≫ eadrik oneshots

"Thank you, Erik."

Eadlyn's POV
"I'm terrified of my heart." I didn't mean to say those words out loud, but there was something about him that made this room, and this moment, the only place I could ever admit to the truth.

Erik leaned down by my ear and whispered, "There's nothing there to fear." He cleared his throat, then turned back to face our reflections. "Maybe what you need is a little luck. You see this ring?" he asked, holding out his pinkie.

I did. I'd noticed it a dozen times. Why would someone who filed himself down and refused to put on a suit wear a piece of jewelry?

"This was my great-great-grandmother's wedding ring. The weaving design is a traditional Swendish thing. You see it everywhere in Swendway." He slipped off the ring and held it between two fingers. "This has survived everything from wars to famine, even my family's move to Illéa. I'm supposed to give it to the girl I marry. Mom's orders."

I smiled, charmed by his excitement. I wondered if there was someone back home hoping to wear it someday.

"But it seems to have a lot of good luck," he continued. "I think you could use some right now."

He held out the ring to me, but I shook my head. "I can't take that! It's an heirloom."

"Yes, but it's a very fortunate heirloom. It's guided several people to their soul mates. And it's only temporary. Until you get to the end of the Selection, Henri and I leave. Whichever happens first."

Hesitantly, I slid the ring onto my finger, noting how smooth it was.

"Thank you, Erik."

I looked into his blue eyes. It only took one charged second to hear the heart that I'd had so little faith in. It was taking in the piercing stare and the warm scent of his skin...and it was shouting.

Without considering the repercussions or the complications, without knowing if he felt anything similar to what I did, I leaned into him. And I was thrilled to find he wasn't pulling away. We were so close I could feel his breath across my lips.

"Eadlyn, I-" I interrupted him by grabbing his tie and pulling it, so our lips inevitably met. I waited for him to respond, and he did. His hands moved to my waist and I tangled mine into his dark, silky hair. Our lips moved together, and my pulse was ecstatic.

Too soon we had to pull away because we were both out of breath. Our foreheads rested against each other's as we panted heavily, our breath mixing because we were so close.

"I love you," he breathed against my cheek. I moved my hand up to his face and smiled giddily.

"I love you too," I said before wrapping my arms around Erik and hugging him tightly. I didn't care about not listening to my heart anymore.

Because I had never felt so happy in all my life.