Page 81 of These Eternal Bones
Yes.
“It’s okay. I’m okay…” The words are watery, filled to the brim with the lies. “Just needed a haircut.”
She swallows hard, bunching her apron before letting it fall, over and over, wrinkling the fabric. “And a new dress,” she adds.
Her humor is lost on me at the moment, but it makes my lips quirk anyway as I smooth off some of the hair, smearing more paint. “I fear I haven’t done a great job.”
Our eyes meet as she nods. “I will check on you soon.”
What goes unspoken nearly rips a sob from my throat.
I’m here, I’m still here.
She never left me.
How had I been mad at her for even a second?
Elric is on his way to the bathtub as the door to the stairs opens and closes. His tendrils reluctantly release me so he can rid me of my ruined gown.
I clear my throat, steadying my voice before I speak. “You will not hurt her, right?”
He kneels in front of me, picking clumps of hair off my paint smeared legs. “No, I have made enough mess of this life.”
I’m not sure what I’m doing when I grip his face in my hands, pressing my lips to his in a biting kiss. His tongue dances with mine, fighting for more purchase. When I finally break away, new tears are coating my face. “It is not a mess,” I whisper, tracing the line of his high cheekbone. I’m not sure if I’m reassuring him or myself, but the truth of it rings clear, forcing a ragged sound from my lips.
“I am not so far gone, syringa, that I cannot recognize what I have done. You needn’t assuage guilt I have earned.”
I shake my head, dropping to my knees in front of him. As much as I love watching him kneel, it feels wrong with that pained look in his eyes. “It was a beautiful life.”
He chokes back a sound as he gathers me close. “I swear to you, I will earn your forgiveness; I will be worthy of you, Molly.”
“You already have it, and you already are. There is no one more worthy of me than the other half of my soul.”
His eyes are heavy with emotion as he lifts me into the bath, the hot water soaking his ruined shirt. We’re silent for a long while. He washes me, lost to his thoughts and me to mine, only my occasional sniffles and the lapping of water filling the room. The crackle of the fireplace can be heard when he speaks next, the bond hums with fondness, admiration.
“You cut my hair once, in another life.”
I peek over my shoulder at him as he pours water over my back.
“You’d wanted to try.” His laugh was sad, but the sound beautiful, nonetheless. “Just a trim, that was all. You’d confidently showed me how much you’d take off the ends and everything.” His eyebrows shoot up in an over-exaggerated look of exasperation. “I was nearly bald by the time your selkie walked past the room. I’d like to have thought the two of you would never stop laughing.Sore wa saigai deshi ta.” He catches himself, translating. “It was a disaster.”
My eyes widen on him, my teeth digging into my cheek to hide my smile. A genuine smile. It feels like a betrayal to the hurt still lingering in my chest.
“Tien was much more tactful in hiding his amusement but the lot of you were shocked that my veins extended all the way to my head.”
That seems to do it.
A laugh bursts from me, sudden and jarring, but it’s a big one, the type that makes your tummy hurt and tears well in your eyes. He feigns annoyance, but I can feel his happiness through the bond.
“I look far more bizarre without hair, I assure you. It seems your skills have not improved.”
I laugh harder, jostling the water. Only sobering when the cool air meets me as he pulls me free from the tub, wrapping me in a plush, warm towel he’d had resting by the fireplace. Something he’s always done for me; my chest warms even hotter than my skin as my incoherent giggling dies down.
My green eyes meet his dark ones. His sleeves are soaked as he wraps his arms around me, tugging me to his chest.
I don’t mean to ruin the moment, but the question slips through my lips before I can stop it.
It feels important.
