Page 42 of By the Flames of Her Fury

“It’s not a big deal,” he said when I didn’t respond. “It was inevitable. You’re the only real person in my life, and I definitely don’t want to kiss those guards.”

“Have you ever kissed someone?” I blurted out.

“No. There was this girl I liked, but the epidemic took her entire family.” He was quiet for a moment. “What about you?”

I bit my bottom lip. “Last year, my brother caught one of the stablehand’s and me in a closet. It was just one kiss, but my brother lost his mind.” I smiled at the memory of Nox wringing poor Nikolas’s neck. “I felt bad for him. It was my fault, anyway. I’m the one that pulled him into the closet.”

At that, Swift snorted. “I highly doubt it took much convincing.”

What did that mean? Was he just saying that boys would eagerly kiss any girl in sight, or specifically me? My stomach continued doing ridiculous flips as I toyed with the edge of my raggedy shirt. I needed to change the subject, fast. “You never answered the question, Swift.”

“You’ve asked a lot of questions.”

I rolled my eyes. “What would you be, if you could be anything? Go anywhere?”

“Honestly?” He paused. “I think I’d stay in Drakorum.”

“What? Why?”

“Because even if I wasn’t locked up anymore, I would know other people still are. I’d want to be someone with the power to get them out.” Chains rattled, as if he were shifting around. “I’d be some sort of warrior. A guardian or something.”

Well, Fates. I was trying to steer the conversation away from wanting to kiss him, but that only made me like him more.

“You’re a good person, Swift,” I said, squeezing my hand into a ball to resist the urge to reach for him. “Anyone here would be lucky to have you fighting for them.”

“I would fight for you, Songbird,” he said, quieter than before. “Even in chains, I’d fight for you.”

The words were so unexpected, they made the backs of my eyes sting. “I would, too,” I whispered. I blinked the burning sensation away. The pressure on my chest was too much, so I quickly added, “Maybe I’d get a hook and poke all their eyes out. That’s something a pirate would do.”

His snort dispelled the tension. “Maybe you should start a little closer to home.”

I looked down at my hands. “I’m tired of being close to home.”

“We could still travel,” he said.

A smile crept up my lips. “Oh, we’re a ‘we’ now?”

“You know what I mean.” He cleared his throat. “If we ever get out of here, I’d take you places. We could see the empire. As—as friends.”

Friends. “And do friends often think about each other’s lips?”

He sighed. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”

“Nope,” I said, then settled onto the ground with my arms bent behind my head. “Alright, where are you taking me first?”

“I’ve already told you about the beaches in Iluze, but there’s also this river near my house where Mother liked to pick water lilies and marigolds. Have you ever seen a river?”

“Just in paintings.”

“I’ll take you there in the spring. The water is perfect that time of year. We can fish, and I’ll show you how to steer the boat to get you some practice for life as a pirate,” he teased.

“You know how boats work?”

“Sure. Father was teaching me to take over the fishing business one day. You’re in good hands, Songbird.”

I stared at the ceiling, mesmerized as he talked about his life in Iluze, all the adventures his family went on, all the plans they had made. I couldn’t even imagine half the things he spoke of. My future had been limited to the walls of Scarven’s mansion, and trying to picture myself outside of them seemed impossible.

I didn’t realize he’d gone quiet until he asked, “Am I talking too much?”