Page 57 of An Empress of Air & Chaos

Her grandmother had lied to her about who she was—what she was. And just then, as if everything else in the alleyway suddenly vanished, something occurred to her.

If her grandmother and mother were magic wielders, did that mean she was, too?

“Emara!” Cally’s voice screeched down the alley.

Emara looked up.

Her sandy hair was blowing like a golden banner behind her as her best friend ran towards her. Emara quickly noticed that she was flanked by two warriors, dwarfing her in size.

Reaching her, Cally flung her arms around her neck and she returned her embrace. “What the hell Emara, where did you go?” she asked.

Emara’s eyes flickered to Gideon as she stepped back, his gaze not faltering from her face. She flung a quick glance at Torin and his eyes told her that he would not say a word.

“I just needed some air,” she lied. “The shots made me feel a little sick.”

“You never could handle your liquor, Em.” Cally slid her arm around Emara’s shoulder. “I was worried for a second.”

“You don’t need to worry about me,” she dismissed, looking at the two Blacksteels. “Are we going home—I mean back to the tower?” She started walking without an answer.

“Had enough of the big, bad markets, have you?” Gideon joked. She just nodded, cutting the usual intensity of their stares short.

“I don’t know why, I had a great time and I got that beautiful guy’s name and address—he invited me to another party later this week,” Cally announced, speaking louder.

Her eyes flashed to Torin, but he was uninterested, lost in thought as he stalked on ahead.

Maybe his mind was in the same place that Emara’s was?

“How are you feeling now?” Gideon asked, walking beside her.

“I will be fine,” she couldn’t say it quickly enough as she avoided his eye contact for a second time. Her thoughts turned to the gorgeous barmaid who had been leaning into Gideon, laughing. They looked so comfortable together. A little spark in her chest ignited and then died.

For the first time, she was looking forward to being safe in the infirmary room.

“Remember, you are up at sunrise tomorrow,” Gideon’s voice was playful with a hint of authority.

She turned to look at him, her eyebrows pulled closer together. “You wanted to learn how to fight. Fully. Remember?”

“Oh! Yeah," Emara rubbed her head. “I remember.”

“Well, I can categorically tell you I will not be there and will be nursing a potent hangover,” Cally interjected. “Hey, do you think I could get a healer to, you know, heal the hangover?” She raised her eyebrows a few times quickly.

“I don’t think using them for hangovers would be efficient or practical.” Gideon’s tone was light, his attention back on Emara. “You know where to find me if you want to train. I will be there regardless.” He waited for a few seconds before stalking ahead, giving up on trying her for conversation.

Cally slipped her hand into Emara’s. “You should totally let him train you, Em. He’s so into you.”

Emara didn’t question what she had said. At this point, she wasn’t sure if Gideon was into her or if he was into the blonde girl from the bar. But that was the least of her worries.

“I am not learning how to fight for him. I am learning how to fight for me.” She looked forward, her fingers still linked with Cally’s.

“Do you know something? I admire you for that, I do. But sometimes, you need to let someone else in. Especially someone who looks at you the way Gideon looks at you.”

She turned to her best friend. “Cally—”

“I’m serious, I wish someone would look at me like that—and not just as someone they want to sleep with a few times, or date and then get bored,” she concluded.

Emara pulled back, turning Cally to her. “Callyn, men don’t look at you like that because they are afraid to. They are intimidated by your beauty. They are scared that they are not good enough for you. It’s not the other way around. They can’t match your fierceness or your independence. And they couldn’t possibly match your sex drive.” Emara side-eyed Cally and they both burst into laughter. “Besides, it’s not you that’s the problem. You are great. Your taste in men, however…” Emara ran her tongue along her teeth trying not to laugh. “Not so great.”

“My taste in men is not that bad,” Cally laughed whilst talking. Emara shot her an incredulous look and then gestured to Torin who was marching on in front. Cally rolled her eyes, “Okay, maybe it’s not great. I do make a lot of shitty choices. I just like a guy who is emotionally unavailable.” She sighed. “It’s like I want to be with the male version of you.” She bumped her shoulder into Emara’s and laughed.

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