The Oath: CANVAS Print

Scene from chapter 24 of To Drown Among The Stars, on canvas. 

Art by Lin Romanov @rlinarts

20x24 recommended for best ratio.

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Bastion knelt, holding out his hand. Ulla considered him, her expression as grave and thunderous as the waterfall. For one heartbreaking moment, he thought she might turn and walk away. And he would deserve it. 

When she lifted her hand, Bastion bit back a sob.

His fingers closed around hers, the sharp press of her claws against his palm a welcome reminder of what she was capable of and all he had to lose. Bastion bowed his head and pressed her knuckles to his forehead. His lashes were heavy with condensation. More clung to his hair, falling as he inhaled, and streamed down his face, mingling with the tears he couldn’t hold back. 

He passed all the unspoken words through that single point of contact. His admiration. His awe. That she was a pillar of strength and a force to be reckoned with, as beautiful as she was dangerous. Every emotion that was too bright and large to contain, every hope and fear shunted to the furthest corners of his mind. He poured it all out.

And most of all, love. 

So much love that he thought his heart might burst.

She had shown him the meaning of strength, courage, and wisdom. Made him a better man by simply refusing to be anything other than what she was in a world determined to fit her into a box. If he could carry even a fraction of her conviction with him, he would consider himself lucky.

This is my oath to you. I will sharpen your teeth and claws instead of blunt them. I will be your voice only when you ask me to. I will listen to you before all others. Only let me love you the way the sea loves the shore. Gently and ferociously, by turns.