Chapter 18: A Moment of Love
The sun had finally set over the Inferno Dunes, leaving the scorching heat behind, but the aftermath of the battle still lingered in the air. The winds carried the faint scent of burnt sand, and the once-blazing dunes now felt eerily quiet. Evanora and Everett, along with their companions, found a small sheltered cave nestled at the edge of the desert to rest after the intense battle.
Evanora sat on a rock, trying to catch her breath. Her broomstick lay on the ground beside her, half-buried in the sand. For the first time since the chaos began, the exhaustion hit her full force. She rubbed her temples, attempting to focus and calm the jittery feeling in her chest.
Suddenly, she noticed Everett standing a little ways off, looking out at the horizon. His movements seemed stiff, and he winced slightly as he shifted his weight.
“Everett?” she called, her voice filled with concern.
Everett turned his head, forcing a smile.
“Hey, you okay?”
“I think I should be asking you that,” she replied, standing up and walking over to him. “You’re moving like a rusted hinge. What’s going on?”
“I’m fine,” Everett muttered, trying to brush off her concern. But when he moved again, his face twisted in pain.
Evanora narrowed her eyes and placed a hand on his shoulder
“Let me see.”
Everett hesitated, but when he saw the determined look on her face, he sighed.
“It’s really nothing, Evanora. Just… a little singed from the fire elemental. That’s all.”
He turned around, lifting his shirt to reveal his back. Evanora gasped. The skin across his shoulders and upper back was red, raw, and blistered from the burns, the result of being too close to the fire elemental during the battle. The sight of the injury sent a pang of guilt through her.
“Everett… this is not ‘nothing’!” Evanora exclaimed, her voice thick with worry.
“Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
“I didn’t want to worry you,” Everett said quietly, lowering his shirt again.
“You were already dealing with enough.”
Evanora shook her head, biting her lip. “You should have told me. Come on, let’s get you patched up.”
She grabbed his arm gently and guided him over to the small campsite they had set up. Alaric and the other witches were resting nearby, giving them space after the battle. Evanora rummaged through her satchel, pulling out a small vial of healing salve she had received from a kind merchant in the marketplace a few days prior.
“Sit down,” Evanora instructed, her tone firm but caring.
Everett hesitated for a moment, then sat down on a flat rock, wincing as he leaned forward. “You really don’t have to—”
“Shush,” Evanora interrupted, her eyes softening as she knelt beside him. “I do. I’m not letting you walk around like this.”
Carefully, she peeled back his shirt again, revealing the burned skin. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her hands as she opened the vial of salve. The cool, lavender-scented ointment gleamed in the firelight as she gently applied it to the burn.
Everett tensed at first, but the salve’s cooling effect seemed to soothe the pain. “That actually feels... a lot better,” he admitted, his voice low.
Evanora smiled faintly. “Good. Just hold still for a bit.”
For several moments, the only sound was the soft rustling of the wind and the gentle crackling of the fire in the distance. Evanora worked carefully, making sure to cover the burns with just the right amount of salve. Her hands were surprisingly steady, though her heart raced inside her chest.
When she finished, she sat back on her heels and exhaled. “There. That should help the healing. You’ll probably feel much better by tomorrow.”
Everett glanced over his shoulder, meeting her gaze. “Thanks, Evanora. You didn’t have to do that, but... I appreciate it.”
Evanora waved her hand dismissively, though her cheeks flushed slightly. “Don’t mention it. We’re a team, remember?”
“Yeah, a team,” Everett repeated softly, though there was something different in his tone. His eyes lingered on hers for a moment longer, as if he wanted to say more but couldn’t quite find the words.
Evanora looked away, suddenly feeling awkward under his gaze. She stood up quickly, brushing off her knees. “You should rest. I’ll check on the others.”
Before she could take a step, Everett reached out and gently grabbed her wrist. “Wait.”
She paused, looking down at him. “What is it?”
Everett hesitated, his grip softening but not letting go. “I just... I’ve been thinking. Back there, during the battle... when I saw that fire elemental coming for us, I thought for a moment that we might not make it. And it made me realize something.”
Evanora’s heart skipped a beat. “Realize what?”
“That I don’t want to lose you,” Everett said quietly, his eyes filled with sincerity. “I mean, I know we’ve been through a lot of crazy stuff together, and we’ve only known each other for a little while, but... you’ve become important to me, Evanora. More than just as a friend.”
Evanora’s breath caught in her throat. Her mind raced, trying to process his words. She had always admired Everett’s bravery and kindness, even in the most chaotic of moments. And somewhere along the way, between the broomstick crashes, the clumsy spells, and the battles against evil forces, her feelings for him had grown into something more than just friendship.
“I... I don’t want to lose you either,” Evanora admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
For a moment, they stood there in silence, the air between them charged with unspoken emotions. Then, slowly, Everett stood up, still wincing slightly from the burn but managing to stay steady. He took a step closer to her, his hand still gently holding hers.
“Do you think... maybe... we could try this?” Everett asked, his voice filled with uncertainty but also hope. “I mean, us. Being more than just friends.”
Evanora’s heart pounded in her chest. She had never expected this—never expected to feel this way, especially in the middle of such a dangerous adventure. But as she looked into Everett’s eyes, she realized that she wanted it too.
“I think... I’d like that,” she said with a small, nervous smile.
Everett’s face lit up with a grin that was both relieved and joyful. He took another step closer, and before Evanora could react, he leaned down and kissed her softly.
The kiss was tender, awkward, and a little clumsy—just like everything else they had shared together. But in that moment, with the stars twinkling overhead and the distant sounds of their companions resting nearby, it felt perfect.
When they finally pulled away, both of them were smiling, their cheeks flushed and hearts racing.
“Well,” Everett said, scratching the back of his head with his uninjured hand, “that was... unexpected.”
Evanora laughed softly, her nervousness fading.
“Yeah. But not unwelcome.”
Everett chuckled.
“Definitely not.”
They stood there for a moment longer, neither of them wanting to break the comfortable silence that had settled between them. Eventually, though, Evanora sighed and glanced toward the campfire where the others were still resting.
“We should get some sleep,” she said. “Tomorrow’s going to be another long day, and who knows what Monroe has planned next.”
“Right,” Everett agreed, though there was a hint of reluctance in his voice.
“But... thanks again, Evanora. For everything.”
Evanora smiled and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
“Anytime.”
As they walked back to the camp together, the bond between them felt stronger than ever. No matter what dangers lay ahead, they knew they would face them together. And that, for now, was all that mattered.