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“But… Zephiro’s mother?”
Zkovia clicks his fangs. “He told you about her?”
I nod.
“That was a very different situation. It was far from a fair fight.”
“Are you telling stories about me without my permission, Zkovia?”
I turn suddenly to see Zephiro’s eyes open.
“I’ll just leave this here,” Zkovia says, gesturing toward the mortar and pestle filled with pink sap. “Try reapplying that after the sun rises and again when it’s highest in the sky.”
“Wait! Where are you going?”
Zkovia smiles at me, leaning liberally on his walking cane.
“I figure you’ll want some time alone,” Zkovia says. “I’m not urgently needed anymore.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
Zkovia nods, ambling slowly out of the dimly lit hut.
“Told you I’d be fine,” Zephiro says, grinning.
I want to slap him playfully, but then I see the wounds that cover his body.
Instead, I lean in and embrace him, careful not to put too much pressure on him.
Our mouths intermingle. I missed his warmth so much.
I realize with some elation that I don’t have to worry about losing him forever and never getting to kiss him again.
I break our kiss, looking Zephiro deep in his black eyes. I swear that looking into them, I can see the whole universe. The flecks of moonlight that enter through the top of the thatch roof look like stars as they hit his eyes.
I can see everything in them.
“You don’t have to be so careful, you know,” Zephiro says. “I’m not going to break. I already told you –”
“Superior healing capabilities, I know,” I say. “It seems like you always overstate those, given how many times I’ve had to nurse you to health.”
“Maybe I’m just playing up my wounds because I like my healer.”
I chuckle, leaning gingerly on his shoulder. I could easily fall asleep like this, even standing up. I feel safe.
“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about,” Zephiro says.
I pull away from him, opening my eyes and fighting drowsiness.
“What is it?”
Zephiro looks at the entrance to the hut, as though making sure nobody is watching.
“Has anybody told you yet?” he asks.
“Told me what?”
I can see his mind turning. He looks like he wants to dismiss the conversation suddenly.
