Chapter 136 The night before

Chapter 136 The night before
Their last night in Ashgrave arrived too quickly.
Kaela stood at the window of their small apartment, watching the moon rise over the memorial towers.
The names carved into white stone glowed silver in the pale light. Kieran. Sophia. Vanya. Anton. All the dead, keeping silent vigil over the living.
Tomorrow they would be gone.
Three months on the road, minimum.
Then years of work in provinces she had never seen, among people she had never met.
The door opened behind her. Dagon entered carrying two cups of tea, a habit he had picked up from Maren over the past two years.
He set one cup beside her and wrapped his arms around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder.
"You should be sleeping," he murmured against her hair.
"So should you."
"I tried.
The bed felt wrong without you in it.
"She turned in his arms, facing him.
The moonlight caught the planes of his face, highlighting features that had become as familiar to her as her own reflection.
The strong jaw.
The grey eyes that saw too much.
The small scar above his left eyebrow from a training accident years ago.
"I keep thinking about everything we're leaving behind," she admitted.
"We're not leaving it behind. We're carrying it with us." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"The people we love. The memories we've made. The promises we've kept."
"When did you become so wise?"
"Around the time I fell in love with a stubborn girl from the slums who refused to die no matter how many people tried to kill her."She laughed despite herself.
"That's a terrible love story."
"It's our love story. I happen to think it's perfect."He kissed her then, soft and slow, taking his time.
They had all night, after all. All night before everything changed.
The kiss deepened. Kaela's fingers found the buttons of his shirt, undoing them one by one.
His hands slid beneath her tunic, tracing patterns on her skin that made her shiver.
"Kaela."
Her name on his lips was a question and an answer all at once.
"Yes," she whispered.
"Always yes."They moved toward the bed, leaving clothes scattered in their wake. The moonlight painted their bodies silver and shadow as they came together, two people who had survived the unsurvivable and found each other on the other side.
Dagon was gentle at first, reverent, treating her like something precious. But Kaela had never wanted to be handled with care.
She pulled him closer, deeper, demanding everything he had to give.
He gave it willingly.
Afterward, they lay tangled together, sweat cooling on their skin, hearts gradually slowing to normal rhythm.
"I love you," Dagon said into the darkness.
"Have I mentioned that recently?"
"Once or twice." She traced idle patterns on his chest.
"I love you too. Even when you snore."
"I don't snore."
"You absolutely snore. Like a bear with a head cold."
He laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest beneath her ear. "And you steal all the blankets. I suppose we're even."
They lay in comfortable silence for a while, listening to the sounds of the city settling into sleep around them.
"Do you think we'll have children someday?"
Kaela asked suddenly.
Dagon was quiet for a moment. "Do you want children?
""I don't know. Maybe. I never thought I'd live long enough to consider it."
She propped herself up on one elbow, looking down at him.
"But when I imagine the future now, sometimes I see them. Little versions of us running around causing trouble."
"Gods help the world if we have children." But his smile was soft. Hopeful.
"I think I'd like that. Someday. When we're ready."
"When we're ready," she agreed.
He pulled her back down against his chest, his arms wrapping around her protectively.
"Sleep now. Tomorrow is going to be long."She closed her eyes, letting his heartbeat lull her toward unconsciousness. But one more thought surfaced before sleep claimed her.
"Dagon?"
"Mm?"
"Thank you. For choosing me. For staying.""There was never any other choice."
His arms tightened around her. "There was only ever you."
Morning came too soon.
They dressed in traveling clothes, packed the last of their belongings, and descended to the street where their friends waited to see them off.
Elena stood at the front of the small crowd, her eyes bright with unshed tears. She pulled Dagon into a fierce embrace, then did the same to Kaela.
"Take care of each other," she said, her voice thick. "And write. Every week. I want to know everything."
"Every week," Kaela promised.
"I'll send so many letters you'll get sick of reading them."
"Never." Elena kissed her forehead.
"Be safe. Both of you.
"Louise and Taren came next. Louise clung to Kaela for a long moment, neither of them willing to be the first to let go."This isn't goodbye," Louise said firmly."No. Just see you later."
"Much later, apparently." Louise pulled back, wiping her eyes.
"Don't do anything stupid out there."
"When have I ever done anything stupid?"
"Do you want an alphabetical list or chronological?"
They laughed through their tears, holding hands until the last possible moment.
Brin gave Kaela one of his rare hugs, pressing a small book into her hands. "For the journey. It's poetry. Sophia's favorite."
The gesture nearly broke her. "Thank you, Brin. For everything."
"Thank me by coming home safely."
Selene was last. The girl who had once been her enemy embraced her like a sister."
You changed my life," Selene whispered. "I was cruel and selfish and you gave me a chance to be something better.""
You changed yourself. I just provided motivation."
"Stubborn to the end." Selene smiled through her tears. "Don't ever change."
Maren stood apart from the others, watching with the quiet patience of someone who had said many goodbyes in her long life.
Kaela went to her last.
"No tears from you?" Kaela asked."I've cried enough tears for several lifetimes."
Maren took her hands. "Besides, this isn't sad. This is exactly what should happen. Young people going out to change the world while old women stay home and tend their gardens."
"You're not that old.""I'm ancient. But I plan to stay ancient for many more years."
Maren squeezed her fingers. "Long enough to meet your children someday. Don't make me wait too long."Kaela laughed. "I'll do my best."
The carriage waited at the end of the street. Dagon helped her climb inside, then settled beside her.
Through the window, she could see their friends waving, growing smaller as the horses began to move.
She waved back until they disappeared from view.
Then she leaned against Dagon's shoulder and watched the city of her transformation fade into the distance.
Ahead lay unknown roads.
Unknown challenges.
Unknown everything.But beside her sat the man she loved.
And behind her, carved in stone and memory, waited the names of everyone who had brought her to this moment.
She would carry them all with her.Always.