Page 85 of A Whisper of Cinders

“Fae looks good on you, Mai. It’s hard not to stare at you.”

“I look different?”

No, no more staring. But of course he would stare at me, being fae doesn’t change that my skin is touched by flames. I look away, staring at my lap, shame burning inside of me.

Fingers slide through my curls, the sensation causing tingles to erupt along my spine. His hand moves toward my cheek and he does the same thing as I did just a couple of minutes ago.

“That came out wrong. What I mean is it almost hurts not to look at you, that is how stunning you are.”

My heart starts to pound, I’m sure he can hear it. Never has a man said words like that to me. And when I look at him, I see he means them as well. It steals all reason out of me.

As if two magnets feel the connection, we move simultaneously towards each other. His hand cups my cheek once more, thumb brushing against my skin and I’m sure if my heart beats any faster, one of my ribs will break.

His thumb moves from my cheek towards my bottom lip, his eyes follow the movement and my mouth falls open a little.

“Is this real?”

Not able to discern my imagination from reality in my current state, I just have to ask. A shy smile lights up his face and his hand guides mine towards his heart. The beat — to my surprise — as erratic as my own. “Does this feel real to you?”

It does, it really, really does. I think I want this, him. No, I know I do. His breath is warm against my lips and the desire I read in his gaze makes my core clench. I can almost feel his lips on mine. He closes his eyes and so do I, waiting for a feather light touch on my —

Nothing.

The air grows colder again and I open my eyes, only to see Aramis sitting straight backed in his chair, doing everything he can to avoid my gaze. Was I daydreaming? The urge to crawl underneath my sheets is making my fingers twitch.

A joyful knock sounds at my door not a second later. Ami enters, carrying a platter loaded with food and different drinks.

“I didn’t know what you wanted, so I brought you a bit of everything.”

I glance at Aramis out of the corner of my eye and he finally looks up, as if sensing my gaze, and winks. Oh. He somehow knew she was coming. It really is getting hot in here.

“Has your fever returned, Mai? You look a little flushed.”

Of course she notices. “Oh, no, it’s probably due to the sun.” That is still hiding behind the clouds. Great.

She looks out the window and back at me. “Right. Well, maybe food might help to clear up the fog that is embedded in your head. Or it will at least fill your empty stomach and since I am starving too, I brought some for myself as well.”

And so we eat in my bed, Aramis still sitting in the chair next to me and I have to restrain myself from looking at him every five seconds. Our fingers meet by accident occasionally, although I’m not sure if it really is by accident. And if Ami notices anything, she doesn’t mention it.

When I’m full, I’m surprised to see how much I’ve actually eaten and that my stomach isn’t protesting. I guess that’s what unlocking magic that has been slumbering underneath your skin for who knows how many years does to a fragile female.

Ami explains where she’s been while being fake dead — home, with her parents — and it leads to an easy conversation about when they were younger and the fact that she really needed to get out of the house. And as I observe them sitting side by side, I can’t believe I didn’t figure it out sooner.

It’s in the way they smile, how their eyes are the same shape.

A yawn escapes me, and it isn’t the first one. As if on cue, a firm knock sounds at the door and Althea enters. “Visiting hour is over. Maily should get some rest, it’s been a long day.”

Although I hate to see them leave, I can’t argue with that. I am tired. It’s an exhaustion I feel deep in my bones. The day went by so fast, I’m surprised to see the sky fading to darkness again

Aramis is the first to rise, understanding the importance of rest as an acolyte. He picks up the tray, his intense gaze meeting mine. If eyes could speak… Oh, his eyes would speak a thousand words his lips cannot tell. “Rest well gorgeous, I’ll see you soon.”

Amira stares at her brother as he leaves the room and looks back at me, eyebrows nearly in her hairline.

“What is going on —” she shuts her mouth. “You know what, it’s none of my business. Unless you think it is, then I shall listen to what you want to share.”

“There isn’t much to say. We had a good talk and yeah, that’s it.”

“Mhm. Sure.”