Page 42 of When the Moon Met the Sun

If the sun were a person, it would be him.

My mouth was practically watering.

I heard a throat clear nearby, snapping me out of my careful observations. I could feel the way my face immediately turned bright red, but I tried to ignore it as I looked up at Quinn and Teagan, one of which was the source of the sound.

Quinn was scowling at me. The sound most definitely came from her.

“Having fun?” she asked, though there was an edge to her tone, letting me know she didn’t actually care. I wasn't sure what her problem was with me, but I obviously must have done something to offend her.

“Um, sure. I suppose so,” I responded, unsure of what else to say.

“You know you were drooling, right?”

My hand flew to my mouth so fast I barely registered it. Even though I knew she was lying, my embarrassment was clear in the flush covering my face and ears.

“Quinn.” I heard Teagan say, a warning, but she couldn’t wipe off the small smile from her lips fast enough for me not to catch it.

Quinn sighed and placed her hands on her hips. “Listen, we all know there’s more to you than meets the eye, yet you keep turning us down when we ask you to train. You even turned downByn, for Stars’ sake.”

Quinn, Teagan, and Robyn had each offered early this morning on our way out to this meadow, but I had swiftly declined. Although now I was beginning to regret it, with my zirilium growing stronger each moment, causing random pains to shoot through me.

I could feel my expression darken. “You’re mistaken. There’s nothing special going on with me,” I said sharply, then reined myself back in. “I’d prefer to be left alone now.”

Quinn opened her mouth to argue but paused when Ezra, who was sitting nearby, dramatically cleared his throat, in a way you knew was meant to be overly obvious. Quinn’s cheeks flushed a bright pink, and she turned on her heels to resume her training without another word.

Teagan scratched the back of her neck awkwardly. “I swear, she’s an awesome person once she warms up to you,” she offered meekly, then followed after Quinn.

I sighed, dropping my head into my hands, and without thinking, reached for the necklace chained around my throat, tucked under my shirt. The chain I kept all my Northern moon stones on. The ones I never let anybody see, because I almost never took them off. It was a silent comfort, having them so close. It helped me feel more in control, when I knew I must be spiraling with how out of control my power felt.

I startled when I felt a sudden weight on my shoulder, dropping my hand swiftly.

Looking up, I found Ezra standing by me.

“Come sit with me and Margo. If you don’t want to train, you can at least help me study with Margo. Plus, she’d love to get to know you better.” He offered a kind smile.

I nodded, thanking him as I stood up and followed him back to their checkered blanket, the three of us now sitting in a triangle, their current book in the middle.

I sat with my legs crossed in front of me, nodding to Margo and giving her a small wave. She looked sheepishly at me, then picked the book back up in constantly gloved hands, placing it in her lap.

It never occurred to me before how small she was for her age, but sitting next to her now, I could see it. She was likely a late bloomer, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d developed any zirilium yet. She was already eight, so if she hadn’t yet, she hopefully would soon. I was barely four when I began to discover mine.

I cringed at the memory, and a wave of nauseating guilt overcame me.

I took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind, when I felt a tug of worry and curiosity.

My head snapped up, just to see Robyn already staring at me.

Right, I reminded myself,he can feel what I feel.

Robyn maintained eye contact, and I saw so many unanswered questions in his gaze.

Rayven seemed to notice this and took advantage of it, swiftly sweeping Robyn’s feet out from under him, landing him flat on his back.

I couldn’t help but flinch, but I was grateful to not have to answer any questions as the two of them got back to it, Rayven teasing Robyn for letting something like a female get to him.

“She’s not just some female,” I heard Robyn respond in a frustrated tone, “that’s mywife, you jerk.”

I took another deep breath, trying to control the pink creeping up my neck.

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