Page 95 of Chaos and Destiny
As the group pulled away, still glowing from teasing Kai, I waited for Fen to say something. He had distanced us for a reason.
“Everything okay?” he finally asked as his smile melted.
“Yes.”
“I saw your face when Wren invited you back home.”
Home? I didn’t have a home anymore. I had burned the only one I’d ever known to the ground. I really didn’t know where I would go after I found Nealla. I hadn’t thought that far ahead, and the truth was, I was afraid to even consider it.
“You could have asked me that in front of them, you didn’t have to send them off.”
“I wanted to respect your privacy.”
“If you wanted to do that, you wouldn’t be here.” I looked away. “I intended to make this journey alone.”
“I’ll always be here.” He leveled his chin, and his eyes flicked back and forth between my own, searching for something I wasn’t ready to give.
“I don’t need to talk about it. I’m fine.”
“Clearly you’re not, but I’ll give you some space to sort it out. If it’s The Mists you’re worried about, we’ll figure it out together.”
He started to walk away, and I stopped him. “It’s not about the mountains, it’s not about The Mists, it’s not even about what lies beyond. I’m afraid of the truth if I’m being brutally honest with myself.”
That wall I’d kept up became a bit thinner. As much as I hated to admit it, he made me feel safe. Like the point of a blade, a balled fist, a razor-sharp mind, I cherished that feeling. And I think he knew that. I didn’t need to be saved from the world. Just myself. If nothing else, he was giving me that.
He turned and looked at me, then stepped closer. I held my breath as he lifted my hand. “Whatever fate befalls you, I’ll be there. Your future is my future. It’s written in the stars, in our blood, in the very core of this world. Nothing about my commitment to you is fleeting, Ara. I would promise you, but I’d rather prove it to you.”
“They’re staring,” I responded blandly, looking at the group that had turned to watch us.
“Let them.” He lifted my hand to his beautiful lips.
“So, about that magic ...” I pulled away.
“Yes, the magic.” He grinned. “I have a plan.”
“And what is it?” I asked.
“It will be purely scientific, I promise.”
“Spit it out, Prince. What’s the plan?”
“We will stop, the group will carry on and Greeve will come back to get us at nightfall.”
“What’s the point in making them leave us?”
“You’ll see,” he answered with a grin.
“Why are you making this so mysterious?” I laughed. “Just tell me what we’re doing.”
He waved to the group, and they began walking again. Apparently, that was the signal that I was a sucker. I crossed my arms and stared at him until he gave in.
“I’m going to try to overwhelm your senses and see if I can cause your magic to come forward. If you’ll let me.”
“Is this some kind of creepy torture plan you’re scheming? Because if it is, I’ll cut your balls off and eat them for dinner, Prince.”
“Like I said. It’s your choice.”
He knew I’d agree. How could I not? If I had magic like his, I’d really be able to fuck some shit up. “Do your worst, Prince.” I spread my feet and bent my knees, fists up.
