Shtuff.

Actually, that wasn’t true. She could get deader, and that was something she wanted to avoid. With a shred of hope finally in her grasp, Stelle felt it was easier to cling to life. Not that the prospect of spending a long life with Dan Heng wasn’t convincing enough to keep pressing on, but when the clock was ticking down with no leads to be found and Dan Heng away for research, she began to wonder what point there was to fighting. If she couldn’t spend the rest of her days with Dan Heng, what did it matter?

Curious as to the time, Stelle reached over to grab her phone. Under the clock was a notification informing her of a message from Dan Heng.

Dan Heng: I’ll be home today. I’m sorry, but I haven’t found anything pertinent to your case. Have you had any luck on your end?

Stelle: Castorice and I might have a lead to Thanatos. We’ll be leaving this morning, so I won’t be here when you arrive.

She waited for a text back in response. Instead, her phone lit up with a call. Her ringer blared in the quiet space, and Stelle slapped the accept button, desperately hoping the sound didn’t wake Castorice. “Hello,” she whispered.

“It’s me,” Dan Heng spoke. “How are you fairing?”

Stelle crawled out of bed, intending to take the call outside. She glanced over to Castorice. That girl could sleep like the dead, couldn’t she? She hadn’t so much as flinched, still clinging to her dromas plushie. Oof, that thing was… well-loved. “I’m hanging,” she answered, quickly shuffling out of the room to the balcony. “By a thread, but I’m hanging.”

“Don’t break yet,” he said. “You’ve got this.”

Those words, however simple they were, strengthened her resolve. “I’m the galactic baseballer. Of course I’ve got this.”

“That’s my girl.”

And those words, in contrast to the first, broke her. What she wouldn’t give to be called “his girl” for the next several decades to come.

“What’s this lead you and Castorice have?” he asked.

“Apparently, Styxia had been found. You know, the land of the dead.”

“That does sound like a promising lead.”

“Aglaea is forcing one of the Chrysos Heirs to take us there this morning.”

“So you’ll be setting out soon?”

“Yeah. Sorry I won’t be here when you return.”

“That’s why I called," he quietly admitted. "I wanted to hear your voice.”

She felt tears prickling her eyes as she slid down the wall to the ground. “I’m glad I got to hear your voice, too. I've missed you.”

“I've missed you, too.” His voice was warm and gentle, like a blanket Stelle could wrap herself up in. She'd prefer to be wrapped in his arms, but she supposed this was the best she could get for now. “Do you have to leave now, or do you have time?”

“No, I think we’ve got another hour and a half before we have to meet Cipher. Enough time for breakfast and to get ready. Though, I have a feeling waking Castorice is going to be worse than waking March.”

“Have you not been able to reach her?”

“It’s not that,” Stelle said. “We had a sleepover. Oh, so everything is going to be a mess when you get back.”

“That’s fine,” he assured, not a hint of the exasperation Stelle had been expecting in his voice. “Did you have a fun time?”

“I liked not being alone,” she admitted. “It’s really not the same without you around.”

He sighed, a pause lingering in the air between them. “I felt the same when you left to the grove.”

“I realize that now. I’m sorry.”

“It’s in the past. And we both needed that time.”

She still felt a little guilty. “Hey, Dan Heng.”

“Yes, Stelle?”

She paused, fighting for the right words. Absently, she began twisting her wedding ring around her finger. “When I get back… I… can we promise not to leave each other alone? I mean… we got married for a reason. I don’t want to be separated again.”

“I don’t, either,” he agreed. “When you return, we’ll stick together from then on.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

A small smile graced Stelle’s lips as she curled into a ball, knees to her chest. A gentle warmth bloomed from her heart. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

They chatted absently for a while longer before Stelle heard an alarm go off behind her.

One that turned off suspiciously quickly.

“Sorry,” Stelle said. “That’s my cue to go.”

“Stay safe, Starlight,” Dan Heng said reverently. “And… come back.”

