Page 98 of Beneath the Flames
Her smile made my stomach twist into knots, but the feeling wasn’t entirely unpleasant.
“Maybe something will happen tomorrow.For some plants, a week is the magic number.”She nudged my shoulder with her own.“Don’t give up yet.”
“Why are you doing this?”The question was out before I could think it through.I shouldn’t have asked it.I didn’t want to hear that she was trying so hard to grow this flower because she wanted to go home, and not because she wanted to help me, spend time with me.
Maren blinked.“To break the curse.”She said it as if it were obvious.
Idiot.Ofcourse that’s her answer.Why would it be anything else?
“Right.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”I couldn’t keep the irritation from my voice, and the confused twist of her face told me she didn’t understand why I was upset.
I didn’t even fully know why.
Iwantedher to break the curse.She was trying.
That was what I had searched all these years for.Someone who was willing to try.
She sighed.“I was just trying to cheer you up, Rhydian.You don’t need to be such a…”
“Prick?”
“I was going to say jerk, but prick would suffice.”Maren sighed again, those gray eyes piercing straight through me.Instead of finding frustration on her face, there was something closer to understanding—like she understood why I was actinglike this, but wished I would choose something different.It was resignation.
The sight of it was a knife stabbed through my heart.
Don’t give up on me, Maren.
“I was just trying to help.”She pushed to her feet, turning her back on me before I could say anything else.“I’ll come check on the flower later.”Then she was gone.
Why was I like that?She had done nothing wrong.I hated that I was acting like this, but I couldn’t figure out how to stop.It was my heart’s defense mechanism.
Being cold and stonehearted had been ingrained in me.It was the only way to survive now.Irritated, I stalked back to my chambers and paced around the room, trying to quiet this unfamiliar feeling inside me.
“Maybe you should try not being grumpy all the time,” a voice said, and I spun around to find Nico with his arms crossed.“That’s usually a good way to get somebody to like you.”
“I’m notgrumpy,” I snapped, getting to my feet.
“Shall I search the library for a dictionary, Rhydian?I’m fairly certain that your picture would be next to the definition of the word.”
“Ha ha, you’re so funny,” I deadpanned, not amused in the least.
Nico’s lips split into a satisfied smile before he sobered.“You really shouldtryto be nice to her.”
I turned my back to him.“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does.”Nico was next to me, his fists clenched at his sides.
“Enlighten me, Nico.How does it matter?You heard her.She’s only doing this to break the curse so she can go home.Which at this rate will never happen.Forgive me for beingangry about that.”
Nico shook his head.“I talked to her when we went to get the ash.”
“You always talk to her.”
“That’s not what I mean.I…I asked her about you.”
