Page 90 of Beneath the Flames
My mouth fell open, hands pausing above a bunch of lava rocks.“What?”
“Rhydian.Do you think he’s handsome?”
“What kind of a question is that?”I asked to avoid answering, pushing to my feet.I wasnotinterested in answering it.
“I’m merely curious.I won’t tell him if you do.”
My tongue felt heavy in my mouth.“I-I suppose he’s a l-little handsome.”I stuttered out the admission, my cheeks flaming.Why was I admitting this?
Nico’s resulting smile spread from ear to ear, and his blue eyes lit up like I’d just given him a giant present.
“What’s that look for?”I asked, suspicious.
Nico’s smile didn’t fade.“Nothing, Maren.I’m just happy you think so.”
“Why?”
“Becausehethinksyou’repretty.”
The words were effortless for him to say, but they rocked me to my core for some inexplicable reason.
“He does?”
Nico’s nod was so violent I was certain his brain was bobbing around in his skull.
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ve never seen Rhydian look at anyone the way he looks at you.”
A lightheaded sensation pummeled me, and I tried not totopple over on the side of the volcano.What was he talking about?
“Why would you tell me that?”
A scowl marred his mouth.“Because you both are incredibly stubborn.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”There was so much sass in his tone that I was surprised he didn’t stick his tongue out at me as well.
With a sigh, I returned my attention to the search for ash.“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Nico.”Just leave it be.I’m trying to get back to my family.
He still wouldn’t relent.“Is that the real reason you’re helping him?You have feelings for Rhydian?”
Arms resting on my knees, I glared up at him.“Why would I have feelings for the man—Fae, whatever—who kidnapped me?”
“That wasn’t a yes or a no.”
I returned to my search, my mind spinning over his question when I finally spotted what I was looking for, tucked in between a cluster of rocks.“There.”I pointed at the ash.
Nico waited, watching me poke at the pile of volcanic ash.“Still avoiding the question,” Nico remarked, after several minutes.
I continued ignoring him and used the small shovel-like tool to start scooping it into the pot that Nico had brought with us.
“Maren.”
The shovel made a rhythmic scraping noise against the ground, my breath clouding the cold air in front of my face.It was a question I couldn’t answer, something that I hadn’t dared to allow myself to think about.
“Maren,” Nico snapped, forcing my hands to still.I leanedback on my heels and stared up at him, taken aback by his tone.He’d never spoken to me like that before.
