Page 132 [i]Okay, first of all, I just want to say [b]thank you[/b] so so much to my amazing readers for your support of me recently. I’m grateful for those of you who stuck around since the beginning, new readers, and even those who just pop in randomly. Thank you for those upvotes, likes, and comments. It takes a lot to publicly voice your positive opinions about me when I’m such a “controversial” figure, and by that I mean strongly disliked lol It means the world to me, so again thank you so much for your support! ...of course my new page had to be fluffy bs...ironic timing. You win this round, keyboard warriors... you win this round... [/i] Book: Queen of Nothing III. The City "I'm glad to hear it's looking well there..." Shadow is sitting in the darkness of her room, alone, for the first time in months. The empty dome feels so much colder without him beside her. "Yes, yes," Variks's tired voice assures her. "You know, you didn't have to call me. I don't want to make you seem... suspicious." Shadow knows Variks isn't telling her everything. Eramis and her friends fought in Twilight Gap. Known for their ruthlessness. She finds it hard to believe they were welcoming to her partner. However, she trusts Variks, and doesn't question their attitude towards him. If he insists the city is coming along well, it must be, though she knows he will leave out his own personal struggles, whatever they may be. "I am alone, no one to hear," Variks burbles. "Eramis knows I have been... "keeping" an awoken friend." And how does she feel about that?, Shadow wonders. "And... I missed the sound of your voice, as well." The honeyed words give Shadow a smile. If his plan was to distract her...it worked. "And I yours..." Variks chatters softly, practically purring. "Did you now?" he teases. The hunter fights against the heat rising into her chest. "You're just terrible!" she huffs, feigning indignance while the eliksni snorts in amusement. Shadow quickly loses her lightheartedness. "I miss you... I don't like being away from you," she confesses quietly, chest tightening. "Worry not," Variks soothes her, his tone softening. "Variks will return soon enough. You will be able to see the city. There are many things I would like to show you." "Really?" she lets out a breathy, tired laugh and then there is silence. Eventually, quietly, he says, "It is very different." "From Riis?" "Yes. But, there are eliksni who have begun to feel at home here... hatchlings, able to feel safe here. You would love them, I am sure." "Oh, yes, I just adore the children." There was little that made the hunter happier than playing with or watching after eliksni children. If what Variks tells her is true, how could she discourage her eliksni friends from joining Eramis? Before asking the only other thing that would stop her from accepting Eramis's proposal, Shadow hesitates. "...Do you think you will be happy here?" "I think there is potential for us to be happy here," the former Kell dodges her question. "Ah, I can see it now... You will love participating in our culture. All the things I can finally show you. Peaceful eliksni. Eliksni who do more than just fighting. We can create that life again." Shadow's heart swells at the passion and awe in his voice. It's easy to imagine his expression, how he talks with his hands when he speaks of the destiny of his people. "That sounds wonderful," she agrees, and goes on, encouraged by him. "Sometimes, I dream of a place we can finally be together in peace. I want to be able to take you out without worrying about being killed. I want to go out at night, get lost and look up at the stars and not feel like we have to go running out to them because our home is right here." Enthralled, enraptured with the idea, she begins to get ahead of herself. "I dream of a place where eliksni and guardians can live amongst eachother, where we can be a family, make a family. I want to—" [i]Fill the city with our children.[/i] Stopping herself in time, Shadow's heart skips frantically. Was that really what she wanted? She clenches a shaking hand. Variks murmurs sympathetically. If he knew what she was about to suggest, he showed no sign of it. "I want you to see the best my people have to offer," he agrees, his voice deepening with emotion. "Not the worst." Overwhelmed, touched, lost for words, Shadow nods even though he can't see her. "You should probably get some sleep." "As should you," he croaks. "Okay.... stay safe." "I will be seeing you very soon, yes?" Shadow almost doesn't answer, but at the last moment, calls out his name. "Variks-" "Hmm?" "...I love you. Rest well."