AARYN
Aaryn didn't answer immediately, and Elreth didn't push, for which he was grateful. They sat together, fingers entwined, and both watched the wolf continue to circle the dining room, her head only rising when she reached a window—whining, her nostrils flaring.
She was desperate to be outside.
Then Aaryn got to his feet and Elreth started to get up too, but he gestured for her to stay. When she looked worried, he shook his head. "Don't worry. I'm not going to push her anymore. I'm just… I just want to say goodbye."
Elreth choked on tears, but she nodded, covering her mouth with her hands. "I'm here, when you need me," she whispered.
He nodded and a pang of fear shot through him. Was he really going to do this?
For a moment it sounded stupid, rash, crazy—and wrong. But now that he could think, now that his mind wasn't screaming at him anymore, he thought he knew what Elreth had been trying to tell him.