Page 41 of Magic in My Bones

“Okay,” I whispered, the words coming out slowly, unsure but… I was sure of this. “I’m okay.” I looked up at him then, my heart skipping as the next words slipped from my mouth before I could stop them. “You make me feel... sexy.”

My face burned even more, and I ducked my head, a little embarrassed but also proud to have said it.

Dorian’s smile softened, a flicker of pride and tenderness in his eyes, and something deeper that made my chest tighten with the force of it. He kissed me again, but this time it was softer, more affectionate, and I could feel the reassurance in every movement. He wasn’t pushing me, he was just here, with me.

We lingered there for a long moment, just holding each other, our breaths mingling in the quiet. My heart was still racing, my skin tingling from Dorian's touch, but slowly, the urgency faded into something softer, more intimate.

When we finally pulled apart, Dorian's eyes were shining, his smile gentle and a little awed. “You're incredible, you know that?” he murmured, brushing a stray lock of hair from my forehead.

I ducked my head, feeling the blush creeping up my neck again. “Thanks,” I mumbled, but I couldn't stop the grin tugging at my lips.

“Come on,” he said, taking my hand and lacing our fingers together. “Let me walk you back to your room.”

We took our time, strolling through the quiet campus, the cool night air a welcome balm against my heated skin. Dorian kept my hand clasped firmly in his, his thumb brushing over my knuckles every so often, sending little shivers up my arm.

Spirit lights drifted alongside us like curious stars, drawn to our mingled magic. The enchanted jack-o'-lanterns that lined the path shifted color as we passed, their flames turning a soft, dreamy purple. Even the night-blooming flowers seemed to lean toward us, releasing their sweet perfume into the cool autumn air.

Grim had emerged from wherever he'd been hiding during the ball, now perched contentedly on my shoulder. His tiny antennae twitched occasionally, and I swore I could see him weaving small protection spells with his silk, the strands glowing faintly in the darkness.

It felt surreal, walking hand in hand with Dorian, like something out of a dream. I kept sneaking glances at him, marveling at the strong line of his jaw, the way the moonlight caught in his chestnut hair. He caught me looking once, and I quickly glanced away, biting my lip to hide my smile. It was almost enough to let me forget about the mark on my forehead and all this human sacrifice business.

Almost.

As we came onto my floor, I felt a strange mix of elation and reluctance. I didn't want this night to end, didn't want to let go of Dorian's hand or the magic that seemed to shimmer in the air between us. But at the same time, I was acutely aware of the darksmudge on my forehead, the looming questions that still hung over me.

Dorian must have sensed my hesitation because he paused, turning to face me. His eyes searched mine with a flicker of concern. “Hey,” he said softly, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “Are you all right?”

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “Yeah, I just...” I glanced down the hall, then back at Dorian. “Tonight has been... incredible. But I can't stop thinking about, you know. Everything else.”

Dorian's expression softened, and he reached up with his free hand to brush his thumb over the mark on my forehead. The touch sent a shiver down my spine, but it was soothing too, like he was trying to erase the weight of it. “I know. But we'll figure it out, Ren. Together. You're not alone.”

I nodded, leaning into his touch, letting his certainty wash over me. “Thank you, Dorian.”

Dorian smiled that soft, tender smile that made my heart flutter in my chest. “You don't need to thank me, Ren. I'm here because I want to be. Because I care about you.”

We stood there for a moment, just looking at each other, and I felt like I could drown in the warmth of his gaze. It was almost too much, too big for my chest to contain. I was about to say something, although I had no idea what, when Dorian spoke again.

“I know this is all new, and there's a lot going on,” he started. “But I was wondering...” He paused, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of nervousness in his eyes. “Would you like to go on a date with me? A proper one, I mean. In a few days, when things have settled a bit? Just dinner at the cottage with me and Bones. Nothing too involved.”

My heart leapt into my throat, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe. A date. With Dorian. A real, honest-to-god date.

“Yes,” I blurted out, probably a bit too eagerly.

Dorian's face lit up with a grin that made my heart skip a beat. “Wonderful!” He gave my hand one last squeeze before reluctantly letting go. “Wednesday night, then? Shall we say, six o’clock?”

“Definitely,” I said, already counting down the hours.

We lingered there for a moment longer, neither of us quite ready to say goodnight. The air between us felt charged, heavy with possibility and things still unsaid. Dorian's hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing over my lower lip in a way that made my breath catch. Our magic reached for each other instinctively, creating delicate patterns of silver light that danced around us like fireflies.

“I should go,” he murmured, but he made no move to leave. Instead, his eyes dropped to my mouth, and I felt my pulse quicken. “But I find myself rather reluctant to end this evening.”

I leaned into his touch, feeling bold enough to nuzzle slightly against his palm. The sharp intake of his breath made heat pool in my stomach. “Then don't,” I whispered, surprised by my own daring.

He let out a soft sigh. “I don’t want to rush this, Ren. I want us to take our time.”

I nodded slowly, understanding. Warmth spread through my chest at the realization that Dorian cared enough about me to slow down, even though we both clearly wanted more.

He leaned down and pressed a sweet, chaste kiss to my lips. “Sweet dreams, Ren,” he murmured against my mouth.

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