Page 31 of May: Bloom & Bane

“I will always find you, Eden.”

“I hope Droot is okay. I’m sure he’s awfully lonely by himself after spending every moment with you for the past year.”

“Shá.” (Shit) I forgot all about him. I’m definitely going to owe him some snacks when we get back.

“I’ve been meaning to ask,” she murmurs. “Sometimes you say these… words that I don’t understand. I don’t know if it’s something I’ve forgotten… or something I’ve never known.”

I think about it for a moment.

“I don’t know where they come from,” I answer honestly. “They just… arrive when I reach for them.”

“You said Í amar thé after we kissed for the first time.”

I feel like I’ve swallowed a frog.

“I did.”

“What does it mean?”

I rub the back of my neck. My heart is pounding loud enough for the whole meadow to hear. “Are you sure you want to start with that one?”

“I am.” She nods. “It’s the one that made my belly do a little flip-flop when you said it.”

“It means… that my soul chose you before I did.”

“Is that what it actually means?”

“There isn’t a perfect translation.”

“But if there was?”

“I love you.”

She stops walking.

“Eden?”

She stares at me, her wide green eyes looking straight into my sírael.

“I know you’ve only been awake for less than a day,” I rasp. “It’s too soon⁠—”

“Í amar thé,” she whispers.

She steps closer.

“What does ním mean?” she whispers.

I swallow.

“It means…”

She stops in front of me, and I continue staring straight over her. I have never felt as lucky to be a giant as I do now.

“Are you… embarrassed, Sage?”

“Me?”

“You.”