I Can't Get the Vampire Rogue to Romance Me

Chapter 35 - Hagar's Tale

Hagor didn't speak again until the party returned to the camp. Considering the mixed reception they had received in the village, Evangeline felt much better passing under the arch into their secret grove within the grove. Here at least, they were safe from anyone outside their little party and even more so with the Phoenix nearby. They settled on a broken tree that was always there and tucked their head under a wing to sleep. The spray of feathers from its tail pulsed sparkling light with each breath.

Despite Hagor's declaration that he would tell the whole party his story, the party didn't stick around to find out, but it didn't seem to bother Hagor any. He went over to his sleeping bag, dropping his wand of thorns and placing the leather tunic they found him at the temple next to it. It was as disarmed as a druid got.

Evangeline stood near him, unsure of what to do. After a moment, he looked up, surprised to see her still standing there.

"Do you want to come to my willow tree?" she asked. "It might be more private, you know, to talk."

He blinked twice, then cracked a small smile. "I thank you for your consideration. Go and rest, and I will be by shortly to speak with you after I've collected my thoughts."

Helena did just that, returning to her willow to stow her gear. Her underclothes were sweat-soaked from fighting the fire earlier, and she debated going to Sigismund to ask to borrow her soapstone. But before she could make up her mind, Hagor appeared just outside the branches of her tree.

"May I enter?" he asked politely, his gruff voice all the sweeter for asking.

She smiled. "Yes, of course. Come on in."

He parted the branches of the willow, and Evangeline took a quick breath in at the sight of the twilight framing his muscular, bare arms. He had stripped down to just a threadbare undershirt with no sleeves, though judging by the tattered edges, it had sleeves at one time. The state of his clothing didn't really matter. What she saw was fairly ... delicious just as it was.

Hagor could not be more different than Valerian if he tried. Valerian was still taller than her, but not nearly as tall as Hagor. He had a slender body, and his muscles were lithe. Hagor's were bulky and huge. Valerian's hair was white whereas Hagor's was dark. And even though he felt somber, Hagor gave her a genuine smile instead of one that was rehearsed.

"I apologize for seeing you like this," Hagor started. "I thought I would be able to tell my tale in front of the others, but the tale I wish to tell is not an easy one, and I don't know where to begin. I'm finding I'm rather shy."

"It's okay, I understand," Evangeline said, and she did. "I am usually shy myself."

Hagor chuckled. "I would not call you shy. If anything, you have been vibrant and forthright where my tongue gets tied."

Evangeline could feel her cheeks pinking up. "I don't think we were here to talk about me, but rather to talk about you and that interesting drama that happened in town today."

"Yes, yes. Yes, of course," Hagor said and came to sit on the small log that lived permanently under her tree. He then reached into a pouch at his waist and drew out a wooden medallion. Holding it in his palm, he passed his other hand over it and hummed a word in his throat that Evangeline...

Knowledge Skill: Religion. Fail.

... did not recognize.

It didn't matter because a moment later, light bubbled out of the medallion. A figure emerged from the image on the surface, a woman. She was adorable. Despite there being nothing next to the figure for comparison, she seemed of diminutive stature to Evangeline's eye. Her eyes twinkled mischievously, and a pair of dainty horns branched from her head. Like her statue, she had flowing hair laced with flowers.

"This is the goddess Kish, Lady of Dawn and all creatures that embrace the day." Hagor stared longingly at the image as the figure moved, giggling then waving, only to repeat the sequence again and again.

"My first love," he added wistfully.

Evangeline furrowed her brows. "Wait. You were the lover of a goddess?"

Hagor nodded. "A chosen few among a chosen few. It's not unheard of for gods to take mortal lovers, but who would have ever thought a simple druid like me would be the one she..."

His voice failed him. Evangeline came and sat down beside him.

"You care very deeply for her," she observed.

"And she once cared for me. But those days are gone. I have betrayed her in a way that she can never forgive."

"That seems heartless," Evangeline said, unsure if there was anything better one could say to that. "Do you mind me asking what it was you did?"

Hagor closed his fist over the medallion, collapsing the image. "I am sorry. I thought I was ready to speak of this, but the burden on my heart is too heavy."

"A heart is a complicated thing to heal," Evangeline commented, wondering if that was pre-set dialogue. It sounded like something the game would have her say, but she couldn't remember ever picking that choice before.

Hagor looked down at her with his warm, puppy dog eyes. "You are the kindest soul I've ever met," he said softly.

Evangeline swallowed; her breath caught in her throat. For a brief moment, she thought he was going to kiss her. And she wondered if she would like that.

Then a twig snapped ... not accidentally.

They both looked up to see Valerian leaning against her tree, his arms crossed, his dark eyes narrow even as he smiled wickedly.

Nope. Not accidentally at all.

To be continued...

To read the latest chapter as it comes out join my newsletter at meganmackieauthor.com