Page 133 of To Fight and To Fold

Thea wanted to sputter and deny and maybe even run away a little. But their gazes were round and cute, and even the little pin on Aaryn’s tunic seemed to stare up at her.

Traitor.

She didn't know if she was talking to the pin, or Vaelen, or even to herself.

Thea was the one lying, after all.

They'd only just settled into this comfortable… flirtation. If that was even the word for falling asleep together most nights and waking up snuggled and sharing kisses.

And you're already ruining it.

"She also said we could play around with magic," Aaryn sang happily, practically on her tiptoes.

"Vaelen did not say ‘play,’" Thea pointed out, because she knew Vaelen.

"Of course not," Aaryn agreed. "She said you could let me 'dip my toes in.' Her exact phrasing."

She blinked round eyes up at Thea, in sync with the dragon at her back, hands joined beneath her chin, lips pouting out.

Just a handful of days ago, Thea would have been looking forward to this, tucking herself out of sight with Aaryn on the Dragons’ Nest. In the quiet, amongst the grass and tall trees and softly glowing flowers. Beyond the tree line, the barrier glimmering every so often. Thea felt it like a shiver over her spine.

But now Thea wished to be anywhere but here.

Mini Starspark, pinned to Aaryn's tunic, winked up at her. Along with the life-size version, who was curling up like a tiny rolling bug behind her, ready for a nap, like always.

Aaryn stared up at Thea with glittering eyes and a smile biting down on barely-contained excitement.

"So… magic?" Aaryn prompted, and made grabby hands.

Thea had to close her eyes, lest she perish.

"Magic, sure." Thea nodded, swallowing harshly. "Where do we even start?"

"What's it feel like?" Aaryn asked. "I've heard bits from the Awakened, but mostly about the… awakening part. Not so much just the magic part."

Thea hummed, unsure how to explain it, and lifted her hand. One of the first spells she ever learned slipped from her lips, and she felt the Hoard tighten around her, gather, and manifest in her palm with a sprinkle of chills over her skin, a bit of warmth tucked low and away in secret. Thea explained the sensation with stuttered words and warm cheeks, and at the end, a dull light flickered to life. It glowed pink, for no particular reason.

"It's… easy. Natural, once you get used to it. You kind of have to train yourself to sense the Hoard at first."

Aaryn drew close, eyes wide and full of wonder. She lifted a hand and hovered it over the small orb, pausing just before contact, looking to Thea for permission. "It won't hurt," Thea assured her. "But it'll feel—" The words fell off her tongue too late, unsure what might've even tipped off its edge. Aaryn waved her fingers through the light like she would the tip of a flame. It fluttered, but did not disperse.

Thea watched the sensation of magic dance along Aaryn's skin, goosebumps tickling up her arm and to her spine until she shivered. "Oh," she said softly. "It feels…"

"Good, right?"

"Tingly." Aaryn wet her lips.

The clay dragon's dull eyes glared at Thea judgmentally. She looked away.

"Magic is everywhere," Thea said, searching for distraction. "It's all around us. For you, however, it'll be different."

"What do you mean?"

Thea let the flame in her hand flicker out. "Awakened don't reach out for the Hoard—they reach within, because it's already inside them."

"Is that what I'm... awakening? All of—" She shivered again, and pointed to where the orb had been. "That?"

Thea nodded, and Aaryn's cheeks flushed.