"That's a good point."
All at once, as if sunlight had just burst out from the clouds to shine on her, Maebe's entire expression changed. The bitterness and cold regret was gone, in place of a pleasant, quietly amused smile. "I didn't
say it, did I? Well played. I don't mind semantics games." Without trying, Otto had given her an out, and she took it with both hands and rode it all the way home.
But he was right. Right to be scared. Right to worry that he would blink one day, and she would be gone. There was nothing she could ever do or say, that could have given him any other ideas. And he was smart.
So smart.
"You won't mess it up." She promised him easily, reaching up to brush the back of her hands against his face. "I want you to need me. I want you to need me so bad it hurts. I, uh." She bit her lip and flushed a deep, healthy color. "I have a confession to make. It's not really that surprising."
She bent in, and whispered it in his ear as if it was the most sacred secret in the world.
"I stayed a Moon to keep you both safe."
If that wasn't a testament to permanence, then they were out of luck.
