Page 102 of Feathers of Ash and Hope

“Oh, you’ll understand as soon as you hear where I found her, but first…” I grab a set of training clothes out of my closet and thrust them at Ara. “Change.”

“I’m fine,” Ara protests.

“We are not having that conversation again,” I tell her. “Once you are dry and your lips are no longer blue, we can talk about fine.”

“Alright.” She takes the clothes. “Turn around, both of you.” We do, but I realize quickly that the dark window works as a mirror.

“Close your eyes,” I hiss at Jared, who does as I say but shakes with silent laughter. I concentrate on my feet while trying to ignore the fact that Ara is undressing behind me and that I only need to look up to see her reflection.

Fuck. I’ve never felt so tempted in my life.

“All done,”she announces finally, and I release a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

When I turn, I find Ara sitting cross-legged on my bed, combing through her hair with her fingers. My shirt is too big for her, the soft fabric flowing over her curves and slipping down over one shoulder. I swallow.

She rolled up the sleeves a few times, and black lines peek out from under the right one. I reach for her hand, and the sleeve falls back when I lift it, revealing a pattern of black lines on the inside of her arm like vines winding around a line. That has not been there before.

“What is that?” I snap.

“A promise,” she answers in a duh voice.

“I can see that. Whom did you give this promise to?” I demand to know.

What has she promised that is so binding?

Her gaze flies to my face, and she opens her mouth like she’s going to answer, then her eyes fly to Jared, and she clamps her mouth shut, shaking her head.

“That is none of your business,” she finally says, freeing her hand and smoothing the sleeve back down.

I keep staring at it. She didn’t have it when I healed her, but during training? I would have noticed it, wouldn’t I?

“I’m tired.” Ara gets up and heads to the door. “Good night.” She steps through the door, her expression shuttered when she meets my gaze, and I let her go. I won’t get any answers tonight.

The door closes softly behind her, and Jared steps up to me.

“You are so fucked, man,” he declares, slapping me on the back.I just nod because there is no use in denying it.

Even my reasoning of her being safer if I stayed away starts to waver after tonight. My life sure as hell was quieter before I met her.

Would it really be so bad to give in to my attraction?

The flightback is pure agony. I’m around Ara all the time but never manage to catch her alone. By the end of the second day, I start to suspect she’s avoiding me on purpose. She even chose to share one of the double rooms with Zaza, so catching her alone after everyone went to bed is out, too.

The only good thing so far is that we have seen very little action. Extraordinarily so. There was movement along the mist once, but they retreated as soon as we came closer to investigate.

One more day, and we will be back at the academy. I have no doubt it will be even harder to catch her alone than whenshe easily avoids me in the comparatively cramped space of the outposts.

I could order her to talk to me, but that feels wrong.

When I return from my shower, I glimpse her slipping outside and seize the chance.

She sits at the edge of the fortification wall, her legs dangling over it, seemingly lost in thought. When she notices me, she’s instantly alert and ready to bolt.

“Please stay,” I say.

She shakes her head, her eyes wide. “I can’t,” she whispers. “I can’t answer your questions.”

“I’m not gonna lie. I’m going to ask questions.” I give her a rueful smile. “But would you stay if I promise not to ask them tonight?”

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