"You love them, don't you?" Camila asked.
They were at the Kitty Café per Luz' recommendation, and Eda was too keen to terrified Roselle & Doite again that she couldn't say no. However, maybe the pink wallpaper was too much for the third date.
"I don't think I have never not loved Raine," Eda replied, "They were… they are… very important to me."
Camila laughed and she pet the scally cat that had decided her lap was perfect for a nap.
"I mean, you fancy them. E'ta' aficia'o por elle."
It was Eda's turned to laugh because she was a indeed a little breathless for them.
"But it doesn't matter, we already tried to be romantically involved before and I ended up pushing them way."
"So pull them back," Camila said, "Mira, I may not know much about them but that bard ta' por ti chica."
"And would you be okay with that?" Eda asked, "We only just started going out."
Eda didn't know if she would be able to handle two fragile things at once. Two new beginnings, even if one was a continuation of a long past love, and the other an extension of the person she know considered her daughter and something different from it at the same time.
Camila sighed and lean on the white coffee table, waking up the scally cat.
"I mean it would be something new to me, but all of this is new to me. And to be honest I think it would be nice to take off the pressure of me being your only romantic partner; you are the first person I date after Manny, it took me to almost my 50s to realized I like women and I still don't know what that means to me, and I am still fixing up my relationship with Luz- I don't know if I can give you the emotional and physical support you need by myself.
And of all the persons I would like to share you with, Raine's the best."
Eda took a sip of her manticore tea.
"Do you really think they will accept me back?"
"Haven't them already done that?"
-0-
For Raine going back to Eda was like playing their favorite rhapsody in front of the entire Isles. In theory it was supposed to be simple, they love the song, how it fit on their fingers and bow but the external factors, the millions of eyes watching as falcon made them impossible to move.
"You are an idiot, you know that." Darius stated.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Raine turned around, they were laying on their bed beside Darius- it was supposed to be a quite night, just the two of them enjoying each other's company, maybe reading a book.
"The Owl Lady."
Raine was confused because when had they not been an idiot about Eda, even when they were dating and they let her get away with anything and everything. With not telling them about her pain even though it hurt them both.
Raine sighed, "I know. I'm just afraid."
"Of what?"
"That it'll end up like last time. That after all our lovers, all of our experiences apart from one another, we still might had not change enough to be different within a romantic relationship, or in the contrary, that I have change so much so that I may not be good enough for her."
"But you think you are good enough for me, you hurt me Whispers."
Raine shoved Darius, almost making him fall from the bed and turned around.
"It is different, what works for us can be bad for Eda and me."
"You are saved this one, Whispers. Look, you forget that the world is different know, no more coven system, no more conservatorium, no need to cut yourself into pieces for the mold it lends you."
"So you're saying Eda will be more open."
Darius pursed his lips, "As long as you also are."
-0-
Raine had always be the one to make the first move. They were the first to introduce themself, the first to tell her they like him, the first to ask her out, the first to ask for a kiss- even if technically Eda gave it to them first.
Therefore, to not repeat the same mistake, it was Eda that ask Raine if they would like to try to mold their platonic relationship into a romantic one again. She took Owlbert with her the day after Luz went back to the Human World with her mom, and flew to their home.
She landed on the wide balcony that opened to the stars. It wasn't theirs until very recently, Raine had told Eda, an inheritance of their grandparent who teach them how to play the flute.
Raine sat cross-legged in front of the big tree-trunk table looking over some papers. The small smile that crossed their lips indicating they had heard her.
"Hiya, Rainestorm!" Eda said.
"Hello Eda," they looked up, their eyes warm as the sun. "What brings you here? Not another fire-bee infestation caused by my students I hope."
"Nah," Eda said, "I just wanted to talk to you. Talk-talk."
Raine put down the papers. "What about?"
Eda sat down across from them on the table. Got she always hated this part, rejection was bad enough but having to offered herself up for it.
"Us. Like when we were romantically engaged."
Raine started to fidget with their hands. They only did that when they were nervous, and Eda had to convince herself that was not necessarily a bad thing.
"I am just wondering, where we went wrong? Not that I don't know, I push you away of course–"
"And I let you do that," Raine interrupted her, "I let you do it until it was too late."
"I mean, maybe? I do remember some prodding."
"Anyways, I push you away at the Coven's day parade so we're even."
They both laughed at that, wrinkles highlighting showing the time that had passed.
" God , Raine," Eda said, "why did we push each other away if we are in love?"
"I was… I am afraid of hurting you, if you get to close. I may not be a coven-head anymore but you know the saying, politics corrupts."
"The same here. But I don't know we can stay apart, not like how we are, not like you and Darius are."
Eda got up, and went across the table. She sat down and put a hand in Raine's nape.
"I'll do my best not to hurt you," Eda said.
"I wouldn't mind to be burned by the flame of your love, Eda." Raine said, "But what if you get drowned in mine?"
"I trust you to rescue me," Eda said. "No more pushing each other away."
"No more pushing each other away," Raine echoed.
Eda took Raine's lips in hers. They tasted like tree's blood, spicy, rasp, and so delicious, Rained took Eda's lip in their teeth and bite in the soft way of theirs. Their bodies found each other as they took a breath, embracing.