Page 112 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile
“Fight back!” she screamed when she accidentally met his eyes and there was only kindness in them. Kindness and understanding.
“Fight back!” She hammered both her fists against his body.
Again.
And again.
“F-fight back,” she cried.
“Fight…” Her voice drifted away as too much thickness filled her throat.
More tears streamed down her face, and this time when Raine pressed on her lower back, she let him fold her body against his.
Frelina cried like she’d never cried before.
Her entire body shook. Her face scrunched so much she could feel a headache creeping up the back of it. Her skin scraped against Raine’s leather tunic as he only held her closer for every hiccup, for every sharp breath, for every whimper and sob.
“It’s… it’s all a joke to you,” Frelina finally got out as the tears came slower. “But… it’s not for the rest of us. It’s… not a joke.”
“I’ve never said I think it’s all a joke.” Raine’s voice rumbled through her as it echoed in his chest. “It’s no joke to me, little Rantzier.”
Frelina sniffed.
She didn’t know how to respond. She’d never heard him sound like this.
Glancing up at him, she stiffened.
Tears glistened on the mind-bender’s cheeks as well. Tears he didn’t bother to hide as he met her eyes, lifting a hand to wipe away her own.
“None of this is a joke to me,” Raine continued in a serious voice.
She stared at him as his thumb caressed the warm and wet skin across her cheeks, and the air around them stilled under his slow movements.
She couldn’t hear the waves anymore.
Or the wind.
Frelina could only follow the green, brown, and gold swirls in Raine’s eyes as he looked back at her.
There was so much more gold than she’d realized. Gold like she knew her own eyes glowed when she used her magic, just like Elessia’s. The honey color traced around his irises, almost dancing as the black in his eyes deepened. As it grew…
Frelina hiccuped again.
Raine shook his head, breaking their stare off, and the sounds around them came back.
Soft whistling wind.
Water rippling.
The scent of summer and winter tangling all around.
Her salt-covered cheeks heated before she could stop them, but as she made to take a step back, Raine tightened his hold.
“I…” He blew up his cheeks, releasing a deep breath before continuing. “I want to show you something.”
Frelina was about to ask him what he wanted to show her when he caught her eyes again, and somehow, she knew.
Raine nodded, and his mouth twitched as if he tried to lift the corners of it but failed.
