Now do you believe me?

As seemed to be the norm with him, Ezra was rendered speechless and starstruck the moment she approached him. Syanna still found it precious and adorable, but in this particular moment, it kept her from getting the explanation she was seeking. Once she'd come up and joined him on the fur blanket, she peered up at him and raised a curious brow, studying his stupefied expression in the silvery moonlight. While he was dumbfounded, she took the moment to inspect the rack of antlers growing atop his head, which had now more fully grown in. She still didn't know how they came to be, but she found they gave Ezra a certain je ne sais quoi and made him look even more mature now that he'd become a young adult.

Ezra didn't keep her waiting much longer though. The dire wolf took one of her petite paws into his massive one and held it close, raising another confused expression from the vulpine-like fae. He spoke then, telling her how much he'd missed her when he went to Fenmyre, from all the mundane stuff to the sex. Syanna made a face and snorted, shooting him an exasperated look. He was so incorrigible and singleminded. But despite that, she listened to him while he spoke, clearly from the depths of his giant golden heart while he poured forth his feelings and bore his soul to her. Black-tipped ears flicked to catch his every word, and she gazed up into those bright blue eyes that looked like they were about to burst into tears, he was being so emotionally cathartic right now, mouth slightly agape as she tried to process what he was telling her. Most of it was a long rambling about how much of a dope he was for being impatient and wanting to tell her how he felt right away and how she deserved better and how amazing she was. While Syanna appreciated a good compliment, Ezra was really laying it on thick, and it made her more than a bit suspicious and on guard.

For most of his monologue, Syanna's expression had remained impassive, just taking in what he had to say. Then he hit her with the "I love you" once more, just like he did when they were lying in bed together. Except this time, he hadn't just gotten off and was saying shit in the midst of the throes of orgasm. He had gone through all this trouble to make a romantic atmosphere for her, had clearly put time into thinking about what he wanted to say and then blanked on it the moment he saw her. It amazed and thrilled and terrified her all at the same time. A panic gripped her chest and her breathing turned shallow as she gazed up at Ezra with wide green eyes. She was only vaguely aware of every time he squeezed her paw, lost in the dizzying flurry of thoughts swarming around in her brain. Ezra loved her? He really loved her? Why? Things had been so simple and easy when they were casual between them, but now... he loved her? Instantly, her mind flew back in time to the last brute that had told her he loved her, and how he'd abused her, hurt her, raped her. Love had been synonymous with lying males and pain. Yet here Ezra was, confessing his love for her—and it scared her. She liked Ezra. He'd always been kind to her and patient with her. She didn't think he was lying or would hurt her... but that was the only experience she had with "love".

Several times Syanna opened her mouth to speak, only to say nothing and close it once more. How could she be sure? How could she know he wasn't just saying things or that he wouldn't change and turn on her? She supposed there really was no way of knowing. This would be her leap of faith if she decided to take it. "Ezra, I... I-I don't know what to say." Syanna gave a quiet sigh of disbelief and shook her head. "Do you mean it...? Do you really mean it?" But she had to be sure. She couldn't go half in, but she also didn't know how she could be sure. "I... I want to say it back to you, Ez, but... I'm scared to." She didn't explain further; she didn't need to say why. Syanna had told Ezra about what had happened to her before. He would know why she was afraid of love. "I'm so sorry, I'm just... fucked up inside," she murmured, turning her gaze down and away from Ezra's eyes. She didn't want to see the hurt in his expression. "You shouldn't love me, Ez. You deserve someone who can love you back. Not someone damaged and wasted and broken."

"Syanna & Ezra"