eliasreplied. “Or the Carad Witch. He’ll get worse tomorrow.”

“Maybewe can ask Felix, or Quinto to help?” Zoey suggested.

“GeneralQuinto has gone back to his camp in Istar,” Varen reported. “He left before I did.”

“AndFelix will have nothing to do with this,” Elias continued. “Even if we convinced him to help, hewouldn’t be able to do much. Neitherwould Quinto. They’re not powerfulenough.”

“Howcan…they not be powerful enough but Iwas powerful enough to cure Liona?” Zoey wondered. “I was just learning when she attacked me.”

“Youwere able to use your spell before it had taken too much of a hold on her,”Elias explained. “If it isn’t caughtsoon, it escalates quickly.”

“So…whatdo we do?” Zoey breathed, glancing from Elias to Varen.

“Itseems, you’re the only one powerful enough to cure him,” Elias sighed, shootingVaren’s gaze of terror to his general.

“But…Sir—!”

“Iknow what you’re going to say Varen,” Elias cut in. “I’ll be with her if you’re soconcerned. There’s no time to lose. Go back to the camp and Zoey and I will headto the Mela Ear.”

“I’mcoming with you, Sir,” Varen objected, struggling to stand as Zoey helped him.

“You’vedone well thus far, Varen,” Elias replied. “How did you get here so fast?”

“Oneof Velaro’s soldiers flew me halfway and then I ran,” Varen replied.

“Hitcha ride back to Edan with him,” Elias ordered.

“Wewere lucky to get that far, Elias!”Varen argued. “Keiji took down Velarohimself when I sent him to report to you!”

“Ishe alright?!” Zoey breathed in worry.

“FortunatelyKeiji only wounded him,” Varen replied. “But his soldier was afraid to even take to the skies.”

“Verywell,” Elias nodded. “Come with us asfar as the shore and ride Phantom back to Edan.”

“Andwhat are you going to do when you getback to land?” Phantom retorted.

“We’llfigure something out,” Elias replied calmly, not caring about his horse’sattitude as he mounted him. “Zoey, comewith me.”

“But…”Zoey trailed off as she headed toward Elias, leaving Varen as he stood on hisown. “What about Varen?”

“He’llbe fine,” Elias replied, taking her hand and pulling her up into the saddlewith him, wrapping his arms around her from behind. “I’m sure there are plenty of our alliesaround who would be happy to give him a lift.”

Varenstared at Elias in worry, replying, “But, Sir…I haven’t flown on Fairy Dust insome time.”

“It’slike riding a horse,” Elias smirked, taking the reins on Phantom and pullinghim to head out of the forest. “Younever truly forget.”

Hekicked Phantom to send him into a full gallop as Zoey gasped in surprise, butElias held one arm around her waist to keep her from falling off hishorse. They emerged completely from theforest and Elias brought Phantom to a stop, hearing him breathe heavily.

“Canyou make it?” Elias asked him.

“Needyou ask, General?” Phantom retortedand went into a full gallop again, almost sending Zoey off the horse, but Eliaskept a firm grip on her as Phantom rode through the night.

Dawn...

“Phantom,stop!” Zoey begged as he was now at a slow run. “You’ll kill yourself at this rate! Take a rest!”

“Hewon’t listen to you,” Elias said before pulling back on the horse’s reins, hardand when he finally came to a stop, the two dismounted, Phantom breathingheavily.

“Ican…make it,” Phantom panted.

“You’renot the young buck you were, Phantom,” Elias retorted. “And neither am I. That saddle’s become harder in my oldage. We’ll be no use to the king halfdead.”

Heled Phantom toward a small creek they’d happened to stop by to let him drinkthen pulled a blanket from one of the horse’s saddle bags to spread it out overthe ground. He waved Zoey toward him ashe pulled another blanket from the same saddle bag on Phantom and sat, coveringhimself with the blanket as she sat next to him.

“We’llget some sleep while Phantom rests,” he explained as she laid down next to himand he wrapped his arms, along with the blanket, around her. “He’ll wake us when he’s ready.”

“Howlong do you think we have before Kaysar is beyond help?” Zoey wondered, lettinghim adjust the blanket around her.

“We’llthere by tonight, maybe sooner,” he replied. “We have some time, but not much.”

Zoeynodded and snuggled against him as he laid back with a sigh. She found, however, that she couldn’tsleep. Elias’s words kept echoing in herhead and she looked up at him, her head still resting on his chest.

“Elias?”

“Yes?”

“Yousaid that if this condition isn’t caught soon, it escalates,” she recalled. “What did you mean by that?”

Eliasgave a sigh and guessed he wasn’t going to get much sleep as he turned them sothat they were lying facing each other, Zoey frowning at him in wonder.

“I’vetold you what happens to someone sprinkled with Dark Fairy dust, yes?” herecalled.

“Yes,”she nodded. “They have dark thoughts.”

Eliasnodded then continued, “If not caught right away, that individual may start…acting on those dark thoughts. If they think of killing someone, they do itwithout a second thought, and it doesn’t matter who or what it is.

“Whena man is sprinkled with the dust, thesame thing happens, but after a week or so, if uncured, he starts changing intosomething completely different. Itstarts with the skin. Flesh becomesblack and scaly. The nails grow toclaws, the teeth into sharp fangs. Thehair becomes white and stringy, and lastly, the eyes will glaze over a solidred color.”

“Ramrans,”Zoey breathed in realization. “Ramrenwere men?”

“Yes,”he nodded. “This is what could happen toour king, and he will never forgetthe things he’s done after he’s cured if it gets too far.”

