Inhumanly Yours

✧5. The Heart of the Storm✧

The night following their confrontation with the gods felt like a fragile thing, as though it could shatter at any moment. Selene and Leander sat together in the grove, the wind whispering through the trees, carrying with it the scent of earth and salt. The air felt heavy with something unseen, an ominous presence that neither of them could escape.

For the first time in a long while, Leander seemed lost. He stared at the ground, his mind racing with the weight of the gods' threat. He had always thought himself ordinary-unremarkable in comparison to Selene, who was as radiant and powerful as the very moon. But now, he was anything but ordinary. He had drawn the ire of beings that were ancient and unstoppable. And it terrified him.

"Selene..." His voice was hoarse, as though he hadn't spoken in years. "What do we do now? We can't run from them, can we?"

Selene's heart ached at the sound of his doubt. Her eyes, once so full of hope, now seemed clouded with uncertainty. She had always been so sure of herself, of her duty, of her love. But now, standing at the precipice of a future that seemed destined for tragedy, she too was unsure.

"We can't run, no," she whispered, her fingers gripping his hand tightly. "But we don't have to face them alone. There has to be a way, a way for us to survive this. To be together."

Leander nodded, but it was clear he didn't share her certainty. The gods had spoken their verdict, and it seemed inescapable. He could feel it in his bones, the inevitability of the punishment that awaited them both.

But as the night wore on, a new resolve began to take root within him. He would not allow Selene to face this alone. He would fight. For her. For them.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting its pale light over the grove, but it no longer seemed like the soft, comforting presence it once was. Instead, it felt like a distant reminder of all the forces that sought to tear them apart.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by a rustling in the trees. Selene's head snapped up, her eyes widening in recognition. Leander stood, instinctively moving in front of her as if to protect her from whatever might come.

A figure stepped into the clearing-tall and cloaked in shadow, the faintest glow of golden light emanating from their form. The figure was a woman, her long, dark hair flowing like ink, her eyes shimmering like stars.

Selene's breath caught in her throat. "Eos," she breathed, recognizing the goddess of dawn. "What are you doing here?"

Eos smiled softly, her voice as warm as the first rays of morning. "I come not to bring harm, Selene, but to offer aid."

Leander looked from Selene to the goddess, his confusion evident. "Aid? From you? After what the gods just did to us?"

Eos stepped closer, her presence both calming and powerful. "The gods are not all united in their judgment," she said, her voice low. "Not all of us agree with what has transpired here. I... do not wish to see you both destroyed by this love."

Selene's heart leaped in her chest. "Then what can we do? Tell us. We'll do anything."

Eos hesitated, her eyes flickering with the weight of something unspoken. "There is a way," she began, "but it comes at a great cost. A way to sever the bond between you and the gods, to protect you both from the punishment that awaits. But it will not be easy."

Leander frowned. "What is the cost?"

Eos looked at them both, her gaze deep and knowing. "In order to sever your bond with the gods, one of you must give up your immortality. You must become mortal."

Selene felt as though the ground had been ripped from beneath her feet. "What? But I-"

"The only way to free you both from the wrath of the gods is for one of you to forsake what you are," Eos continued, her voice heavy with sorrow. "It is the only way to ensure that neither of you will be caught in their crossfire."

Leander's breath caught in his throat. "But if one of us becomes mortal, we-"

"You will be together," Eos interrupted gently. "No gods, no fate, no divine decree will be able to separate you. But there is a price. For the one who becomes mortal, time will pass differently. You will grow old, and one day, you will die. It is the nature of mortality."

Selene shook her head, her voice trembling. "No. I can't. I can't let you do that, Leander. You deserve more than this. You deserve eternity."

Leander's hand cupped her cheek, his touch tender and full of love. "And so do you, Selene. But if it means we can be together, even for just a short time, I will gladly give up my immortality."

Tears filled Selene's eyes as she clutched his hand, unable to fathom the depth of what he was offering. "I can't ask that of you. I won't."

But Leander smiled softly, his expression unwavering. "You don't have to ask. It's my choice, Selene. I love you. I will do anything to be with you."

Eos stepped forward, her gaze softening. "You must decide, Selene. It is not a choice to take lightly, but the time to act is now."

Selene stood in the silence of the grove, torn between the love she felt for Leander and the life she had lived as a goddess. She had known eternity, had tasted the power of the heavens, but it had never been as real as the love she now held in her heart for this mortal man. In his eyes, she saw a future-a future beyond the gods, beyond fate, beyond the endless cycle of immortality.

She turned to him, her voice filled with emotion. "Leander, are you sure? Are you truly willing to give up everything?"

Leander nodded, his eyes fierce with determination. "I would give it all up for you, Selene. You are my everything."

For the first time, Selene allowed herself to fully embrace what was before her. It wasn't about the gods, it wasn't about immortality-it was about love. And love, no matter the cost, was worth fighting for.

"Then we will do it," Selene said, her voice filled with quiet resolve. "We will be together, no matter the consequences."

Eos nodded, a glimmer of sadness in her eyes. "So be it." With a gesture, the air around them began to shimmer, and the light from her form seemed to envelop them both.

As the light faded, Leander stood beside Selene, no longer a mortal, but something more. He had chosen to embrace the gift of life-no matter how fleeting it might be. And with that choice, the world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the next chapter of their love story to unfold.

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With love,
hadria_lucine01