Stelle’s entire chest tightened. What had she been thinking? That she could just slip quietly away without a trace? The guilt piled on her shoulders. No matter how many deaths she faced, either hers or others, she had to keep trekking on. She couldn’t leave him to continue this arduous journey alone. “What’s a moon without his star to illuminate it?” she said, her voice cracking. She took a breath to steady herself. “I’ll be back. I promised to fist-fight an aeon for you, right?”

“You did.”

“So a titan shouldn’t be a problem.”

There was a touch of mirth in his voice as he answered, “Right. Go. I’ll be waiting for your return.”

“I can’t wait. Love you.”

“I love you, too.”

She didn’t say goodbye, nor did she wait to hear his. She didn’t want to hear those words at all. They seemed too final with her life hanging in the balance, the scales slowly tipping out of her favor. She would go battle Thanatos, and when she came back, she’d be the greedy little trash thief she was and steal everything. The fights, the kisses, the wars, the victories, the injuries, the quiet times, the date nights. There would be nothing remaining of Dan Heng that wouldn’t belong to her. She wanted a life with him. A real life. Their marriage was fake, and their courtship was obscured by them playing pretend. Just like her presence here, it was just an illusion.

Castorice's words last night haunted her, but she'd been correct. It was time to be truthful. From here on, Stelle refused to entertain anything fake. They would be real, or not at all.

Toying with the ring on her finger, she stood and walked back into the room. First thing she noticed was Castorice on the bed, flipped over with her back now toward the balcony.  

“I woke you, didn’t I?” Stelle asked.

Castorice slowly sat up. “No, it’s fine. I'm sorry; I wasn’t trying to listen.”

Stelle shrugged. “Not exactly state secrets going around.” Luckily, she didn’t mention anything about their marriage being fake. But at this point… she wondered if it mattered. The original point of their marriage was protection, but now they knew they could trust the people here, more or less. Would it matter if their marriage secret was revealed now?

“We should get ready to go,” Stelle suggested. “We can eat breakfast on the way. I don’t really want to keep that fickle feline waiting.”

“That would not be a wise idea.” Castorice then looked at her things and frowned. “Oh, we’ll have to take a detour to my house—”

“Don’t worry about it. You can come back to get them when we return.”

“Are you sure? Isn't Dan Heng coming back?”

“I told him you were here. It will be fine.”

“If you’re sure.”

“Totally. Just be sure to give your dromas a good pat on the head and tell it goodbye.”

Castorice chuckled, hugging said plush close to her chest. “It would probably appreciate that.”

Stelle dressed first, letting Castorice collect her things and put them in her bag.

Then, while Castorice dressed, Stelle sent off a text to Dan Heng. If on the off-chance it was to be the last thing she texted him, she wanted to leave no regrets.

Stelle: We’re heading off. Castorice’s things will be here when you get back and the bed will be a mess. Sorry.

Dan Heng: That’s fine. I don’t mind.

Stelle: I love you.

Stelle: And I love being married to you. Even if it’s only pretend.

Dan Heng: Don’t say that like it’s the end.

Stelle hesitated. But… what if it was? She absently thought. It wasn’t a happy thought, but there was a chance…

Dan Heng: Please come back to me.

He was right. She needed to return. She needed to. But she also knew there were no promises in this life.

Stelle: I will.

Stelle: I love you.

Dan Heng: I love you, too.

Okay. She could die with that. Not that she wanted to. Or was going to. Because she needed to keep fighting.

Just a little longer…

She took a breath as she put her phone away, turning to see Castorice waiting.

“Ready?” Castorice asked.

Stelle nodded. She could hang on just a little longer, and then one way or another, this nightmare would all be over. “Ready.”

~~~

The headache came on so fast and hard that Stelle almost collapsed.

Her time was almost up.

But Castorice was flying off to Thanatos. They were so close.

So… close…

“Just hang on!” Mem cried from her side.

It was the last thing Stelle heard before she did fall to her knees. She didn’t have much in terms of processing power, but one horrible, haunting thought ran like a scrolling marquee across her mind.

You are going to die.

Her heart was in shambles. No. She couldn’t die. She just couldn’t. She couldn’t leave Dan Heng. She wanted to marry him for real. She wanted to travel the galaxy with him. She was supposed to spend years by his side. She couldn’t leave him alone, not when he’d lost so much already.

He told her he loved her.

He’d given her a pet name.

He’d protected her and cared for her and cherished her.

This wasn’t how their story was supposed to end.

She felt something wet run down her cheeks as she collapsed to the ground, sprawled flat in the dirt. She couldn’t leave him. She couldn’t leave Dan Heng.

I have to go home to him. I promised.

That last text suddenly wasn’t enough. Their last call wasn’t enough. Their parting, the last time they saw each other, wasn’t enough. Nothing was enough.

She'd been naive to think she'd leave with no regrets. She regretted everything.

Until her head hurt too much to regret any longer.

