Progress.
Eeah to ail. Eeah to ail.
Han dui garl, igath da se se marth …
I edge forward until I’m right beside her head. Perfectly placed to get blasted with flame if she suddenly decides she’s done with my presence. Without a doubt the second stupidest thing I’ve done this dae.
Eeah to ail. Eeah to ail.
Han dui garl, igath dain to ne …
Líri’s cold breaths huff against my knees as I plant them in the snow, my heart thrashing for release.
I’m good.
We’re good.
Tentatively, I raise both hands, exposing my palms to the frosty airemitting from her hide. Despite the low rumble brewing in the back of her throat, I wrap both hands around the large claw struck across her eyes andpull—hoping to shift it.
Urge her to look at me.
Growling like she’s contemplating the benefits of swatting me from her sight, she abides, but scrunches up her face, eyes so squeezed shut there’s onlyonemessage I can possibly derive:
She doesn’t trust me.
Justified. But I don’t need her trust, nor do I need her respect to sympathize with her pain.
I brush my thumbs along her pale lashes—slow. Gentle. “You miss your family, don’t you?”
It’s a quiet certainty that thrums between us. Familiar; like my soul recognizes the ache. Something that feels too heavy to inspect right now.
Líri stops rumbling.
Again, she lifts her claw. Again, I urge it down.
I drag my hand between her eyes, then rub slow circles over her snout. “I know I’ve let you down, and for that there’s no excuse,” I whisper, unsure if she comprehends my words. To counter it, I pour intention into every one, like I’m etching them into stone. “But you’re not alone, Líri …”
Her lids lift, just enough that I’m able to see dark scores beneath them. Like cracking open a door.
A thickness forms in my throat that’s hard to swallow past.
I splay my hands across her cheeks, her gaze seeming to trace the strange thread of silver light tangled around my wrist. “And you aresoloved.”
Even Clode stills, like she’s arched close and listening, breath held, waiting for some sort of response.
Quiet prevails, buffered only by Líri’s huffed breaths and the distant rumble of a brewing storm.
Best not to push it.
Leaning forward, I press a kiss against the span between her slit nostrils, feeling her energy stiffen.
I clear my throat and push up, slide on my ring as I edge around Líri and move toward a small ledge of stone. Something for me to settle under and give Líri the peace she probably needs, given she seemed to take flight without realizing I was still atop her. Like a tick.
Poor thing just wanted some alone time in the snow, resting beneath the moons. Above everything,thatis something I understand.
I’m two steps forward when Líri’s tail coils around me. A tender embrace that’s firm and strong enough to take my weight.
To pull me back.
