Page 163 of A Blightress of Wrath
Isighed, dropping my own paintbrush into the bowl of water, saying, “ImissFelgrenwhenI’mgone,Sae.”Irifled a hand through my hair, adding, “Imiss you.”
Shegave a hum and nod, wiping her hands on her apron. “Imiss you, too.”Hercheeks flushed a rosy pink when she caught my stare, and she added quickly, “Youknow, we might be able to convince our parents to let you stay a little longer this summer sinceI’mtaking the conduit trials in the fall.”Sheshrugged, wiping her face again, only to leave a smear of saffron paint across her cheek. “Maybethey’d let you stay on as a sort of…supportive friend to help me pass them.”
Istepped closer and wiped a thumb across the streak of yellow, mumbling, “Weall know you’re going to pass them.”
Sheturned her face to help me wipe the paint from her skin, exposing the soft lines of her neck. “Icould pretendIwant you here whenIpass them.”
Istopped, my hand lingering at her cheek. “Whatif you weren’t pretending, and you did want me here when you pass them?”
“I—”Shestopped, swallowing hard, turning her face to look at me.
BytheBaron, her eyes were so blue.They’dhaunted me for years now, and it wasn’t until last summer thatI’drealized why.Ihad fallen for my best friend and didn’t know how to tell her she consumed my thoughts whenIwas away.Howher letters once a week were never enough, but more of a bandage to stop the bleeding of being gone.HowItracked the days when we left each summer, counting them down untilI’dsee her smile and feel whole again.
Herlips parted andIstepped closer, closing what was left between us.Shelooked up to me in whatIwould call hope, her eyes lowering to my mouth more than once.
“Askme,Sae,”Iwhispered, sliding my hand down the soft skin of her neck.
“Askyou what?”
“Askme whatI’mthinking.”
Sheclosed her eyes in a laugh, lowering her head whereIgently pulled on her chin in a request to meet my gaze again.Shesmiled in her beautiful way that was far more enchanting than any field of flowers the isle could produce, painted or not. “Whatare you thinking, my dear friendThevin?”
“I’mthinkingI’dlike to kiss you.I’mthinking it’s past timeItell you thatIam in love with you.”
Sheclosed her eyes, lowering her head once more, butIgently tilted her chin once again.Hergrin bloomed, hitting me square in the chest, and she shook her head, meeting my eyes and wrapping her arms around my neck, rising on her toes. “Oh, good,” she said above my lips. “It’sabout time you caught up.”
Imet her in a kiss, the first of many we’d share in our little fort in the woods, dancing to no music, our hearts singing a song with no end.
Chapter80
Saelyn
Iwastwenty-three and missing home.
“Youhave everything you need?”Clairanniaasked, tucking a yellow flower into my black braid.
“Whatabout the carrot seeds forThevin?Didyou pack those?”
“Yes,Figuerah,”Isaid, hauling my bag over my shoulder. “Anyway,Ithink it’sMychaelwho would scold me more thanThevinifIforgot them.Somethingabout needing purple carrots for his andPah-Pah’sanniversary dinner.”
Figuerahpulled me in for an embrace, saying, “Ihope they grow inThevin’sgarden, then.”
Ikissed her cheek, saying my goodbye, doing the same forClairannia.
“We’llsee you on the first day of summer, dearest,” she promised. “Andgive your parents a hug from us.
Inodded, assuring themIwould, folding my paper with the names of the possible channelers we could bring toFelgrenthis summer and shoving it into my pocket.
“Andone forThevin, of course!”Clairanniacalled.
“AndMoira,”Figuerahadded.
“Yes,Moira, too!”ClairanniapulledFiguerahinto a hug. “Also, please tellMychaelthank you for the cinnamon buns he had you bring us.Tellhim they were perfect, just likeLiacould make.”
“Iwill!”Icalled, waving and walking to the glowing white portalI’dsummoned for my departure home from theSpire.
Figuerahcalled goodbye to us both, already stepping into the portalIhad woven for her to return to theAttatokMountains.
