Zarek took her hand in his and gently pulled her toward the tent flap.
"Come, let's go." he said.
They stepped outside together, heading to the bonfire.
The ground where the show was ongoing was alive despite the eclipse. Some people were dancing on a stage she didn't realise was there before. Children ran between tables.
There was so much life.
Eliora immediately found Maelina, Ava, Freya, and Stefan, Freya's husband. They were all seated together at one of the tables, laughing loudly over something.
She raised her free hand and waved to them eagerly.
Freya saw her first and waved back.
Eliora tried to slip her hand out of Zarek's grip to go over, but his hold only tightened.
She glanced up at him.
He tilted his chin subtly toward an empty table a short distance away.
"There," he said calmly. "We will sit there."
Eliora frowned beneath her veil, even though he couldn't see it.
"I want to sit with them," she pouted.
