Page 75 of Façade

She blushed, which only made her more appealing. “You seem out of sorts.”

If that was what I was, I rather liked this state. On impulse, I fumbled in search of her hand, a feat made more difficult when each movement felt disconnected from my body. She relinquished it, her brow furrowed as she stared first at our intertwined hands then at me.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“You were holding my hand when I awoke. It felt…nice.”

My favorite blush reappeared to caress her cheeks. “Perhaps, but isn’t this inappropriate considering our union is nearing its end?”

In this moment I found it difficult to remember my purpose for why I’d ever want such a thing when it went against the stirrings of my awakening heart. But then I remembered: the disappearing curse, my kingdom’s need for magic, Evie being a false princess…for a brief moment I almost wished I could withdraw into the strange nothingness rather than face the undesirable duties pressing around me.

Evie’s gaze drifted down to our still intertwined hands, and I realized my thumb had absently begun brushing across her skin, massaging circles across the back of her hand. At first she remained entirely still, allowing the gesture…before quite suddenly she hastened to her feet so quickly she upended her chair.

“What is it—“ But my words faltered as a burst of light suddenly exploded in the air above her like fireworks, bringing with them not just color but pools of glistening dawn that caressed our surroundings to momentarily transform them from a simple stone room to a glistening one that might be found within a palace.

I gaped at the glistening light, both so new and instinctively familiar, similar to…no, it couldn’t be…magic?

It gradually faded, causing the changes wrought on our surroundings to melt like a washed-away watercolor, leaving behind nothing but grey stone. I stared a moment more in disbelief and wonder before glancing towards Evie, who was staring not at where the strange phenomenon lingered but atme, her eyes wide with fright as she awaited my reaction.

“Was that—“ It hadfeltlike magic, but in my current state I couldn’t fully trust my senses.

She pressed her hand to her chest and fought to control her sharp, shallow breaths.

“Evie?” I reached out to graze her arm, but she flinched away from my touch.

“No, please. I’ll be alright, just give me a moment.”

I would have been hurt by her rejection if not for the concern crowding out every other emotion. I monitored her closely until she’d calmed and lifted her head with a forced smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Forgive me, that strange burst simply startled me,” she said in a rush of words. “I thought they’d placed us in an ordinary room, but it appears magic is everywhere within the monastery, in such abundance it even fills the stones themselves.” She stared at the walls almost suspiciously, as if she expected the magic to manifest itself again.

The explanation seemed sound. I’d heard about the wonders contained within this monastery, how magic could be found in the most unexpected places. I grazed the wall near the bed, expecting to feel its lingering presence…but the stones were cool to the touch, no sign of the power harbored within. If the magic wasn’t here, then where had it come from?

“I can sense magic. It’s unsurprising such a phenomenon occurred within such an enchanted place.”

I carefully studied her reaction to my lie. Relief filled her shuddering breath as she managed a single nod. Yet something still seemed…off. She was definitely keeping a secret.

The effort seemed to exhaust her, for she suddenly slumped against the wall, eyes closed, cradling her hand close to her chest. In that moment she looked so fragile. I reached for her, wanting to take her hand, but she was too far away from where I lay helplessly on the bed. Eventually she opened her eyes and with a heavy sigh settled much closer in the seat beside me, perching herself on the very edge of the chair.

I worriedly eyed her tense posture and rigid movements. “Have you been sitting still too long?”

She startled at the question. “Sitting still?”

“I’ve noticed how restless you often become when you’re forced to sit still with nothing to distract you.”

She considered before giving a short, airy laugh. “I do believe I have. You do like to torture me.”

The corner of my mouth lifted at our familiar banter. “How long have you been at my bedside?” Considering I’d awoken to discover her there, it was likely much too long for her limited patience.

“Far more than you likely deserve.” But her smile softened her words, an assurance that she didn’t truly mean them. “I’ve remained near you as much as I’ve been able so I could be here when you awoke.”

My heart lifted at her thoughtful gesture before I forced it back down. I couldn’t take pleasure in such things, not when we were soon to sever the union I was only growing more fond of. It was imperative I remind her of this arrangement, but all I could weakly manage was, “Thank you for tending to me so diligently.”

She brushed away my gratitude with a wave of her hand. “It’s the least I could do after all the times you’ve tended to me.”

Those memories returned in a rush, miraculously protected from the disappearing curse so I could relive them in vivid detail. With the way she blushed, I hoped she too was thinking of those precious recollections with equal fondness.

She has no reason to, my conscience whispered.Any tenderness of feeling she may be experiencing towards you is only the result of her compassion.

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