~~~

“Stelle?”

The stabbing headache slowly faded. Once she felt her breathing even out, Stelle opened her eyes. A bed of flowers greeted her. This was not where she’d fainted. So was she… dead?

Her body felt heavy, her movements sluggish. Castorice knelt before her, hand extended. Thankful for the assist, Stelle took hold, allowing Castorice to pull her to her feet.

“Are you okay now?” Castorice asked.

“Y-yeah,” Stelle stuttered out. Then it clicked in her mind. “Wait, did you…”

Castorice smiled, though it was tinged with sadness. “Allow me to reintroduce myself. I bore the name Castorice walking among the mortal realm, but now I stand before you as Thanatos, the living side of death. Welcome to my realm, where the west wind ends.”

Stelle looked around at the sea of flowers. Yet, she could not appreciate its beauty, not when her heart still ached. “Does this mean I’m… officially dead?”

Castorice shook her head. “No. I shall open the gate of the nether realm and return you to the land of the living.”

That promise settled Stelle’s churning stomach, slowly easing the weight on her shoulders. “So… I can go back home?”

The smile Castorice gave Stelle was reassuring and full of promise. “Yes. I promised to do everything in my power, didn’t I? Consider this a one-time exception for the one life—the only life—I can save. But you must resist the sweet allure of the whispers of death, or they will pull you back here. In return, I ask that you take the coreflame of death with you to complete the flamechase journey.”

She wasn’t dead. She could go home. Her life was hers to live.

Her life was hers to give to Dan Heng.

Stelle's knees were so shaky she could collapse again, this time from relief. A smile stretched across her lips. “That’s a pretty fair exchange for letting me have my second chance. But… I guess that means you’re not coming home with me.”

Sadness touched her expression as Castorice shook her head. “I won’t. But I leave with no regrets.”

Once again, separation. As a trailblazer who'd met so many people, Stelle knew that every hello would eventually result in a goodbye. But the goodbyes she bid here… these were ten times worse knowing they were final. “I’m beginning to really hate this ‘parting of ways’ thing.”

“I… shouldn’t have an opinion.”

“But?”

Castorice heaved a sigh. “I hate it, too.”

“You’re allowed to feel that way, you know.”

“Even though I am the demigod of death?”

“I think that’s what makes you the perfect demigod of death. If you didn’t have mercy and kindness… you’d be no different than the black tide.”

Clearly her words had surprised Castorice, but slowly, her surprise morphed to acceptance. “As always, you never fail to surprise me. I shall hold on to that.”

Stelle grinned. “Well… I should clarify that you’re almost perfect as the demigod of death.”

“Oh?”

Tears started to well in Stelle’s eyes. “Because it means you have to leave and I’m gonna miss you.”

For a moment, she thought Castorice’s eyes turned red, too. “I’m going to miss you, too.” Castorice then reached out to hug Stelle. “Forgive me, but if I may steal one last embrace…”

“Pshhh.” Stelle threw her arms around Castorice, holding her tight. “As if you have to ask.”

“Thank you, Stelle. For everything.”

