Page 121 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
“I didn’t tell you or Kamari everything the Maker told me.” I keep my gaze on the books, flicking absentmindedly. His gaze is fixed on me, the gentle fizzle along the surface of my skin where he is staring is back. Another sense heightened now, perhaps?
“You want to tell me now?” His face looks strained, and I wonder if it’s because he thinks I don’t trust him.
I run the words we spoke about over in my mind. The riddle and warnings. The words I have yet to unpick or learn to understand. Like another piece of the puzzle, slotting into place.
“She told me I was more than just one thing.”
His head cocks to the side. “What do you mean?”
“Earth and space and time and everything in between. And that I will see possibilities. But more than that, she said that I will choose. I have the power to influence for good or bad.”
He looks up at me, assessing me. “You didn’t want to share this with everyone.”
“No,” I answer. “Is that bad?”
“No. We all have conversations with the Maker. It’s not always a good experience or one that delivers pleasant news. I don’t think anyone would judge you for keeping her words between the two of you.”
“I wanted to tell you after what happened in Kamari’s office and what we saw. And now, after tonight, I think it’s a little easier to believe what she told me.” I hadn’t admitted to anyone, maybe not even myself, that there were aspects of this—of being a Fifth—that were exciting, if I could move past all the death.
“You agree that it’s possible futures when we touch?” he clarifies.
“I mean, I hope so. I think sometimes they might be. The visions are a blur, mixed up with memories as well. Like when we first touched before the Transference, I saw myself when we first met. Colours.”
“Red and Purple. The two sides to my world. Guard and Warrior. You sort of shook me into realising I wasn’t doing my new Order any justice. Or myself.”
“Well, we have that in common, then. Learning. Is that why you took me along to speak to Kamari?”
“I’ve been seeing her to help myself. After Aurelia said that our gifts might be similar, I thought it would be a win-win.” He lies back down on the bed, book forgotten, and takes up that position with his arms behind his head, fingers cradling it, and displaying his impressive arms.
My eyes close for a moment, and I take a deep breath, taking him in. I did ask him to stay.
“Time for bed. Or you’ll regret it in the morning.”
“I don’t want you to go. Not yet.”It slips into my mind. “And what about tomorrow? And us?” I ask as I crawl along the mattress towards him, making sure I keep a healthy distance between us. I pull the pillow and hug it against me.
“Tomorrow, you’ll find out what it feels like to be in Kirrasia under a new moon. And as for us… Well, you know how I feel about you, Little Siren. You saw. You felt. That’s not going to change. Now, sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”
thirty-one
. . .
Ever
The morning arrives, although can you call it morning when it’s still dark? As I come around, I realise that, maybe for the first time since arriving in Kirrasia, I’m excited, a buzz in my chest and a smile threatening at my lips.
Calix isn’t here yet.
I listen and feel the quiet pressing in. The stillness.
My fingers wrap around the pendant of my necklace, and I’m surprised when I touch the gold—it’s stone cold, even though it’s been next to my skin all night. Realisation blooms—Ihavebeen able to feel my magic. My power. Even if I hadn’t registered it as that, it’s been right under my skin, and now it’s gone due to the new moon, I can feel the loss of it, like a piece is missing somehow or a cup needing to be filled.
I stretch, wash, tie my hair in a tighter braid today, and then I take my time to weave the strands together. All the while, a small smile rests on my lips because today, I’ll be able to touch Ten. Touch him without worry or second-guessing. Run my handsover him and kiss him. Hopefully more. I’m sure my body woke me up because of the impatience now loose within me to finish what we started last night.
As the first light of dawn threatens on the horizon, the fear of what life without touch might look like dissipates. And nothing can snatch away how happy that makes me.
The knock at the door even has me grinning.
“Hey, Calix.”
