The Forest Keeper

Epilogue: IN WHICH The Flowers Are Most Beautiful

Sunday, April 20th, About a Year and a Half After the Final Battle

Kea walked along the edge of the lake and watched the sun set. She sighed and looked down at her feet, sliding her hands into the pockets of her jacket. It was so quiet, with only a small breeze creating rifts in the air and sending her long red ponytail flicking around at the back of her neck. This was so different from everything that had happened over the past year. It was almost surreal, unnerving, as she walked past the jagged rocks.

"Haven't seen you around here for a while, love."

She looked up to see Leonas sitting among the boulders. He was watching her, a subtle smile playing on his lips. He had combed his hair, and then mussed it with his fingers like she had shown him. He wore his tight black jacket over a navy blue, V-neck muscle shirt.

She grinned and walked toward him. "How many times have I told you that navy doesn't go with black?" she teased.

His smile turned into a smirk as he shrugged. "Enough. It's what I've worn for years. I wore black over navy blue skin the whole time you knew me, Kea. You can't just get up and teach me that it's wrong now." He winked. "Even if I think you're the most wonderful creature I've ever chanced upon meeting." He stood up, pushing himself so he only had to take a few steps to reach her, and he took her hands. "And I mean that," he breathed, his voice dropping to a husky growl.

"Sure you do." She rolled her eyes as he glanced over her face.

"What, you think I'm lying?" he breathed, leaning over to kiss her forehead with human lips. As she laughed and started to pull away, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to his chest. "I love you," he whispered in her ear.

She pressed her hands to the sides of his neck, over the scars where his gills used to be, and rested her head on his right shoulder. "I love you too, Leo."

His arms tightened around her, and then he turned and started walking. He kept one arm around her waist and his free hand in the pocket of his jeans. "So why haven't you come to see me?" he pouted, looking at her with a playful glance. "Have you been too busy for me?"

"No!" she protested.

"Why, then? I've missed you."

She bit her lip and looked away, putting one hand over his. "I guess..." Ashamed, she chewed on the corner of her lips. "I guess I was afraid."

He chuckled and pulled her closer. "Afraid of what?"

She stooped walking and let him walk around her, so he was in front of her facing her head-on. "I was afraid that... well..." She took a breath. "I've been in relationships before, a long time ago, and... and they all turned bad at one point or another. They all went up in flames, so to speak. So... yeah, I was afraid. I was afraid that..." She swallowed, unable to finish.

He turned her head so she met his eyes. "That I would leave you?"

She nodded, closing her eyes and letting her tears fall. She put her hands on his chest, under his jacket. "I guess so."

He laughed aloud, almost letting her go.

She frowned and pushed herself out of his arms. "Why are you laughing, you jerk? This isn't funny!" she snapped. She turned away and folded her arms, fighting tears back.

His laughter faded into unsteady silence. "No. No, it's not. You're right; I'm sorry." He put a hand on her shoulder and walked around her again to look in her eyes. "Kea, do you honestly think that I could ever leave you?"