Page 114 of Beneath the Flames
“My heart might beat blood like yours, Maren, but it doesn’tfeellike yours.It’s stone cold, broken, and dark.This task was required because I am not capable of loving anyone.”
“But I thought—”
“You thought wrong,” he snapped, and I flinched.I hated the hot tears that suddenly burned my eyes.He softened, looking like he regretted his words but wasn’t willing to apologize.Rhydian ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
I wasn’t going to let him get away from me that easily.I might have been forced to surrender to other peoples’ wishes my entire life, but here, I wasn’t giving up.Not when my life had started to finally feelright.Hefelt right.I stepped toward him.
“But you kissed me.You said you couldn’t get me out of your mind.Was that a lie?”
“No, but—”
“Then youdofeel something.Maybe your heart isn’t as cold as you believed.People are capable of change.Why do you think you’re the exception?”
“I’m a Dark Fae.We are different.”He said the words with a shrug, as if that were explanation enough.
“Screw being a Dark Fae,” I retorted, anger filling me to the brim.“Screw the curse, and screw what your fate is supposed to be.Maybe it’s time for you to make yourownfate.”
Rhydian’s lips curled into a sad smile.“Such pretty words from a human.That might work in your world, but here in Avalea, fate is law.The curse will claim me, and Eroth will soon be gone.”
“How can you just give up?”I demanded.
A spark of anger flooded his eyes.
Good.Show me you know how to feel.If you can feel anger, you canfeel other things too.
“Give up?Give up?”
“Well, you’re saying something is impossible without even trying.That sounds like giving up to me.”I dared to cross the space between us, standing toe-to-toe with Rhydian.
“I think youdofeel.You feeltoomuch, so you turn everything off and pretend to be cold-hearted.But someone with a stone heart wouldn’t work so hard to break a curse and free himself and save his kingdom.”
“You don’t even know my motivation,” he said so softly I struggled to make out the words at all.
“I don’t need to,” I replied, though he was right, and I was suddenly immensely curious as to his motivation if it wasn’t just to save his kingdom.What else would there be?
“Don’t be a fool, Maren.Have you forgotten what happens if the curseisbroken?”
“Some things are worth the risk.”
Rhydian scoffed, as if he couldn’t believe a human would be willing to die in order to free him.Maybe he’d never met anyone willing to make sacrifices for him.
My life was all about sacrifices.
I ignored him, doubling down.“You haven’t even bothered to ask me howIfeel, Rhydian.”
He stilled.“What?”
“You’re so focused on your side of the third task that you haven’t even stopped to consider my side.”
I swear a flash of terror filled his eyes for a split second, but that didn’t make sense.Shouldn’t he have been happy?
“What are you talking about?”The words were whisper-soft.
I stepped farther into his space, daring to skim his hand with my fingers.He didn’t pull away, his eyes shuttering at the touch.
“Ask me how I feel about you, Rhydian.”I put a hand over his heart, feeling it race beneath his skin.
“Maren—”
