"First, let's eat, and then you can tell me about the meeting."
Zephyr smiled and changed position, leaning on his side.
"I asked everyone to abandon that useless tradition, at least until next year, and send nothing but livestock up this Sunday."
"How did that go over? I bet they didn't love it."
"Well, some were against it," he admitted, playing with the grass, letting the stalks run through his fingers. "...rattling on about honor this and traditions that. But in the end, they all let go of it."
That was more than a surprise. If this was true, it would be the first time in ten years no one died at the claw of Emet.
"How did you manage that?" I took out some food and placed it a little further away, careful not to spill.
"I told them I was moving out of this village and taking my family with me, including Alex and his own family. There are plenty of villages around without a divine monster standing in its shadows."
Hmm. We had never considered moving. It would mean leaving our land and most of the animals behind—unthinkable. Now... I would move tomorrow if he wanted to. I guessed he had talked to Granny before, meaning she had agreed to the plan.
"I see why they agreed now. Your presence is looming large in everyone's life." I took out the cork of our bottle with a satisfied POP and poured some wine. "Here. I brought this wine, too. Have some."
He took the cup and smelled it. Now that I thought about it, I'd never seen him drink any alcohol, even though Alexander offered almost daily. Maybe he hated it?
Just then, he emptied his cup in one gulp. I guess he didn't hate it.
"Sunday morning, I'll help lead the livestock up and quietly get away," he said, smacking his lips and sitting up.
He would help lead them?
"Why? There are plenty of others who could fulfill such a mundane job. Why you?"
"Love, I asked them, and then I threatened them, to give up their pride and traditions some have kept alive for generations," he said, his eyes clear. "Of course, it has to be me."
I felt all sweet inside when he called me like that, but I didn't let myself be distracted by this attractive manipulator.
"Still... it could be anyone else, Zephyr. I don't understand men, and I don't understand why—"
He sat up and touched my cheek, silencing me with a single, simple move.
"Then tell me... what should I do? Assigning someone who is too frightened to even move?" His fingers felt hot on my already burning face. "Or send someone I just managed to talk off a ledge? Tell me, my Lylly, and I will do it."
Crafty, sweet-talking man. He had good points. If I told him not to go, and if something happened, he would blame himself, and I would feel responsible. Despite all my worries, I knew he was just trying his best with the cards he'd been dealt.
"Very well. I'm sorry for being stubborn."
"Please, never apologize for worrying about me."
He kept playing with a lock of my hair. I felt it was time.
"Zephyr, I got you something when I was in the city. I hope you like it." I took his gift from my basket, my hands shaking as I reached for him.
Calm yourself... pull it together. The more I tried to tell myself to relax, the more nervous I got.
He took the necklace and examined it for a long time, slowly and carefully. His smile grew bigger and bigger.
"Thank you... this, I treasure. I feel bad... I didn't get you anything." His ear-to-ear smile was infectious.
How silly. He was the reason I was able to buy this and all those nice things in the first place.
"Zephyr, please, if you forg—mmph..."
I couldn't finish. He kissed me.
I honestly can't tell if it lasted a minute or an hour. But my first kiss was everything I ever dreamed of. When I pulled away, my head was spinning, and I felt utterly disoriented.
"I'm sorry... I couldn't hold back anymore."
Instead of words this time, I wanted to... so I kissed him back. Before I knew it or understood how, we were five feet away from our blanket. This time, I noticed he tasted like grapes and smelled like the grass beneath us. I wondered how I tasted to him.
Along with those useless thoughts, we took that leap.
Even with all that mouth-moving, we didn't end up eating a bite.
It was late night as we walked back slowly. I refused to let his hand go, even though it almost hurt. Despite the late hour, everyone still seemed to be awake. Before we walked in, he pulled me into another kiss. We were getting really good at it, fast.
Just like before, the light seemed brighter once we let go of each other. I felt my face might start steaming.
Walking into the candlelit kitchen, everyone was having a quiet chat. Ilianna and Arnold seemed to be asleep already. Once they noticed us, hand-in-hand, with ear-to-ear smiles, it didn't take long.
Mom was the first to react. She didn't say anything, just jumped up and hugged us both.
"Finally! I see you two had a great talk."
"I'll say. By her hair, I would say it was a very great talk." Miranda stood up and picked something out of my hair.
"Mother, please!" Lucian tried his best to reprimand his mother.
Meanwhile, I checked my hair—it was fine, except it was full of blades of grass and little leaves stuck everywhere.
"Nothing like that happened," I insisted.
I wasn't lying. Zephyr was a perfect gentleman, obviously. He never made me feel uncomfortable, and his touch never felt like it was too much or going too far. Calling it perfect didn't do justice to how I felt about it.
"Oh, Lylly, what's funny is she didn't say exactly what happened. Yet your mind immediately went there?" Eli sneaked over and pointed out my slip-up.
"Shut up, Eli."
I would have felt mortified, but when I felt his hand on my waist, pulling me close, I forgot why, or even what, I felt.
"Please, ladies, stop teasing her. I feel... responsible for her state." He laughed as he picked things out of my hair. It didn't seem to end.
You are 100% responsible. If not for a nearby tree, we probably would have ended up in the river. Hmm, maybe next time we do end up there... hehehe.
"That perverted laughter really undermines your beloved's hard work here, sis." Eli snuck in another jab.
I quickly put my usual expression on, promising myself to stop burying myself like that in the future.
Luckily, little Arnold saved me. He toddled out looking for his mother, and soon enough, Ilianna came out as well.
"Dad... you're late." She rubbed her eyes and went straight to him, practically pushing me out of the way and climbing Zephyr like a little koala.
He closed his eyes, hugging her. He always looked most at peace when she was there. "I'm sorry, Princess. Let's go and sleep. We all had a long day."
He gently guided her head onto his shoulder and walked with her toward me. He extended his hand. It took me a second to understand the gesture, but I quickly realized what was happening and took it.
"Good night to you all. Shall we?"
Our first time sleeping in the same bed. Whoa. I felt my throat drying up. I wasn't going to hesitate now. I turned to the others with my brightest smile yet.
"We're going."