Zoeyremained silent in shock before she began thinking of everything that hadhappened since she’d been in Kalina and she caught his gaze again.

“WhenI’d been kidnapped, while I was in my cell, Rada came and spoke to me,” shetold him, making Elias’s eyes glow in wonder. “He called you a…half-breed. Whatdid he mean by that?”

Eliastook in a breath and sat up, making Zoey sit up with him as she felt her heartrace in panic.

“Elias,I don’t mean to pry—”

“No,”he sighed, lifting a hand to run it through his hair. “I know, Angel. It was only a matter of time before you foundout.” He looked to her, tiredly and shefelt her heart clench at seeing the pain in his eyes. “I told you I found Eona and Felix together,didn’t I?”

Zoeynodded, but remained silent as he turned to stare into the space ahead of him.

“Thatwas the beginning of my downfall,” he explained. “After I found them together, I ran from thehouse. I was only Varen’s age at thetime and the only way I knew how to deal with my anger and pain was todisappear somewhere. I chose the wrongpath into the Shee forest and it led me to a part of the woods where the DarkFairies resided. When night fell a satmyself against a tree and went to sleep after having brooded all day. I was in a vulnerable state when one of themsprinkled their dust on me.

“WhenI woke the next morning, I was so angry. Angry with Felix, and Eona, and angry at myself for being sostupid. My rage couldn’t becontrolled. For the next few days Iroamed Kalina doing…unspeakable things. I had joined the army, and when my superiors asked Eona where I’d gone,she couldn’t say. Felix went looking forme at her insistence, and when he didreplace me, we fought. He beat me ofcourse. A man fighting a wizard willalways end up the same.

“Hebrought me to Eona and they both realized right away what had happened tome. I was so aggressive that Felix hadto strap me down to the table in order to keep me from hurting them and myself. He was able to cure me with much effort on his part, but by then…”

Zoeyswallowed when he trailed off and touched the edge of his mask.

“Felix—”Elias choked out before clearing his throat. “Felix used too much of his power to bring me back, and for that, it’sdrained him for the rest of his life. Hewas a soldier at the time, but he was discharged for what he’d done. The order is to kill any creature possessed by fairy dust if they’ve committedatrocities, not only for the country’s sake but for that person as well, sincethey recall everything they’d done while under the spell. Eona begged and pleaded with him not to doit. Sometimes I wish he had.”

“Don’tsay that,” Zoey breathed, bringing his gaze back to hers as she looked up athim with tears in her eyes. “It wasn’tyour fault. You weren’t in your rightmind.”

“ButI remember, Zoey,” he whispered backand she felt her heart clench even tighter at the pain in his voice and eyes ashis, too, began to water. “I remembereverything I did. I took innocent livesand hurt so many here beyond repair. Ihave nightmares about what I’ve done almost every night.”

“Butif Felix had followed the order, and killed you, we never would have met,” shereplied. “Would you really want that?”

“Ofcourse not, Angel,” he murmured. “Meeting you has meant more to me than you could ever know.”

“Ifeel the same,” Zoey smiled through her tears. “It hurts me to hear you say you wish you’d died.”

“I’msorry,” he replied, lifting a hand to brush away a tear from her cheek. “It hurts meto see you cry. Please, Angel, no moretears.”

Zoeylowered her face and wiped her tears away, sniffling before she looked back upat him and smiled.

“So…”she trailed off for a moment, slowly lifting a hand toward his face. “So that’s why, you where this mask? He didn’t get to you in time?”

Eliasnodded as Zoey’s fingers traced the bottom of the mask and he explained, “Myskin beneath this mask is Ramran scales. Had he waited longer my whole face would have been covered in them.”

“MayI…see it?” she asked, hesitantly.

Theireyes met and she could see the hesitance and fear in his gaze that she would berepulsed. However, after a moment heslowly nodded and she couldn’t help but smile at the thought of him trustingher with such a delicate matter. Shewould not disappoint him. Her other hand came up and she slid the maskoff with ease, holding it in both hands.

Shesuddenly realized what she’d seen in her dream. A handsome face that turned into a horrifying creature. The dream had described what Elias was. He was Kalina embodied in a man that was halflight and half dark.

Zoeybrought a hand up to touch the scales that covered the top half of his facefrom his hairline to the bridge of his nose. They were cold to the touch and she wondered if Elias could feel herfinger tips gliding over them but she didn’t ask. He lifted a hand to the one touching his faceand gently pressed it fully to his cheek, her finger tips still touching theblack scales and he snuggled into her hand.

“Ifeared you would hate me for this, Angel,” he murmured, kissing the palm of herhand as she met his gaze in shock. “Ithought you would be frightened and push me away.”

“No,Elias,” she breathed, shaking her head as more tears came to her eyes. “I could never hate you or push youaway. I need you by my side. You’re my strength.”

“Asyou are mine,” he smiled, leaning forward to rest his forehead againsthers. “I knew the moment I looked intoyour eyes you wouldn’t turn away from me.”

“Elias—”

“Nomore questions, please, Angel,” he begged, gently as he lowered her hand, stillholding, to his heart. “I am tired, andso are you, I can tell. We must rest.”

Zoeyswallowed, nodding as he pulled away and laid down on his back to let her curlup against him. She handed him his maskand kissed the top of her head before putting it back on.

“Goodnight, Zoey,” he murmured, closing his eyes.

“Goodnight, Elias,” she muttered, closing her eyes as well, thinking something she’dplanned to say to him before…I love you.