Page 25 of Stars in Nova

Her laughter was soft, like the first notes of a song. ‘Nada. It’s you. How you hold yourself like every movement could shatter or save the world.’

His smirk deepened though he tried to mask the flicker of vulnerability her words awakened. ‘Sounds poetic. Are you always this theatrical, or do I evoke it in you?’

Samira dipped her hand back into the water, trailing her fingers through the glow. ‘Oh, I can be dramatic when I want to be. But you—you’ve got an edge to you. Something dangerous, but -.’

She paused, her gaze lingering on him, ‘- weary. Like you’re carrying the whole galaxy and sinking under its load.’

Kisan leaned back, the warm fluid cradling him. ‘You always this observant, or do I bring that out in you?’ he growled.

She flicked her fingers slowly, sending another spiral of glowing water toward him. It brushed his chest and dispersed in a shimmer.

Her wet hair cascaded over her shoulder, a dark, rippling curtain catching the slight glow of the lake.

Kisan’s emerald eyes narrowed. ‘You’re not wrong about the edge,’ he admitted, his voice quieter now, almost reluctant. ‘However, it’s not as poetic as you’re making it sound. Most days, I’m just trying not to fall off it.’

Her smile softened, the teasing moment giving way to something gentler. ‘That’s honest. I like that.’

‘Don’t get used to it,’ he said, though his words had no bite.

Samira straightened, her movements graceful as she floated closer. The scent of salt and something floral and citrus clung to her skin.

She paused, the glow of the lake catching in the curve of her cheek.

Her voice mellowed again, taking on a curious tone. ‘So, what happens if you do fall off?’

Kisan’s jaw tightened, a shadow passing over his face. He glanced away, staring at the rippling surface of the water. ‘I hit bottom and either remain fallen, or I rise.’

Her gaze didn’t waver. ‘You’ve gotten up every time?’

His lips pressed into a line before he gave a slight nod. ‘So far.’

The silence stretched between them for a moment, heavy with unspoken truths.

‘You’re stronger than you think, Kisan,’ Samira said. ‘I sense it. In your presence, in the way you carry yourself. It’s not just kinetic energy. It’s will.’

He gazed at her then, his aqua eyes meeting hers, their intensity softened by something he couldn’t quite name. ‘You talk a lot for someone who rarely speaks her truth.’

She raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. ‘Maybe I don’t need to. I think you see it already.’

He didn’t respond, but something in her gaze stirred him, a quiet challenge he couldn’t ignore. The air between them arced with emotion, charged, their shared space in the pool suddenly much smaller.

‘You’re an interesting woman, Samira,’ he growled, his intonation hoarse.

‘You’re a fascinating man, Kisan,’ she replied, tilting her head, her expression unreadable but not unkind. ‘One I can’t quite figure out.’

‘Sawa,’ he rasped, leaning back again. ‘Let’s keep it that way.’

She laughed, the sound soft and warm, echoing in the cavern. ‘Except you don’t want that. You want someone to know and accept you at your core.’

He huffed. ‘I’d say you were speaking shit, but I’d be wrong. I’m a fan of your artistry. Otherwise, I wouldn’t give you or your musings thefokkin’ time of day.’

‘Twas blunt, crude, yet honest, from his heart.

‘It sounds like you’d be open to more of them,’ she whispered.

He raised a brow. ‘Perhaps.’

She tilted her head.

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