Page 37 of Flame and Starlight

is a symbol for a life I took fighting for another male’s stupidity and fragile masculinity. I was young

and hotheaded, and my monster ran wild then. I had no control over it. I took more lives than were

necessary in the bloodshed.” I gave his forearm a quick squeeze, but he was off in his own thoughts,

his shadows more restless now.

“Let’s get some hot chocolate,” I said, trying to pull him back. I could see him try to mentally

shake off the past I had brought back front and center. He smiled and pulled me in the direction of the

hot chocolate.

“Don’t ruin your dinner,” he said as he handed me a steaming cup.

“Whoa,” I groaned, taking a sip. “This is the most amazing thing I have ever tasted in my entire

life.” He smiled down at me, one of the rare smiles that actually reached his grey eyes, making them

crinkle slightly at the sides.

We spent a couple of hours at the markets, Asher buying me way too many things. When we left,

both of his arms were laden with bags that were filled with clothes, jewelry, and too many different

flavors of fudge to count. My own hands were full with more hot chocolate and sugared pecans to

snack on until dinner. When we reached the tree line, we stayed on the forest floor, following the

bridges above us to our own treehouse.

“I honestly don’t know where you put it all,” he said as I shoved another handful of pecans into

my mouth. I looked at him with my eyebrows scrunched together and then down at my body and then

back to him.

“Have you seen me?” I asked, knowing I was not a dainty flower. I was not that tiny blonde from

last night. I had curves and a belly under this dress. His wings flared out from his back so suddenly

that the gust of wind nearly knocked me down. He not so gently nudged me with one. “What?” I asked,

regaining my balance. He rolled his eyes.

“Hold on to your snacks, little duck,” he said and scooped me up into his arms. We were off the

ground without another warning and landing at our front door above us. I opened the door for him and

let him sit down my spoils. I grinned and thanked him again for everything he got me. “You’re welcome. With everything I may have put you through in the last few weeks, you

probably deserve to be spoiled a little bit,” he said, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. I sorted

through the bags and pulled out all the new things I wanted to wear tonight for dinner and started back

down the hallway.

“And Alyssandra?”

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