Page 7 of The Last War We Ever Fought

“No, I meant morons. Take away the psychopathy and lack of empathy, and you’re just a moron.”

“Perhaps I am.”

“Since it is a moment of realisation, maybe you can reflect on other things.”

“Such as?”

“The reasons for the moronity.”

“I’ll try.”

Rowan rolled her eyes and stepped to leave, but Elijah moved in front of her again. “Yes?”

He blinked. “Nothing else?”

She blinked back. “When I’ll think of something else, I will make it known.”

“Please do.”

Utterly confused, Rowan took one slow step back and then another, until she was at a distance where she could make a run for it. She was itching to make a run for it, but she forced her burning feet to calmly and inconspicuously take gentle unfearful steps away from him.

“I’m not going to jump on you, Rowan. You’ll trip walking backwards all the way to the camp.”

“Why did you show yourself in this realm?”

“Hard to hate such a handsome face, isn’t it?” He cleared his throat. “Don’t answer that. I’m sure whatever you will say will hurt my feelings.”

“Strange how a simple mirror hasn’t done that already.”

He closed his eyes and smiled. “Whew, that stung.”

“Why won’t you answer me?”

“I want you to keep talking to me. Everyone else will either bow to lick my boots or stare at me until I get a headache. Not you. I like how you talk to me.”

She had the sudden urge to pick up a rock and bash his handsome head in. Instead, she spun to leave, halting only when he called to her. “Fine, fine.” He pointed for her to sit on a tree log. “It’s a long story.”

“I’m sure you can shorten it.”

“I don’t really want to.”

Crossing her arms over her chest, she remained standing while he sat by a boulder. “I was hoping someone I know would have made it out of this war,” he said, making Rowan frown impossibly hard. “She hasn’t.”

“A human?”

He nodded. “A human.”

“You’d told Daniel something else.”

“Is he your lover?”

Rowan choked and sputtered a laugh.

That seemed an enough answer to him because he nodded, smiled, too. “I told him the truth. I also came to witness the last battle before the end of the war in this realm.”

“Why?”

“Because it is something that has never happened before. Wars never come to an end.”