“No, thank you, Castorice. For everything.”

~~~

Upon leaving the nether realm, Stelle couldn’t stop thinking about how she was going to burst through the doors to her shared room with Dan Heng, run up to him, throw herself into his arms, and hold him tighter than she’d ever held him before.

Instead, she found herself staring at the doors, hesitant to even touch them. She’d promised Castorice she would cherish the relationship she had with Dan Heng. That she’d never take it for granted.

It hurt to acknowledge that she’d been doing just that.

Stelle knew what she wanted, what she needed. This ring on her hand needed to mean more than what it already did, meaning she needed to be truthful with Dan Heng. So why was she hesitating? All she had to do was open the door and ask Dan Heng to marry her for real. It was so simple.

And she was so scared.

He's waiting for you.

With that thought in mind, she forced herself to place her shaking hands on the door. Baby steps, she told herself. Instead of a proposal, she’d say whatever came out of her mouth first. She was good at that. It was one of her many talents.

With a fortifying breath, she shoved open the doors and marched into the room.

And her ability to speak suddenly vanished. So much for her talent.

The creak of the hinges was extra loud in her ears. As was the thump of the doors closing behind her. Dan Heng was on the chaise lounge by the scrolls, book in his hand. His eyes were wide with surprise as he stared at her. “Stelle…”

Emotion hit her like a train. She now knew exactly how much damage Sunday took when Pom-pom had driven the Astral Express into him.

She lifted her hands in an almost shrug, not knowing what to do with them. “I’m alive.” Her voice cracked at the end, her lip quivering too strongly to pronounce those two tiny words clearly. She could feel her face heat from the exertion of trying to keep it together, but her vision was already beginning to swim with tears.

Dan Heng practically threw his book aside as he stood from his seat, striding up to her.

With two steps, she closed the distance between them. She’d never know who threw their arms around the other first. She only knew she shattered when he did. Fisting her hands into his jacket, she clung to him as her knees buckled beneath her. The sobs she’d been withholding clawed out of her throat, choking her in the process as rivers of tears flowed down her cheeks.

Dan Heng tightened his fierce embrace around her, yet even he hadn't the strength to keep them upright. Slowly, they sank to the floor until they were a puddle of entangled limbs.

All the emotions she’d been holding back these last fifteen days for his sake finally made themselves known in the loudest, ugliest way possible. In contrast, Dan Heng's tears slipped free in a much quieter manner. Or maybe he wasn’t all that quiet and she was just loud enough to cover them.

Stelle didn't know how long they stayed like that, Dan Heng slowly rubbing her back and stroking her hair until she settled. By the time she'd let loose the worst of her withheld heartbreak, she'd found herself cradled safely in his lap.

“Welcome back,” he finally said, his own voice breaking at the end.

She sniffed. Absently, she hoped she wasn’t snotting all over Dan Heng’s shoulder, but she really couldn’t bring herself to care at the moment. “I’m back.”

In the moments that followed, Stelle decided that any confession she had intended to say could wait. Not because she didn’t want to say anything. Not because it didn’t need to be said. Not because she didn’t cherish him enough. But rather because right now, she was alive, she was here with Dan Heng, she was home,

And there was nothing more important than that.

~~~

Stelle was struggling to keep on her brave face. Her lips and cheeks were raw from how hard she was biting them in an attempt to ground herself. By her side was Dan Heng, who was holding her hand tightly in his. It was the glue holding her together when all she wanted to do was collapse to pieces. She needed another day or two to fully pull herself back together.

But she didn't have that time, hence she marched to the Vortex with her head held high as she prepared to present Thanatos’ coreflame in Castorice’s place.

“Aglaea!” an all-too-cheery Phainon called out. “We’re back! Come welcome our great hero reborn from the ashes.”

She forced her smile to stretch wider than it should have. While she was happy to be back, the terror of having died wouldn’t let go of its icy grip on her spine. She normally ran hot, courtesy of her stellaron, but currently, she was chilled to the bone.

Aglaea looked them over, her empty eyes ironically sharp. Stelle felt like if anyone was going to notice her inner turmoil, it would be Aglaea. Part of her was terrified that a golden thread would dance its way to her and disintegrate her carefully crafted illusion.

Stay strong, she warned herself. Phainon hadn’t seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary when he’d come to collect them, and Stelle doubted Anaxa cared enough to point out anything strange. Meaning she only had to fool Aglaea and Trinnon. With her luck, Trinnon would be too meek to mention anything and Aglaea too wise to make a comment.

