Chapter 260: 260. Mitlon

Milton and Eluvene spent the remainder of the day in bed, talking or making love again and again. He was insatiable for her. If only she knew the kind of power she had over him. But more than that, Milton was happy. He felt alive for the first time in a very long time. For years, he had lost any hope that he would feel anything other than sadness, but Eluvene was like a ray of sunshine, bringing light to his life.

They shared stories about their childhoods and showed each other old scars. Milton learned that she was from the Kingdom of Auxaria, while Eluvene learned that he was scared of toads, which she loved. Of course she did. She loved all strange creatures, from spiders to wyverns. While he disliked spiders with passion, he found it funny that she did not. The only animals she was scared of were geese, but he couldn’t blame her, as he could recall many times when he was chased by geese when he was a child.

When Eluvene was too tired to keep her eyes open, he finally let her rest while he went hunting. It did him good to stretch out his legs and clear his head for a bit. It was dark when he returned to the house. He checked on Eluvene, who was still asleep, before he started cleaning the pheasant he had caught. Once the bird was free of feathers and the insides, he roasted it and baked some potatoes he found in another house. When the food was ready, he put it on a tray and took it to the bedroom. Eluvene was awake from her nap.

“You made food,” she observed.

“It’s only fair after keeping you in bed all day long,” he mused.

Her cheeks turned red. He found it fascinating how she could be shy about something so normal.

She sat on the bed, her back leaned against the pillows, and the movement made her wince.

“Are you sore?” he asked as he put the tray next to her.

Eluvene covered her nakedness with a blanket before she reached for one of the goblets Milton had filled with wine and took a small sip from it. “Just a little bit. It’s been a while since I’ve been with a man.”

“Hmm,” Milton said as he cut the pheasant and offered her one of the legs. “I have some healing plants and can make you tea. It will help with the soreness.”

Eluvene devoured the meat from the leg before she said, “It’s strange seeing you like this.”

Milton arched an eyebrow. “This, how?”

“You stopped pushing me away. It’s almost like you…” She shrugged and reached for more food. “Like you care about me.” She sounded unsure, almost like she was afraid to say those words out loud because he might change his mind and say that he had changed his mind about her, about them. It saddened him to see how much she craved love, but he was scared to hope that he indeed saw her as his entire world.

“I cared about you for a while,” he revealed, “but make no mistake, Eluvene, because what I feel for you is so strong, so powerful, nothing and no one can break us apart.”

Eluvene fell into deep thought. Milton kept offering her the best part of the bird, as it was in his nature to spoil those he loved. They ate in silence, but it didn’t bother Milton. Words weren’t always necessary.

After they ate, Milton set the tray aside. Eluvene was still thinking.

“What troubles you?” he inquired.

Eluvene fidgeted with the blanket, and she asked, “You said that nothing can separate us. But what if I chose Beliar over you? What then?”

A mix of emotions surged inside him. He expected this question from her but he didn’t thought she would ask it so soon.

He kissed her forehead. “What did we establish? That while we are here we are only Milton and Eluvene. I want nothing to with Gods, wars, and Inoss know what else, but since you put your question, I have one for you as well. Are you willing to give us a real chance and fully open your heart to me?”

Eluvene shifted on the bed. “Why can’t you be happy with how things are between us?”

Milton grabbed her chin between who strong fingers an forced her to held his gaze. “Because I’m greedy. Because I want everything with you. I want you to be wife, and live in a quiet place. We might even have a child or two. Two little girls with hair and eyes like yours.”

He never thought he would survive the war but the idea of having a family of his own with Evelune gave him the strength to hope and dream of a future.

Her gaze turned misty. Her Darkness wrapped around her like a shawl. “I’m not the right person for that.”

“We will take things slowly,” he promised.

“Milton—” she started to protest but he cut her short.

“All this time I fought against you, refusing to believe what was right in front of me, but I fight for you now,” he let know her his plans because he would be damned if he would let anyone—anyone—take her away from him. He didn’t care who he had to fight against—men, Elves, Orcs, or Gods—his love was stronger than all of them.

He never thought someone could love so fiercely. The moment he allowed himself to feel, to see, to accept her as his, it was like a torrent swept him off his feet, and flooded him with feelings so strong, so powerful, nothing would make his love waver.

His hand cupped her face. “As for your question—this is my answer. Even if you choose Beliar, you will always be mine. I will follow you to the end of the world, or the Halls of Darkness. Understand that I can’t be without you.” He hit his chest with his palm. “My love for you is eternal.”

Her expression turned sad. “I can’t love you the way you want.”

“I don’t care. All I want is you.” It hurt to know that her feelings weren’t as strong as his, but in time, maybe, she would love him back. He was sure of it. She needed time and he was willing to wait.

“Why do you want me?” Eluvene asked as if she didn’t know.

“Because you are the love of my life.”

Eluvene snorted. She didn’t believe him. He would have to show her then.

“What about Elen?”

Milton narrowed his eyes. “What about her?”

“You loved her so much, you even promised you would never be with another woman.” She wasn’t acusing him of anything, she was stating facts.

“I did,” he agreed, “but you are the only one who made me break that promise. Yes, I loved Elen but now I can see that those feelings pale in comparation with what I feel for you. She was my first love, but you are my last. So, Eluvene, what do you say? Are you willing to give us a fair chance?”

Eluvene hesitate a few moments before she said, “Fight for me.”

It was all that Milton needed to know. He would. “Always,” he promised his lips captured her into a kiss that full of promises and love. “How sore are you?” he asked against her sweet mouth.

Her eyes widened. “You are insatiable.”

“It’s all your fault,” he accused her.

“My fault?”

“For being so beautiful.”

A blush crept along her checks. “I’m not that sore.”

“I don’t want to push you to do something you don’t want,” he gave a way out even when his need for her was all-consuming.

“Who said I don’t you to fuck me?” she asked before she kissed him.

Milton pounced on her like a wild beast.

I was down with a stubborn flu for the past week or so but I am fine now. I am already working on the next update and it should be ready in two days.