The intruding rays of the rising Minor sun flickered through the ineffective filter of the surrounding tree branches and danced across his eyelids, awaking him from his slumber. He blinked and rolled onto his side. Riva lay next to him. His heart immediately felt stabbed by a shard of light, more searing than any sun. He stared down at their hands, still joined together. His grip tightened reflexively.
He slowly raised his head to find her watching him. “There’s got to be a way, some way that we can stay together,” he said.
She touched his face. “You’ve given me a lifetime of happiness in one night, Devlin. It’s more than I ever imagined possible, but we have to let each other go.”
“I don’t just want a night with you!” He stared fiercely at her. “I want forever, Riva,” he whispered.
Ri
