Page 53 of Our Radiant Embers

“Then maybe four elements are more common in other European countries.”

“Maybe.” I should care—I knew I should. This was my ancestry. But the last few weeks had been exhausting, and my mental capacity was at its limits. “Please don’t ask Gale, okay? Let’s just park it for now, at least until I’m a little less busy with eighteen different prototypes.”

“Yeah, all right.” Yet Adam still sounded thoughtful, the flames in the fire chamber dancing faster than before.

“Speaking of prototypes…” I nudged his thigh with my foot. “How are yours coming along? Pretty sure we defined timelines and milestones, didn’t we? As your business partner, I feel it’s my duty to check in on your progress.”

The pensive distance in Adam’s eyes faded and made room for a lopsided smile. “You’d love for my dad and aunt to know that you asked, don’t you?”

“Lies and slander,” I said, all dignity, only to ruin the effect with a smirk. “But yes. Please do tell them.”

“I will. Followed by a sprint to take me away from the hot blast of their outrage.”

While Adam’s tone had been light, his words pulled me up short. I didn’t want to add to the pressure he already faced, I really didn’t.

“Hey.” I nudged him again. “Forget I asked, okay? Just me making a nuisance of myself. I know your family will deliver, and it’s only two things anyway.”

“Because all we offer are cute little tweaks rather than actual innovation, isn’t that what you said?” The corners of his mouth hitched up, and right, yeah, I had said that. While not wrong as such, I sure hadn’t been in a diplomatic mood. Then again, Adam hadn’t been either.

“That’s why combining our proposals was a stroke of brilliance by the government,” I told Adam. “You bring experience, we bring new ideas. It’s a perfect match.”

“My father begs to differ.” Still sitting in the grass, Adam raised his hands in the air and stretched his back. A tiny sliver of stomach showed when his T-shirt lifted with the motion. “Also, you can thank Archer Summers. Alaric would have handed it to my family, but Summers insisted on bringing you in.”

I averted my eyes. “Of course Hartley would have handed it to you.”

“Yeah, well.” Adam was quiet for a second. “And for the record, because fair’s fair…My uncle mentioned last week that the earth-magic coated windows are fully ready. Those were easy, though. Seems the”—humour coated his voice—“energy penises are proving much trickier. My dad and aunt have been working on them.”

Without him, of course. I shook my head. “They’re idiots for not bringing you in.”

The curve of his mouth softened. “Your gain, I guess.”

“It is,” I said. “Honestly, Adam—I’m sorry your family is like that, but if it means you’re available to help around here? It is so appreciated. What we did with that stove in just one morning would have taken me a week without you.”

“Careful there.” Adam’s smile carried a hint of bashfulness. “I’m a sucker for compliments. Keep them coming, and I’ll be here most days.”

“Good,” I said simply.

“Yeah?” He sounded younger than usual, his smile still careful as though he found it hard to believe I wanted him around. The boy I remembered from school had swaggered through the corridors like he owned the place, always surrounded by friends. Had that been a mask already?

A question for another day.

“Yeah. In fact…” I got up and dusted off my jeans, then offered Adam a hand to help him up as well. “Let’s do a proper introduction to Lila so you’re pre-approved for future visits.”

His fingers closed around mine. “Lila?”

“Our drone.”

“Oh.” He grinned. “I thought she was friendly?”

“If you pass inspection.”

“And do I?” The flirtatious note was hard to miss.

“You’ll do,” I told him and let go of his hand after holding on a second too long.

11

LIAM

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