Thankfully, Aglaea didn’t make any remark as she looked them over. “I don’t see Castorice among your number.”

Stelle’s heart squeezed in her chest. She bit her lip, the metallic taste of blood hitting her tongue.

The silence was loud enough to answer.

“It looks like she not only helped me prove my theory,” Anaxa said, “but helped you fulfill your mission as well.”

Stelle hardly recalled how she answered. It was a struggle to keep her voice from wavering. Her emotions were all over the place, and it took everything she had to rein them in. It was a blessing when she had to submit the coreflame, her back to everyone so no one could see her smile slip. Trinnon’s chanting filled the silence, helping take Stelle mind off sad things.

But then an echo of Castorice had to appear and test Stelle’s resolve.

“Onwards, for your path to the future is bright.”

Stelle took a deep breath. That’s right. Even though Castorice’s loss stung, she hadn’t sent Stelle back to the mortal realm to mope. She’d done so for Stelle to live a fulfilling life.

I can do this, Stelle told herself. It was just enough of a steadying echo to temporarily fortify her quaking resolve.

“I suppose it’s my turn,” Anaxa then spoke.

While he shared one final conversation with Phainon, Stelle slipped back to Dan Heng’s side.

“You’re doing great,” he whispered to her.

She slipped her hand back into his and leaned on his shoulder. “Don’t make me break it.”

“Little Gray?”

At Trinnon’s voice, Stelle straightened. “What is it?” she asked, hoping her voice didn’t warble.

“It’s okay,” Trinnon said. “We all miss Cas. You don’t have to pretend for our sakes.”

Stelle felt herself sink a little, releasing the smile she was so tired of forcing. “Am I that obvious?”

“We’re so used to Little Gray being sunny that it's clear when you’re not.”

Well, that was disappointing. “Sorry. I guess… everything that’s happened…”

“You don’t have to explain,” Trinnon kindly assured. “We understand all too well what it means to lose a friend.”

While that wasn’t all that was bothering her, Stelle didn’t feel like elaborating. “Speaking of Castorice, she gave me a message to pass on to you. And Tribbie, but you can pass that on.”

“Oh?”

“She told me to tell you that Trianne was there with her. And that she’s still as tenacious as ever.”

“She is?” Trinnon’s gaze hit the ground, and she curled in on herself, her already small presence shrinking in half.

“I saw her, too,” Stelle confirmed. “I… can confirm she’s still her bright and shining self.”

For a long few seconds, Trinnon wrung her small hands together. Then, she took a deep breath before lifting her head. “Thank you.”

Knowing she would break if she tried to say anything, Stelle knelt instead, reaching forward to hug Trinnon.

And Trinnon returned the favor, clinging tightly. “Thank you for befriending her.”

“Don’t make me cry.”

Trinnon sniffed.

Ugh, dang it. Stelle felt a stray tear slip out the corner of her eye.

They stayed like that for a moment before parting. Both of them ended up wiping their eyes at the same time. The exact mirror of their actions caused mirthless chuckles to escape both of them.

“The journey goes on, right?” Stelle said.

“It does,” Trinnon agreed.

Despite being so afraid to cry, it was like half of her fears escaped with that one little tear. She wasn’t alone. Obviously, she had Dan Heng by her side, a fact she would never cease being thankful for. But she had others, too. That meager comfort strengthened the glue holding her together.

When she looked up, she noticed the others had stopped their conversation. Though, it took her a second to realize that because Dan Heng had kindly positioned himself as a shield for Trinnon and Stelle.

Stelle's heart warmed. He knew what she needed before she even did. She placed a hand on his back, both as thanks and to alert him his guard duties were no longer necessary. “Uh, sorry,” Stelle said.

“Take all the time you need,” Aglaea assured. “You’ve been through an incredibly difficult trial.”

“The titans certainly take pleasure in their tests,” Anaxa remarked. “They won’t relinquish their coreflame to just anyone, but that’s no small wonder. I suppose it is their duty to ensure only the correct Chrysos Heir is capable of taking their place.”

Though it was brief, Phainon’s expression wavered. His attempted trial with Strife proved Anaxa's words.

