Page 4 of Fate and Flame
“Now make a flame.”
I opened my eyes to protest, but he looked at me so intently, letting a small flame dance above his palm. I held up my hand, mirroring his, and let the magic come through the small pinprick. The moment I lit up like a torch, I slammed the cover back down and Fen burst into laughter.
“Not funny.”
“It’s going to take some time and practice. We’ll figure it out. I promise.”
I lifted my hand to my hair to make sure it was still there. He chuckled, and I sent a direct wave of anger.
“Sorry.” He jumped back just in case I went for a weapon. The lopsided grin was still plastered on his face though. “Let’s get some sleep and we can try again tomorrow. It’s going to be a long journey home.”
“About that . . .” I linked my arm through his. “I have a plan and you’re going to hate it.”
“Yeah, that sounds like something you’d say.”
“Mkay. Well, I’ll wait until tomorrow to tell you. Maybe by then, I’ll have myself convinced it’s a good idea.”
“Greeeaaaat,” he said.
We made it back to the group but the only one who would look at us was Kai. “Damn, Fen, you’ve always been fast, but—” He jumped up, hooting and patting the flames under his bottom.
“You were saying?” Fen asked, winking at me.
Kai looked to Greeve. “I’ve been replaced.”
The draconian shrugged. “She’s prettier to look at.”
“Finally, someone notices.” I threw my hands into the air and Fen cleared his throat. “Don’t be jealous, Princey Poo. He said it first.”
He blew a wisp of magic around me in protest.
Lichen clapped once and stood. “Time to get some sleep. I’ll take the first watch. Ara, could I speak to you for a moment?”
I knew this was coming eventually so I nodded and walked toward him. Fen tugged on our bond, and I could feel his hesitation as I stepped away from him. This ragey male fae shit was going to have to be dealt with.
“What is it?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“I wanted to apologize.” He took several steps away from the group. As if they couldn’t hear us.
“For what?” I wasn’t letting him off easy. He was going to have to spell it out.
“I shouldn’t have opened your book. It wasn’t my business and I hope you’ll forgive me.” His words were clipped and I was sure an apology was difficult for the old fae.
“That’s the thing, though. It wasn’t even my book. It was a doorway to a bunch of creatures our ancestors locked away. Someone could have died, Lichen. Even if it just fell out, as you claim, why didn’t you just ask me first?”
His face was devoid of all emotion. I almost found it hard to take his apology sincerely, but I guessed he wasn’t used to delivering them.
“I should have. To be honest, I don’t travel well. I thought something new to read might distract me from the long nights on the hard ground. I’m a scholar first. Can you forgive me?”
I looked away, studying the snow-capped mountains in the distance. I could barely see them through the darkness of night, but they were there, like a memory. “I forgive you, Lichen. Just don’t touch my shit again.”
I spent the night wrapped in Fen’s warm arms. He didn’t wake as I tossed and turned. The pressure of magic had finally subsided, but I lay there wondering what it must feel like for them. They were finally headed home, but what was the south to me? My home was ashes on the wind. Everything that mattered to me, gone. I only had them now. In their minds, I was headed home also. But it didn’t feel like it. It just felt like another step on this long, arduous journey. There was still no end in sight for me, and I wondered if my life would ever be my own.
“Morning,” Fen whispered in my ear just as I began to fall asleep.
I rolled over to face him and let him hold me for several minutes. I would take this journey with him a thousand times if it meant I’d always land here, in the comfort of his arms. I matched my breathing to his, listening to his heartbeat until the others started to stir. I didn’t want to talk about the circles my mind had traveled over the night, but the thrumming apprehension was hard to hide from your soul.
“It’s going to be okay.” He hugged me tighter, pushing his confidence toward me.
