Elemental: Chapter Twelve, Part 3

My gaze swung to meet his; the sadness was still present, but it had changed; there was something else there now as well. “Why have you been waiting?” I asked, needing to hear the words outright, not just locked inside riddles to be interpreted however. It had to be definite. My heart didn’t want to be fooled into thinking one thing when it was something completely different.

“Come inside;” Drei released me from his embrace, taking my hand and leading me out of the cold air.

Inside what I assumed would be his lodgings, he took our coats and hung them on a couple of hooks just inside the door.

“Sit, please.” He motioned toward a soft, worn leather couch. He piled logs in the fireplace, lighting them. “I have been here before,” he said unnecessarily—it seemed weird he was pointing that out when usually he would have known someone had told me. Drei settled next to me, cautiously, his eyes enraptured by the growing, dancing flames.

“I have known Gloria for a long time,” he began thoughtfully. “The second time I ever spoke with her, she told me not to fret about love. She insisted it was rather trivial in my healing process, and when I was ready, it would return to me.” He laughed at himself, shaking his head, and I wanted to kiss him, to always remember how at peace he looked when he laughed. It seemed like forever since I had seen him laugh—maybe longer—and I wished he would more often. “Gloria is funny in that she never reveals too much, but enough to drive you mad.”

“Sounds like someone I know,” I teased, coaxed into smiling. When he furrowed his brow, puzzled, I leveled my eyes at him. “Don’t even pretend.”

“I apologize for mystifying you.”

“No you aren’t,” I was shocked to find myself saying, knowing instantly it was true. “You almost enjoy it. You and Nick both did, and Mitchell—” Thinking about his involvement in the confusion made my muscles spasm for a millisecond. “Don’t even get me started on Mitchell. He really enjoys it.”

Drei laughed, erasing my irritation. “It will make sense in due time.”

“That’s what everyone keeps saying;” I sighed. “I just don’t know if 'in due time' or 'eventually' are going to come soon enough.”

“They will,” Drei said, serious again, that unfamiliar emotion in his eyes as his hand tucked my hair behind my ear. “Everything is clear with time.”

“What are we?” I inquired again, the question more insistent this time.

I expected him to look away, but he didn’t. He took a moment to find the words, sighing before he said anything. “I do not know what the potential of us is, or could be,” Drei admitted, his gaze still serious. In the seconds before his next words, I realized the emotion in his eyes was love—a completely different kind from what Nick and I had. “All I know is that I love you.”

Any hesitation I had formerly possessed vanished with his words, with that sweet confirmation of a feeling requited. My lips found his, and I felt the shock of the gesture settle and dissipate as he was swept away with me. The sleeping world felt left behind; it felt like we were soaring somewhere on clouds, alone together. His strong arms wrapped around me as we parted, his flowery scent enveloping me in my ecstasy. I was glowing, my cheeks hot to the touch; I was pleased to see Drei equally affected.

“I have loved you since I saw you,” he whispered, his voice sweeter and lighter than I ever remembered it. “I have not had the courage to tell you.” Our foreheads were barely touching, and I couldn’t believe it had taken us so long to let go of the fear and hurt. Not when this was the alternative.

“I love you,” I said, my heart amazingly light now that it was stated aloud.

Though I wanted to kiss him again, I settled next to him, my head resting on his chest, his arm draped over me. The fire before us still danced, almost more joyous than before.

“We must be wary, Abriel,” Drei murmured. I knew what he was going to say already: if we didn’t watch our step, if we became too close or too open, he would be barred from me. Then all of this would have been meaningless.

No, not meaningless. It had a meaning; it all had a purpose. If I lost him, this wouldn’t have been worthless; it had affirmed our connection, our love. No one would ever be able to keep us apart.

“I’m not afraid,” I whispered, truly meaning it.