Page 57 of The Great and Terrible

“This isn’t life or death. I can learn with a bum hand.”

Anger crackled in his expression, his ferocity a rival to his intensity. “I hate seeing you in pain. So take the serpens-rosa, put me out of my misery, and punch me.”

Oh! His admission stole my good sense. I teetered on the brink of caving and tried one last time to win the argument. “According to your own admission, I’m your boss. My pain shouldn’t matter to you.” There was no way he’d admit he had deep, meaningful feelings for me. Because he didn’t. Right? “Why does this matter so much to you?”

“Because,” he snapped. “Enough questions. I won’t train you while you’re injured. Thatisa matter of life and death.”

“Why?” I insisted.

“Because.” He snarled this time, baring those straight, white teeth. “Take the grain because I’m your guide, I know best, and I won’t take you farther if you refuse.”

“You’re stubborn,” I complained.

“Thank you for noticing. You won’t win this, so stop wasting time.”

“Fine! I’ll do it. But I expect you to replenish my supply, as promised.” I popped the speck into my mouth and swallowed before I could talk myself out of it.

Patch and Leona cheered for his victory.

His anger evaporated, replaced by frothing hunger. Just a flash of it, but a flash was enough to make my pulse race. “That’s my good girl.” Desire tinged his tone.

Tremors rocked me. “Yours?”

He stepped closer, his pupils spilling over his sunset irises. “Mine today, tomorrow, and every day we are together.”

I lost my breath.

“Are you finally gonna kiss?” Patch cackled with humor.

“Kiss, kiss, kiss,” Leona chanted.

Jasher huffed. “I might leave them behind anyway.”

“I might let you,” I grumbled. Our first kiss, if ever it happened, wouldn’t be witnessed by an audience. I—whoa! A wild, effervescent sensation rushed through my veins, and I swayed on my feet. Though Patch’s serpens-rosa had rolled in with subtlety, Jasher’s crashed in with engines roaring at full power. Nothing had ever felt so amazing!

A laugh bubbled from me. “You have the cutest ears,” I told him.

He rolled his lips between his teeth to maybe, possibly prevent a grin. “The lightheadedness will pass in a few minutes.”

“But what if I don’t want it to pass?” I threw my head back and spun. Wait. I wasn’t spinning, the world was. Another laugh escaped. “This is wonderful! You should ask me on a date. I’ll say yes.”

“Is that so?”

“Oh, yes.”

“You should say no,” he said, his tone tragic. “I’m nothing special. One of many.”

How could he even think such a travesty? “You areeverythingspecial.”

He blinked at me, a slow lowering and lifting of his lids.

Hmm. The dizziness was fading fast, my wits returning. Groaned, I pressed a hand to my brow. “Tell me I didn’t compliment your ears.”

“What do you like about them, exactly?” he asked, clasping my wrist and unwrapping my bandage. “Describe them in detail.”

He was trying not to laugh, wasn’t he? “No, I don’t think I will.” I’d rather learn why he thought so poorly of himself.

“That’s too bad.”

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