“Well, I suppose that’s enough of the pleasantries,” Anaxa said. “My time has come to a close. Farewell, everyone.”

There was a round of farewells, mixed in with blessings from Cerces. Absently, Stelle wondered if he actually needed them considering the titan was already housed within his body.

However, she hardly had time to ponder on it. Anaxa had approached the well, ready to submit his coreflame, but instead of simply surrendering it, Stelle watched in horror as he ripped it from his chest. Blue flames licked his body, their light dancing around the Vortex like an eerie omen as his body dissolved in a mix of blue and gold. His last laugh, one arrogant and proud, sent chills up her spine. She doubted that echo would leave her head any time soon. It was a stark reminder that his hourglass had been running out the same as hers.

But unlike her, his time had come to an end.

The painful pinpricks of goosebumps engulfed every inch of her skin, that eerie chill overtaking her entire body. Aeons, that could have been her.

Dan Heng gave her shaking hand a squeeze, a reminder that he was there by her side. That she wasn't alone. That she wasn't dead.

With her other trembling hand, she clutched Dan Heng's jacket sleeve.

There was a wave of silent horror that swept across the room. Aglaea stood tall and proud, but Trianne was cowering at Stelle’s other side, and Phainon’s gaze was locked onto the floor. Only the splash of the coreflame entering the well broke the silence.

“Forever the performer,” Aglaea spoke.

Dan Heng waited a moment for anyone else to make a comment before saying, “We will take our leave. I fear Stelle is still tired from her journey.”

Yes, please, she thought, itching to escape this horrible place. The fact Dan Heng knew, that he had a plan of escape… Stelle swore she fell in love with this man all over again.

“Yes, please get some rest,” Aglaea assured, turning to Stelle. “You’ve had a taxing time.”

“Thank you,” Stelle said.

“Before you go,” Aglaea continued. “I wanted to thank you for what you did for Castorice. She looked so happy last night.”

Ah yes. They’d run into Aglaea during their slumber party activities. Castorice had promised to show Stelle a dance, one she'd learned from the girls in the village she'd grown up in. Castorice had remarked that it was done in a circle around a fire, and Stelle wasn't going to let that detail slip. Hence, Stelle had dragged Castorice out to collect some Living Flames of Georios, only to cross paths with Aglaea in the process. “We had a good time.”

“And it looks like she returned the favor for doing her hair.”

Stelle ran her hands over her twin ponytails, tied off with golden bows. A parting gift from Castorice before she’d sent Stelle back to the mortal realm. Stelle had gotten the ribbons a couple weeks back from the chimeras she’d worked with. They’d been a thank you for her hard work, but with Stelle only just learning of her condition, she hadn’t been in the mood to do anything but kindly thank them for the gift. She’d put the ribbons away, unsure when she’d ever use them. But last night, when she had braided Castorice’s hair, she’d been thankful she had them. The gold had looked striking against her purple hair.

Now, these golden ribbons held a new meaning. Castorice had been beaming as she returned the favor and styled Stelle’s hair. Even though her hair was in a basic style—they hadn’t the time for anything as elaborate as Stelle’s work on Castorice’s hair last night—she didn’t want to remove them. “Yeah. She said I needed to take my things with me.”

“It looks good on you,” Aglaea said. “You’re glowing.”

Her heart squeezed, and her throat tightened. Stelle took a breath to steady herself. “Castorice had a message she wanted me to pass on to you. She told me she wanted to thank you for everything.”

Aglaea’s eyes softened, and in that rare moment, she no longer looked like a golden statue that led the Chrysos heirs. She appeared so very… human. “She’s most welcome for it. It’s been the greatest pleasure knowing her.”

Stelle hoped Castorice knew that. Somehow, someway.

“As a thank you for entertaining her,” Aglaea continued, “I sent someone to clean your room for you. They offered to return Castorice’s things, however, I instructed them to leave them with you. Her dromas plush... it holds very special meaning to her."

“She told me about it,” Stelle replied. “I was thinking about giving it a new owner.”

Aglaea smiled. “I think she would have liked that. There are a few other things of hers I think she would appreciate you have. I will get them to you at the proper time.”

