Page 46 of Heir of Fire
“You need to get better listening skills. I’m not going anywhere. It’s the middle of the night.”
“It’s only midnight.”
“If it has the word night in it, I shouldn’t be awake.”
“Oh, come on, princess. Live a little.” He tried to be convincing, but the argument was futile. There was no explanation for why he was up and awake at this time of night, trying to drag her along for a ride.
“You’ll have more fun without me,” she told him.
“I need you there.”
She froze at his words. He said it lightly, but just the thought of being needed stunned her. “Why are you awake right now? What happened that you’re suddenly in a rush to go?”
The joking mood slipped off his face completely. A haunted look found him instead. It was bizarre watching his eyes turn devoid of the warmth she was used to them having. Something told her that whatever it was that kept him awake tonight was probably the very thing that had him always trying to run.
“Please, Gianna.”
She pursed her lips, but still nodded, nonetheless. “Fine, but I’m not staying out long.”
He moved away, letting her slip off the bed. She threw on the first hoodie and sweatpants set she could find, slipping on some warm boots with it. If she was going to be forced onto a bike in the middle of the night, she wanted to be warm.
“Here, put this on too,” he said, handing her a leather jacket.
She hadn’t even noticed he had another one with him, but she slipped it on, equally hating and enjoying how they matched.
Finn moved to open the door to her room, but she stopped him. Instead, she walked over to her balcony doors, unlocking and carefully opening it.
“What’s this?” he asked, surprised.
“We’re not going through the front door,” she said.
“So you’re telling me I could have been sneaking in through the balcony this whole time instead of using the door? Why do I like that idea so much more?”
“Probably because you’re demented.”
“You like that I am.”
She rolled her eyes, motioning for him to walk out first so she could close the doors behind them.
Admittedly, her balcony was pretty nice. She spent the time decorating it with a pink outdoor couch, a small wooden table, and a hammock chair for when she really wanted to lounge out. On warm summer nights, she would turn on the outdoor lights she strung along the roof and just relax there, letting her mind wander, but usually turning on a show to keep her occupied.
“What now? You expect me to jump down and then catch you?” Finn asked, looking over the railing.
“Jump if you want, I think I’ll use the ladder.”
She slid it out from under the couch, using her strength to hoist it over the railing and let it down slowly. Once it was leaning against the brick wall, she turned to face him.
“What the hell is that?” he asked, his voice mocking.
“A ladder.”
“That flimsy little shit looks like it’s going to snap at any second.”
“It’s served me well.” Gianna left out the part where plenty of men had also used it and been fine, thinking it might kill the mood. “You’ll be fine.”
“Is this really easier than just using the front door?” Finn threw one leg over the railing, letting his foot grab hold of the first step on the ladder before he threw his other leg over.
“Consider this your punishment for waking me up,” Gianna said. “Now hurry.”
