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"Yeah, he did," Talin agreed. "It's a good thing, Wraythe. Didn't expect my throat to be sore, though."
A soft chuckle came from the foot of the bed, making us all look that way. There, Zeal leaned against the dresser, his arms crossed over his chest, smiling at us. Then he lifted a finger to his lips and tipped his head toward Ela.
"He's still asleep."
"How long have you been there?" Wraythe asked.
"Long enough to watch you tracing the Inspiration lines on Talin's back," Zeal assured him. "I've also tempted the golden one to sleep just a little deeper, because I have a question for you three."
"What?" I asked, not sure how I felt about him toying with Ela like that.
"Do you trust him?" he asked. "Last night, were any of you worried, at any time, that he would be too much? Do you trust him, and along with that, can you still love him like this?"
"Without a doubt," I swore.
"The problem isn't us," Talin added. "It's him. He doesn't trust himself."
"You?" Zeal asked, looking over at Wraythe.
"He's Ela," Wraythe said, as if that explained it. To me, it kinda did, but I wasn't sure if Zeal would feel the same.
But my god smiled, proving that he understood. "Does this work?"
Talin chuckled. "Well, a little more room would be nice, but it works."
"Am I using you?"
That question was softer, Zeal's voice as close to timid as I'd ever heard it. I wanted to say no, but couldn't. Instead, I sat up and rolled onto my knees, crawling down the bed toward him. He stepped closer, meeting me when I stretched up so that I could press a hand to his chest, holding me there on my knees.
"Of course you are," I said, "but that's not a bad thing. It's what we signed up for."
"You are the one who said you weren't asked about this, and I didn't. I saw your spark as a child and claimed it. I tried to give you a good life, and to build what you would need, but I didn't ask, Nari. I took, and..." He paused with an almost imperceptible sigh. "I can feel your strain. The pressure is heavy, and I never imagined that humans carried anything like this, but you do." Then he looked at Wraythe. "And you." His eyes jumped to Talin next. "All of you. I..."
"This means you're learning about humans?" Wraythe asked.
Zeal chuckled once. "I suppose I am." His hand moved to the side of my face. "I worry that the more I care, the more damage I do. I have tried so hard to give you these things, and instead I think I've made a mistake."
"What mistake?" I asked. "Ela?"
"He always had the darkness. I tried to protect it, but once Ciella released it, I knew it was only a matter of time. I wanted this to be easier for him, but it's not..." His eyes jumped over to Wraythe. "Keep him safe?"
"Always," Wraythe promised, "and not just his body."
"You must walk through darkness with him." His thumb swept across my cheek, but he was looking at Wraythe. "Pure, complete, and total darkness. I'm no longer worried about it consuming you, but can you keep it from consuming him?"
"He's doing just fine on his own," Wraythe promised. "His problem isn't his control, Zeal. It's that he's convinced he doesn't deserve this."
"Then tell him he does!" Zeal snapped.
I reached up to clasp his wrist. "Youneed to tell him that. We've tried, but some things feel like platitudes from those who care most. He thinks we accept him because we love him. It's hard to understand that we love him because we accept him, and the difference between those is a bigger one than most realize."
"Grath says that I'm cruel," Zeal mumbled.
I pressed my cheek into his hand. "Only when you have to be. You're also working with a different set of rules than we are, and the four of us get that."
"How did you end up so perfect?" Zeal breathed.
"I have a feeling," Talin said, sitting up, "that it has a lot to do with some god watching over her. How many people have you watched as closely as you watch her? Ever, Zeal?"