“Uh, about that…”

“Fear not,” Aglaea continued. “Cipher will keep to her deal of eighty percent of Castorice’s things. But, she will only get that eighty once I’ve had a chance to distribute her most precious things to a select few people.”

“So you did hear that.”

Proudly, Aglaea smirked. “I have my golden threads everywhere, particularly when it comes to that particular thief. Those same threads are keeping her at bay from Castorice’s home for now.”

Of course she did. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that Aglaea was on top of things.

“But that will wait for another day. Go rest. You’ve earned it.”

Stelle felt like she could sleep for ages. Her body ached, and she was so weary. All of the tears she’d been holding back for weeks, the ones that finally made an appearance once she’d been stitched back together, had drained any strength she’d had remaining.

But as she turned, she saw Phainon standing off to the side. Right, she had one last message. “Phainon.”

“Yes?”

“Castorice told me to tell you she wishes you the best of luck on your flame chase journey.”

He smiled, but she swore his eyes grew a little glassy. “She’s so sweet, even to the end. I wish I could have bid her off.”

“I’m sure she knows. She respects you a lot.” Maybe not as much as Mydei, but you’re up there, dude.

“I’m honored. It’s been… a privilege to know her. Now, you should go rest. I’m certain traversing the nether realm takes quite a toll on one’s soul.”

It did. And she’d like to never ever do it again.

In silence, Dan Heng led Stelle back to their room. They didn’t need to fill that silence. The way his hand held hers communicated enough.

Only once they were back at their private chambers did Dan Heng speak. “You did well.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “I’m proud of you.”

She heaved a sigh, her entire body feeling so very heavy.

Before she could collapse, his finger curled under her chin, gently tilting it upwards so she would meet his gaze. Yet, his gaze seemed to be focused a little lower. Tenderly, he brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. “We won’t be making any public appearances for a while. So you can take your time and let that heal.”

It started to quiver under his touch, her eyes beginning to burn a bit. How contradictory that his hand in hers was holding her together while his touch was tearing her apart. “Kiss it better?”

His eyes softened just enough to spark her hope. His hands found her hips, pulling her closer. Stelle came willingly, their chests pressing together she leaned against him. Then he lowered his head, indulging her in a soft, lingering touch of his lips.

When Dan Heng regretfully pulled away, it took Stelle a second to find the strength to open her eyes. She wanted time to stop, for this moment to last forever.

But time didn’t work that way, even with her titan’s power. There was only one way to get what she wanted.

“Dan Heng…” His name came to her easily. The rest of the words, not so much. “I… love you so much.”

He smiled. “I love you, too.”

“I…” I want this to last forever. I want to be your wife. I want everything.

His expression softened, and the way he rubbed slow circles on the small of her back stole the words from her mouth. “Do you want anything?” he asked. “It’s a little early in the evening, but I think an early night would be preferable. Is there anything I can get you for dinner?”

His offer made all the words clogged in her throat vanish without a trace. Maybe now wasn’t the time to reach for more. Maybe now was the time to cherish what she already had.

Tomorrow, she decided. Tomorrow, when she wasn’t haggard and exhausted from tears. Time waited for no one, but she’d just escaped the clutches of death. Surely it would wait until she had her wits about her. “I’d like that. But, I’m not all that hungry tonight.”

“Then a smaller portion?”

“I think I’d like a bath first.”

“Then, should I go get something so you can have it when you finish?”

Tempting, but she thought of something she’d rather have. “Join me?”

It wasn’t likely he’d accept her offer. He’d been keen on turning it down ever since Nikador’s trial. Of course, she knew what she’d been requesting, and never had it been wholly innocent. It had been her way of pushing the boundaries of their relationship.

And he likely knew it. That’s probably why he was the one to slow their kisses, to keep the boundaries where they were. Stelle hadn't let it bother her too much; she was happy to move at whatever pace he’d set as long as they could keep moving forward together.

Yet, as he sighed, his smile turned a hint indulgent. Like when she was digging through trash and he was exasperated but he let her because he knew it made her happy.

A hopeful spark ignited in her heart.