Page 92 of The Devil and His Sparrow

He chuckled and shook his head. “Your infatuation with that human.”

I dropped my head to fight off my laugh. “You’re one to talk, considering your latest obsession.”

Perseus’s green eyes darkened, and his jaw worked. “That’s different. Mine is a game. It’s not real. Yours is.”

I glanced over his shoulder at Iyla, who laughed at something Gemma said. My chest tightened with a pressure so unfamiliar to me that it rendered me speechless. I wanted to argue with Perseus, but he was right about one thing. As long as the cameras were still here, they could snap plenty of photos to paint the rumors as true. So with great effort, I turned my back on Iyla and joined Sinners Do It Better on the other side of the room—if not for the sake of avoiding more rumors, for the sake of proving Perseus wrong about what was happening to me.

Chapter 29

Iyla

MY CHEEKS WERE SO HOT, I feared touching them would burn my fingertips. But what did I expect when Zagan stared at me like his world started and ended with me? He stood on the opposite side of the room now, but that did little to calm my racing heart. It didn’t help that he looked like seduction in his all black tux with his black hair combed back. Wetness gathered at my core just looking at him.

“Is this lemonade?” Gemma asked Patrice at the drink table.

The woman who wore a dark, matronly dress tonight nodded. “It is. Would you two like some?”

“Yes, please!”

Sienna appeared at Gemma’s side then. Her lime green gown looked gorgeous against her deep brown skin, and for once, she didn’t wear a cap or toboggan over her bald head but an elastic headband with a white flower attached.

“Sienna,” I beamed. “You look like a princess!”

She giggled and looked down at her dress. “Thank you. Daddy said the same thing.” Her gaze found Gemma’s again. “Come dance with me.”

Gemma looked up at me as if to silently ask permission. Smiling, I nodded toward the dance floor. “Go on. I’ll get your lemonade.”

She took Sienna’s hand and left in a flutter of purple silk. The two girls joined other kids and teens who danced to the loud pop music. The party had seemed to invigorate everyone, giving those who usually appeared weary, a boost of energy. Those in wheelchairs laughed and danced with their arms. Teens who were weak held onto a friend or family member, otherwise oblivious to their ailments. Even Gemma, who’d been on the up and up with Zagan’s weekly doses, swayed and bounced gently from foot to foot as she danced with Sienna.

There were still IV poles among the crowd, face masks on certain people, and signs of reasons why everyone was really here, but for tonight, it seemed no one saw those things. How could you when so much life and light poured into the space?

I accepted the lemonades from Patrice and moved to the side, watching my sister dance with a wide smile on her face. A couple months ago, I never thought I’d see her like this. Boisterous. Dancing. Living.

Yet here she was, twirling around and laughing.

My gaze drifted to the corner where Zagan currently smiled down at Marla, who wore her burns proudly tonight. He grabbed her blistered hand and twirled her around, making her face light up in glee. My heart soared into my throat, and I couldn’t fight the budding emotion filling my chest.

He’d done this. He’d brought this warmth into an otherwise dreary place. He’d given a chance at life back to my sister, and I …

“Having fun?”

I turned my head, startled from my thoughts by the sound of Noya’s voice. She wore a pink closed abaya and matching hijab, and she smiled at me.

Catching my breath, I returned the look. “I am. You?”

She nodded and turned to the sea of patients and their families. “It’s nice seeing everyone like this, isn’t it? They deserve to have nights like this when they can. I’m glad you met Zagan and brought him here. Otherwise, this probably wouldn’t have happened.”

At the mention of his name, my eyes inadvertently sought him out. He was now surrounded by the teen girls and boys who took turns dancing with him. That hot, ticklish sensation filled my chest again.

“I’m happy for you,” Noya suddenly admitted.

I looked at her, the confusion clearly painted on my face.

She laughed at my expression. “You’ve been best friends with my sister for a long time. I know you, and I can see how much you’ve changed since he came into your life. You seem … lighter. Happier. You’ve always looked so shut down or like you were afraid of happiness. But you don’t seem scared anymore.”

A sharp pierce joined the already sporadic feelings inside me. I had to blink a few times and take a deep breath to keep from crying right there. My whole life, I’d lived on autopilot, and it just got worse after Dad died. I did as I was told like an obedient, pre-programmed robot. Just like Zagan brought life into this room, he’d brought it to me. Where once being free would’ve scared me, I now embraced it.

Noya was right.

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