Chapter Thirty-Seven
Reason
Mastin lifted his mouth from hers and pressed his forehead to the marks below her hairline. Out on the lake, they were surrounded by the darkness. The broken moon barely threw a handful of light on them. The village was a black shadow in the distance, where they could see lanterns and torches moving about like fireflies.
“Come with us,” he begged softly.
“I can’t,” Paas repeated. Her voice trembled, and her tears were silvery streaks on her face.
“Then I’m staying here with you.”
“No!”
“Why not?”
“I won’t be the reason for your unhappiness.”
He lifted his face to look into her eyes. Even in the pale heavenly glow, he could see his own reflection in their depths. “How could you ever make me unhappy?”
“You will be. In time.”
“You’re not making any sens
