Page 30 of A Conduit of Light
“Don’tworry,” she called back to him. “Iwon’t be.”
Chapter15
Ash
“Soyou’re telling me,you witnessedBaronRevich, dripping wet—”
“Andshirtless—”
“Andshirtless, and you say to him—andIquote, ‘Soyou like to fish?’”Figuerahlaid back roaring with laughter,Clairanniadipping her head onto her shoulder in conspiring mirth, the scene playing out on their lips sounding ridiculous, even more so toAsh.
“IthinkIwould havediedseeing that,”Clairanniaspoke first.
“Iwould have paid a good sum ofmoneyto see that!”
Ashrolled her eyes, cheeks red as ever. “Itwasn’t like that!Well, maybe it was exactly like that, butIjust didn’t know what to say!AndIalwaysknow what to say!”
“Iget it.Youjust didn’t know what to say aroundhim,”Figuerahadded pulling up a yellow blossom and twirling it between her fingers.
“Ihave no problem speaking to him usually.Infact,I’veeven gone out of my way to be rude, but,” she shook her head, placing her hands over her face and mumbled, “Idon’t know what came over me.”
Figuerahraised an eyebrow.
“Okay,Iknow exactly what came over me, but this is crazy, right?Tellme this is crazy.”
“Well,”Clairannia’svoice flew high. “Itkind of sounds likeBaronRevichhas singled out a channeler…just likeBaronHeimlensingled outSylva.”
Thegirls burst into laughter and giggles, their lumens perking up at the noise.Theyhad gone to the golden field again, resting in the afternoon sunlight, a breeze coursing through the buttercups, playing gently with the loose strands of their hair.
“It’snotlikethat.Itreally is not.Imean, he’s handsome and…you know…”
“Incrediblyattractive, sexy, a steamy pile of confidence who just happens to be really powerful and well-toned?Arethose the words you’re looking for,Ash, becauseIwill happily give them to you.”Figuerah’sgrin was contagious andAshtried to hide hers, leaning back to feel the sunshine, refusing to admit her friend was absolutely correct.
“Iswear,Ash, if you do not go with him tonight,Iwill mope fordays.Don’tyou want to?Aren’tyou the least bit curious?”Clairanniatugged on her skirts, putting her knees up to her chin.
“Ido want to go.I…I’vebeen tired, training withBaronHeimlen, butI’vealso been wanting to seeFelgrenat night, and not just from the little window in our rooms.Itjust sohappensthat the ‘Oh,SoGood-Looking’BaronRevichhas offered to take me.Purelya coincidence.”
“Threecinnamon buns says they kiss.”Figuerahheld her hand out toClairanniato shake on the deal.
“Alright, you’re on.Idon’t think they’re ready.Ithink they’ll get there, but—just look at her.She’sall resistance to whatwecan clearly see and have for a while now—at least from him.”Clairanniatook her hand and the two grinned atAshas she shook her head and placed her arm over her eyes.
Shewouldnotbe kissing anyone.
“Betterstart hoarding those cinnamon buns now,Figuerah.”
“We’llsee,Ash.We’llsee.”
* * *
Sittingon her bed,the full moon brilliant in the night sky,Ashstifled a yawn.Shelooked to her pillow and blankets with a yearning to fall back into them and ignore theBaron’ssoft knock.Maybehe could pick a different night, and maybe she should tell him that.
Heleaned against her doorframe, one hand in his pocket, the epitome of what she would call handsome, sexy, and a steamy pile of confidence.Sheimmediately swallowed any thoughts of dismissing him.
Asmile raced across his face, his eyes darting across the open neckline of her shirt that exposed her neck and collar bones. “Ready?”
“Yes.Let’sgo.”Sheshrugged off her exhaustion, curiosity getting the better of her once again.Maybeshe could skip breakfast tomorrow and get some extra sleep.Thoughbeing hungry would likely cause her to perform even worse forBaronHeimlen.
Shetugged on her long, green cloak, the one given to each of the channelers to stay warm when winter eventually came.Itwas the color of an evergreen, and in the darkness of theFortress, she might have mistaken it for the deepest of black.
