I got up, laughing a little at Zephyr, who was still rolling around in the grass.
"I'm here...!!" Mother's voice sounded closer now.
I wanted to rush back to her, but I noticed Zephyr still on the ground.
"Honey? Are you not coming?" I leaned over him, looking up at the sky, tucking my hair behind my ears.
"I think... I'm going to stay a little, love. Maybe swim a little too, I don't know..." He kept his eyes on the stars and adjusted his pants. "Go ahead, I'll join you when I'm flat... ahem, I mean, done."
I knelt back and kissed him, laughing at his obvious pain. He was teased too much.
"Hurry back... I love you..."
I froze. It had slipped out. But hell, if this wasn't love, then I didn't want it.
"I love you."
His was intentional. He kissed me once more, gently but passionately, and I thanked Ehlite for sending him to me.
I walked home practically flying. I felt so light and airy. He didn't hesitate—he loved me! What a day.
I walked in to find everyone back, including Alexander and Demelza, who looked very relaxed. Hmm... I bet I would soon understand that look.
"And what makes you so happy?" Demelza got up and walked closer.
I smiled like an idiot. I never, ever felt this happy. I both wished Mom hadn't come to interrupt us and was very grateful she did when I thought about what might have come after. It was a complicated feeling.
"We had... the talk. We cleared the air."
I was quickly buried by their hugs. Everyone seemed to understand except for Lucian and Alexander.
"Where is Zephyr? Is he coming?" Lucian twisted his neck to see behind me.
"He will... just needs a minute." I let go of the ladies and looked behind me. "Talk about needs... I'm thirsty. Does anyone want tea?"
I heard Zephyr coming in with heavy, squishy footsteps.
"Whoa, little brother... did you fall in the river?" Alexander asked.
Zephyr looked soaked. He hadn't even bothered to take off his clothes. I could just imagine him diving headfirst once I was out of earshot.
"It was voluntary," he said. He took a chair and sat with a loud sound, his pants slapping down and dripping water onto the floor.
"What?"
"Nothing, Alex. God..."
He looked at me with a satisfied smile. Ilianna ran up to him. "You went swimming, Dad!" She touched his shirt and squeezed the water out.
"There's no fooling you, Princess."
I turned back to the teapot before they saw my suspicious smile. Granny came by my side. "You seem like a brand new woman, sweetheart. Anything good happen?"
"...Everything good happened."
We spent the rest of the night laughing and talking about tomorrow. We had three men from our family heading up there in the morning: Zephyr, Alexander, and Lucian. But the conversation was light, and we opened some wine to toast. I only noticed the time when Anna's head started bobbing on the chair.
We each went to bed. It was late, and tomorrow was going to be an early, stressful day.
Zephyr pulled me closer once we were under the sheets. I rustled around a little with my hips—I just couldn't help it. He seemed so flustered before, and it made me happy. He only showed that side to me.
"It's a dangerous game you play... stop before... We're not alone." He stopped my hips with his hand.
"Hmmph..."
He quickly shut me down, probably for the better. These walls were paper thin.
The next morning, I woke up before him. It was rare; I usually slept in more often. Being spoiled is a dangerous thing. I kissed both him and Anna, then went to the kitchen.
Granny, Mother, and Demelza were already up.
"So... did you do it last night?" my mother asked me, looking up from her cup.
I almost dropped my tea. "Mother... keep your voice down!"
"That sure didn't sound like a no to me." She turned to the others and laughed with them.
I let them have their giggles before I answered.
"Of course not. We couldn't..." I turned to the pot and poured boiling water over the tea leaves, murmuring the rest quietly. "...Ilianna was there."
"Sweetheart, you could have just asked us to take care of her."
Actually, I had been thinking about it. "Maybe you can... tonight?" I turned to Demelza and waited patiently.
I let their shocked expressions roll off me. I wasn't ashamed or embarrassed.
"Ah... after he returns alive from meeting the monster? Is that so?" Mother was quick on the uptake.
"Yes, Mother... I love him, and he loves me. There is no point waiting." I picked up my cup and took a seat, still watching Demelza. I felt quite an adult.
"If you want, I can loan you some underwear?" She simply agreed without agreeing and offered her additional help.
"...There's no need for that, but, maybe... thank you, Dem."
Their Ooos and Ahhs woke up Ilianna, who walked straight into my arms and ate half my apple.
I spent time hearing about various first-night tips. I had to cover Anna's ears. If she retold something to Zephyr... ouff, he wouldn't like his... I mean, our daughter, learning these things and phrases. Even Granny joined in. My head hurt by the time Alexander woke up.
"Morning, everyone. Should I wake Zephyr up?" He kissed his wife and pointed at our room.
"You will do no such thing! It's early anyway." I couldn't believe the village's main idiot was going to be my brother-in-law. My love, you could have chosen more carefully...
Soon, Eli woke up, bringing little Arnold with her. Lucian and his mother arrived. My Zephyr was still sleeping. I was glad. He so rarely got to just rest. We spent most of the morning chatting about the mountain and eating.
It was almost midmorning when Zephyr came out of our room. He looked refreshed and happy. I needed to set everything up by the time he came down that mountain.
"Morning all... morning, my loves." He leaned down and kissed me and our daughter.
"You ready, brother? This is our first sacrifice together. I'm going to go and round up the stragglers." Alexander looked more amped up than usual. "Lucian, go find out if the herdsmen still got all our offerings."
"Alright. When are we heading up, Zeph?" Lucian got up and asked before heading after Alexander.
"Once you both come back, we can go and take our time..."
"Don't take your time, stupid... make it as fast as humanly possible, obviously!"
"...as you can clearly hear, Lucian, we're going to make it fast."
Good boy. He deserved a kiss.
In the next hour, I fed him breakfast, and I turned very clingy. I didn't want to let him go. I knew why he was going and that he wouldn't fight. But still, why couldn't someone else do this asinine job?
"I'm going to be okay, Lylly. Nothing can keep me from you two." His words were sweet and reassuring. His touch was delicate, as if afraid to break me.
"If you're not back by nightfall..."
"I love you, Lylly."
How could I possibly sound serious if he just launched these sneak attacks? "I will say it back when you return to my arms..."
"Promise made, a debt to be paid. Don't you forget it."
He played with my hair. It's one of my favorite things he does now. I felt comfortable and safe. I didn't want to lose this feeling... after such a long wait.
He kissed me and pulled me close so hard I could feel every muscle on his body. I lost perception of time. When we separated, he lifted Ilianna and hugged her tight. She didn't really understand what was happening. Zephyr refused to tell her. I agreed; she was too young. We could tell her when she was grown a little—maybe by then we'd have some of our own... Hmm...
I saw Demelza and Alexander in a similar position to ours. Even my sister looked hesitant, letting go of Lucian. So did my friend Liz with her husband and a bunch of others. I guess we were all more or less in the same shoes.
"My beauties, I'm leaving." He looked sad, but his eyes were focused. "I'll be safe and, most importantly... fast. I love you both."
Zephyr pulled us in for a quick goodbye hug and handed me our daughter.
"Alright then... Let's go, everyone! We have a long walk ahead."
He gave a little hug goodbye to our family and led a party of eleven men and two dozen or so animals up on that cursed mountain.