Page 64 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos
I shake my head slowly. “I don’t know…”
We’re silent for a moment until he speaks. “I’ve been drawing this symbol for a while. I haven’t seen it anywhere, but I keep drawing it. No one I’ve asked has been able to tell me what it is. What are the odds that I show you and you’ve seen it too…?”
He’s staring at me, and I slowly look up at him. He’s too close… I shrug, my shoulder brushing against his chest again. “Slim, but there you have it. But I don’t think it’s vital in my dream.”
“But it means something to me, or I wouldn’t be drawing it.”
A notification pops up on his laptop, and I’m unable to stop myself from looking at it.
Sit tight and get ready to glam up and turn heads with our lip kits. Your order is now being packed!
I manage to read it before he swiftly cancels the notification. I look up at him. He has flawless skin, but… “I didn’t realise you wore makeup?” I remark innocently.
He frowns at me. “They’re Katara’s,” he replies shortly. “Focus.”
I stare back at him, wanting to see him embarrassed at least, but he doesn’t seem to care. His eyes are as cold and calculating as they always are. How can something so cold make me burn?
How long will he keep staring if I don’t look away first? Is this a staring competition?
He doesn’t blink either, but then his eyes trail over me once before he looks away, and I’m staring at his cut again. It’s almost healed…
“There are some books in the library that may help translate the text. Maybe if I could ask Shahira or Heaven-”
“I don’t want this getting out. If you can work on it alone, I’d prefer that. I can help with books.”
He flicks the page in the book before flipping back to the symbol.
“Understood.”
Yet you told me…
“I’ll try to find the answers. Is this why you were in the library?” If he wants this to stay hidden, then I will try solving it myself.
“Yeah.”
“Mind if I take photos of the pages?” I ask.
“I already have. Put your number in. I’ll forward them to you.” He holds out his phone, and I take it, my stomach fluttering.
We’re exchanging numbers. I know we can contact each other via the Schattensicht, but mobile numbers? I enter my number and hold it out to him, unsure what he wanted me to save it under.
“I’ve sent you a message. Save my number.”
I nod, finding myself staring at his cheek again. This time, I itch to heal the scratch that is almost healed, but not entirely. I reach out, cupping his cheek with newfound bravery. He stiffens,his eyes widening slightly in surprise. But I hold on tenderly yet firmly as I whisper a small healing spell. My eyes glow as I brush my thumb gently across the cut, and it disappears, leaving a smear of blood behind.
“I shouldn’t have cut you,” I say, quickly removing my hand.
“Are you apologising?”
“No,” I reply, standing up and turning towards him so I can discreetly pull my shorts down over my ass.
He nods arrogantly, spreading his arms across the back of the sofa, but he doesn’t say anything. I turn, ready to return to my room, when he calls me.
“Sienna.”
“Hmm?” I ask, looking at him over my shoulder. He stands up, now towering over me, slipping his hands into his pockets.
“You’re doing me a favour, keeping a secret that I don’t want anyone to know… so why not tell me yours?”
