Page 78 of Chaos and Destiny
“Ara,” he growled.
“And that, Prince, is why we don’t make blind bargains.”
He pinned me with those eyes. Those fucking eyes that made my knees feel weak no matter how much I fought it.
“Fine, I take it back.”
“What’s the real bargain?”
“I’m not going to run off without you. I’ll play nice and be part of the team, but you have to really teach me how to use magic, and you have to control your ragey alpha male shit that convinces you to lock me up for my own safety. I’m pretty sure I could kick your ass, so you’re not saving anyone here.”
“Deal. Done. I already told you I would teach you.”
“And...” I paused. He raised an eyebrow, but I refused to notice the way my heart jumped while staring at those full lips. I had to look away. “And if I say I’m done, I mean it. If I don’t want the company, you and your southerners have to leave. For good. You can’t leave Wren behind to spy on me. You go, and you don’t get to argue.”
“I don’t think I can agree to that,” he ground out.
“Then I can’t agree to go forward. That’s the only way it works for me. It’s either my choice, or there is no choice.”
“Fine, but if you need me Ara, I will come. No matter what happens, I’ll never really leave you.”
“Okay, Prince Charming. Whatever you say.”
He smiled, and my libido did a somersault.Bastard.
“Walk with me?” he asked, holding his hand out.
“We don’t have to hold hands anymore,” I said.
“I rarely do anything because I have to.”
Well then.
“My friendship is not going to be easy,” I warned him.
“Nothing worth fighting for is ever easy,” he replied, his voice calm, though my heart might have stopped for a second. What was in that fucking water?
“So back to magic,” I said, walking as he strode beside me. “How do you have two different kinds?”
“I have four.”
“That’s not even possible. A single person isn’t supposed to have multiple types.”
He shrugged. “I guess being the Guardian makes me the exception. What about your magic?”
“It’s only happened that once ...” No need to mention the burning bed incident.
“Do you think you have fire magic?”
It felt like a secret. Like I shouldn’t speak about it or I’d betray my mother’s warning about not trusting anyone. But the chain had fallen, and he was good. I thought of what it would have been like to sit at that old table and tell her of the overbearing prince. Then I wondered where I’d be right now if they hadn’t died.
“What’s wrong?” Fen asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
“It’s nothing,” I lied. The pain of my parent’s loss hit me just as freshly as it did the day I had lost them. Death was weird like that. It had a way of taking you right back to that single, tragic moment.
“I can see the sadness on your face.” He stepped in front of me so I couldn’t walk forward, then looked down, and the pull to reach for him was automatic.
“We aren’t there yet. My feelings are my own for now.” I stepped backward.
