She feels the weight of him behind her, the glow of his smile against her ear, how like a bulwark he is between her and the world that wants her attention tonight. This balcony is the most private of places, in spite of being so open. Just the three of them and the sky and stars.

I don't know what happens after this, he said.

Neither do I, she responded, but it was only half of what she was going to say. There was supposed to be a because at the end of it.

Telling him obviously has to happen. Not telling him won't make it go away. At some point, he'll figure it out on his own. This is the perfect moment. Corypheus is dead and the future looks okay for once. Aside from being tied to a goddess who has expressed no interest in cashing in on her debt, and in fact has expressed disinterest in it.

"Cullen," she begins, turning in his arms, her hands automatically settling on the soft feathers of his coat and combing through, idly stroking. Her voice catches in her chest as she peers up at him, all ice-blue eyes, like a wild doe caught in lantern-light.

"There's...something you need to know."