Page 43 of Raising the Sun

For an age, I’d meant nothing to anyone. The twelfth name scratched at the bottom of a scroll, an insignificant bud on an overgrown family tree. But thanks to this inspiring creature, I’d had a taste of what it felt like to be wanted, to be needed by someone for more than frivolous deeds, and well, I knew my nature. I was greedy, possessive of treasures once they weremine, and letting such a precious rarity slip through my fingers would be unbelievably careless.

I’d stay by my human’s side for as long as he would have me. It would take time and patience on his part, but I’d learn what it was to adore and be adored—truly, and not out of obligation.

Hewas the fulfilment I’d been missing. Of course he was.

Whoever this ‘Magician’ may be, I felt compelled to credit him.

The eve before the Flower Festival, Isaac, my sweet, tender-hearted Isaac, had the idea of showing me his comfort activity—watching a film with various treats and what he’d called a ‘blanket fort.’ Also cuddling, if I were amenable.

He’d said it would be a distraction from Sunday, but even without my powers of perception, I saw right through the excuse.

I believed it was the human ritual known as a ‘date’—a mating display to express interest in another—though he hadn’t used the term explicitly. For whatever reason, he was trying to subdue his affections for me, which was terribly endearing, and foolish considering he wore his emotions on his sleeve and was, therefore, incredibly transparent.

Over the last few days, he’d been not-so-subtly acting more and more peculiar: complimenting me for the littlest achievements, gazing at me when he had no reason to—other than my obvious splendour, of course—and being even clumsier than usual. Just yesterday, he’d stuttered through his ‘good morning’ and, clearly embarrassed, had tried to escape to the bathroom, only to fall out of bed in a tangle of sheets.

There was an indent in my lip from where I’d bitten it too hard to stifle my laughter.

As the objective party, Icouldhave put him out of his misery, told him he had no need to worry as I was flattered by, and even returned, his affections. But I was still a demon, and watching him blunder and sneak was rather entertaining.

And adorable.

“Okay, so… fair warning,” Isaac began as he reclined at the far end of the sofa, nestling himself under the blankets. He hadn’t faltered, but his need to seek approval was telling. “This is mindless guff, but it’s something I don’t have to focus on. Is that alright?” He gazed over at me to gauge my reaction, and once I nodded in acknowledgement, he added, “Don’t you,ahem, want to get into something comfortable? Your dressing gown, maybe?”

As transparent as glass.“Oh, I had thought you’d wish to absorb the film, but if I was mistaken, I can change.”

“No, no, I just want you to be comfy.” He gestured at the TV with a nervous laugh. “It’s a long one.”

“The longer the better for me, petal.” I winked salaciously, satisfied with the answering blush and lap-pillow adjustment I got for my efforts.

“Oh-kay, then.” He fixed his eyes on the screen, but after a moment of shifting restlessly in his seat and flapping at the covers, he peered down at the distance between us with a small frown, his lips thinning before he looked away again. He was clearly discontent, but didn’t want to voice it, so, ever merciful,I shuffled closer, nudging his arm out of the way in order to plaster myself against his side.

Immediately, he stilled, his scent filling with pleasure.

He finally pressed Play.

We managed ten minutes of a grief-stricken human at his typewriter, lamenting his lost love before the inquisition started.

“Do you have movies in your realm?”

“We have the medium, yes,” I said, not lifting my head from his chest. “But it is not something I have ever participated in. I like books.”

“Hold on.” He tipped my head back. “So I’m finally giving you afirst? No way.”

Considering I had never felt this level of protectiveness or contentment, it was safe to say he’d given me many of those. “Yes, my dear, you are.”

The sweetling grinned as if I’d handed him the world, and that alone made discovering that the film included singing slightly more bearable.

Slightly.

There was a plot, there had to be, though it must’ve retreated at the sight of all the gaudy outfits and amateur dramatics. Despite that, one part managed to pique my interest—or rather, Isaac’s reaction to it. The male lover made a grand romantic gesture that I hadn’t really been paying attention to. It was another song that dragged on far longer than necessary. But peering up at my date, I caught his wistfulsmile and teary eyes, and for whatever reason, it made me eager to compete.

I was not one for losing, and a film would not outdo me in matters of flair. I had to invent a ‘grand gesture’ of my own. Something to prove my devotion and loyalty, but without the tacky ensemble.

Hmm, perhaps…

Lacing our fingers together, I nuzzled a soft kiss against his knuckles and used my magic to pause the movie before glancing up at him. “If the judges at this contest of yours don’t recognise you as their clear winner, I’ll poison them for you.” Another kiss, my gaze fierce and unwavering. “I will watch as the life drains from their eyes, as blood spills from their orifices, then lay their empty husks at your feet. I swear it to you.”

The creature was speechless, blinking down at our entwined hands, and I felt victory blooming in my chest.

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