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“And miss the sunrise? Never.”
A shudder shook his chest as he chuckled quietly. This was my usual routine now, waking up before the dawn and climbing to the tallest tower in the east to watch the sun rise from its slumber. It was my favorite part of life now, the simple pleasure of a sunrise in the arms of my lover. I looked forward to falling asleep every night just to awaken to the same routine.
“You get to meet the gods today. I heard they’re eager to meet the huntress who saved the realm. Feeling nervous?” Azriel asked quietly.
I shook my head slightly. “Not at all. Very little makes me nervous these days.”
His tongue filtered a sharp breath through his teeth. “Have you thought about what you will request from them? Evander told us the gods are offering you one fulfilled desire.”
“Well, you won’t let me wish for your wings back, so I’ve been forced to come up with something else.” I turned my head slightly to peer up at his eyes of stardust. The gods would fulfill one wish I had in return for my service to them and humanity, but Azriel refused to let me restore his wings. He said he had accepted his mortal fate, claiming he no longer preferred the role of a watcher, only to be by my side for the rest of our evanescing lives.
He'd adjusted well to the human lifestyle, but I still noticed the regret in his eyes every time a watcher spread their wings and soared into the sky. I ran a wandering hand over his back, feeling the joint already healed over, but the memory of his wings would not be so easily calloused. I’d do anything to give him back what was stolen from him, even if it meant losing him forever to return to the gods’ service. But he wouldn’t let me, and I respected his choice.
“I’m happy, Arya. I mean it. Those wings never gave me the happiness I have with you,” he dropped his chin and rested his forehead against mine. His arms shielded mine from the chill of the night. “What did you come up with instead?”
I returned his smile, and his happiness, knowing it was the first time either of us had truly known the feeling. “I’m going to ask them to return what we lost.”
“That’s quite the loaded wish,” he remarked with a cocked eyebrow.
“Well, what do you expect? I saved the realm. I’m not going to waste my wish on a pony or something material.” My sights set back towards the skyline, where the heavens met the curve of the earth. It was almost time. “A hundred years is a long time to suffer when you’re mortal. I want the legends of the old world to return, to feel the rain on my face, the smell of wildflowers lining the fields, the sound of music and dancing from celebrations. I want the soldiers to have their tongues back, to return their loss of self in the process. And I want the runners to have their life-giving ability restored. Everything humanity lost as a result of the eternal night and Adzehate’s cruelty—I want it back.”
Azriel stirred behind me and considered my request quietly. “I think it’s beautiful, darling. I know they’ll honor your request. It’s too selfless and noble to deny.” His fingers strayed over my lower stomach, fingering the softness under my wool robe. “Or maybe you’re just trying to find a way to have my babies.”
I scoffed at the idea, not because it was ridiculous, but for time first time in my life, I saw it as possible. It was strange, having the choice to pursue our lives and the freedom to choose our own path, our own future. Humanity had a long way to go. We had a grueling, uphill battle to tread if we ever wanted to return to our former glory and never repeat our mistakes again. But we had survived a century-long eternal night—we could survive anything else that came our way.
“We can practice tonight,” I said, throwing a wink in his direction. He replied with a beaming grin that seemed to light up the night with its perfection.
Just as the warmth of his smile stuck my core, a ray of light peeked over the horizon. I turned my attention toward the brilliant glow, hushing any further conversation. Moments later, the sky erupted in colors of every gradient—golds, oranges, reds, and purples, all blended together in a beautiful palette of life. And I sat there, in his arms like I did every morning—as I would every morning for the rest of my life—feeling the sun warm the earth and whisper its promise of a new day.
Together, we watched the break of dawn bring a fresh sunrise and a new beginning, with hope on the horizon and the world at our feet.
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