Page 147 of To Fight and To Fold

"Aww," Aaryn said, completely delighted and all the more adorable for it. "It was really sweet of her to let you win."

Thea sputtered. Vaelen didn't let her win!

"What do you mean? It was fair and square!" Thea argued, and then continued before Aaryn could further dismantle her memory. "Even if I didn't get mine that night, I got a version of it soon enough after that," Thea grumbled.

"Yes, you did," Aaryn said, and lifted a hand toward her face, brushing a thumb over the notch in her brow. "The first time I saw you with this I thought I'd perish."

Thea was going to pass out. "What do you mean?"

"Because it looks good on you."

Thea had no idea what to do with a compliment. So she blushed, got a little lightheaded from the relocation of so much blood, and cleared her throat.

Aaryn took mercy on her, a smile playing along her lips. Her gaze fell to the pipe as the party resumed, curious and eager. "How do I do this?" she asked.

Thea grinned, leaning forward and snagging the pretty pipe in her hands, along with the burn sticks provided by Maisy.

"These have a flame spell inside them," she said, and picked up a small stick. It was about the length of her pinky finger, no thicker than a blade of grass. "Activating it just requires a bit of friction, a breath of your own."

Thea struck it against a nearby rock and blew on the tip. It popped into a tiny flame, glowing brightly between them. "No magic required from the user." Aaryn gasped, and Thea's cheeks heated as her attention became so pointed.

"Just light the leaves and inhale through the mouthpiece," Thea explained, and held it out to her.

Aaryn shook her head and pushed it back. "Show me first!"

As Thea obeyed, Aaryn’s focus clung to her like honey, making her movements feel sticky and slow.

She held the burning stick to the leaves and inhaled the sweet smoke, showing Aaryn how to tap her finger to the hole to control the air flow. She swore she inhaled a bit of Aaryn, too. The cloud of smoke dissipated into the air.

"See?" Thea asked.

Aaryn nodded and slid her fingers in place of Thea's, their hands brushing as the wooden pipe exchanged ownership. Aaryn's smile was small and knowing. Thea felt hot, as if she were the one being set aflame and pulled into lungs.

She thought about suggesting that they stop adding kindling to the fire. The flames were big enough, weren't they, if Thea could feel them all the way back here?

Thea didn't want Aaryn to feel watched, but she couldn't stop her gaze from latching onto the way the mouthpiece rested on her full bottom lip.

"Gentle inhale," Thea coached. "Short, slow."

Aaryn's eyes flashed up as she followed the direction, inhaling softly. Then she pulled the pipe away, lip sticking to it just slightly, and Thea was—captivated.

She blew the smoke out easily and grinned. "It tastes nice! I don't know what I expected," she said as she handed the pipe back.

Thea took her turn and felt Aaryn’s stare brushing over her cheeks, the pipe resting between her lips, the hand curled around the handle of it. When her hands were free, she determined the jacket had to come off. She was melting.

Aaryn was mid-draw as Thea shrugged the jacket off one arm, and the chill of the night air brushed her bare skin and finally, relief⁠—

Aaryn sputtered on the smoke, eyes wide, and Thea tossed the jacket off before taking the pipe suddenly thrust in her direction.

"Oh, scales—" Aaryn wheezed.

Choking back giggles, Thea winced on her behalf and patted her shoulder. "You okay?"

"Yes," Aaryn bit out, and if Thea wasn't mistaken, her pouty little glare was fixed on Thea's… arms?

"It happens to us all," Thea offered, in case she was embarrassed.

"How long does it take to set in?" Aaryn asked.