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“Wait until she steps down and Calix takes her place, or...” He tipped his head, grinning at me. “Elope. Run away with a sweet, beautiful woman who isn’t afraid of anyone. Even when she probably should be.”
We laughed, foreheads bumping together. No question he was talking about me. My death wish had been remarked on more than once.
“Oh, wait.” Alex got up and jogged over to his coat. “I almost forgot. I have something for you.”
I gasped when Alex held out a small, ornate golden box. No bigger than my palm, a tiny lyre carved into the lid.
“For me? What is it?”
“It’s a bellcone,” Alex said proudly. “To replace the one I killed. It lets demigods send messages and talk to each other when they’re far apart.” He was so cute I didn’t correct him.
He displayed his other hand. Another box rested on his palm. “You write a note, put it in your box, and it’ll appear in mine. What do you think?”
“I love it, Alex.” I held mybellconeclose to my chest. “It’s perfect.”
“Now I won’t have to sit in class, bursting with a million things I want to say to you, while I watch you laughing across the room.”
I looked everywhere but his eyes. “What... kind of things do you want to say to me?”
“That I regret being gentlemanly and responsible that night at the inn. I wish I made love to you hard and fast and loud. The entire floor would’ve complained of the noise.”
I exploded with heat. If Alex told me there was steam coming out of my ears, I would not have been surprised.
“But what about demigod babies?” I blurted.
“We’d make beautiful babies.”
“Alex, stop,” I cried, half laughing. “You can’t say stuff like that.”
“You make me want to say all kinds of wild and impossible things.” His eyes were two beaming, intense pools—drawing me in. Drowning me.
He curled a finger under my chin, erasing the scant distance between our lips. “You make me want to break all the rules. Even the good ones. Even the ones I agree with. All of a sudden this grand, amazing world I loved... is so small in comparison to you.”
Alex trained himself to the edge, but it was me breathing so hard I may pass out. No one ever said such beautiful, amazing things to me. Not even the undercover reporters who tried seducing me for a story.
“Alex...” I breathed. “Yes.”
“Yes?” he whispered.
Gazing into his eyes, I nodded. He knew why. We both did.
Our lips connected.
“I will not be forced to witness your silly, juvenile fumblings for a second time.”
My eyes snapped open.
“Enough of this nonsense, and begin the search for the three guarding my prison.”
Alex pulled me close.
“Go on, girl.”
Lips parting, he deepened the kiss—
“Now!”
“No!”
