Page 41 of Our Radiant Embers

Surely not. No way.

But.

“Air and water don’t go together,” I said, as though he didn’t already know that. My breath stumbled. “You control air—I know you do. So there’s no way you’re controlling water.”

Liam stiffened. Dismay flashed across his features before he masked it, and when he spoke, his voice was cool. “I never said I did. You misunderstood me.”

I stared at him—how he wouldn’t quite meet my eyes, how he’d gone a hint pale under his tan. It wasn’t possible.

And yet.

“No.” Slowly, I shook my head and took a step back. “I don’t think I misunderstood you. Air and water, Liam? How?”

He closed his eyes and inhaled audibly, holding the air in his lungs for a second before he released it in a rush. “Fuck. I didn’t mean to tell you that. You just—fuck.”

“As a matter of fact,” I said weakly, my brain grasping for humour like a lifeline, “I don’t. We’ve established my lack of experience in that area.”

Liam made a feeble attempt at a chuckle. “Right.” Carefully, he set the coffee down on the kitchen counter and faced me, arms by his side. “Okay, listen. I didn’t…I shouldn’t have told you that. But the fact that I did probably means…Christ, it means I’m tired. My brain’s just going, you know? All the time.”

He carried the weight of his entire family.

It hadn’t fully hit me until now just what that meant. I carried expectations, yes, but I wasn’t responsible for designing our prototypes, for figuring out logistics and materials and suppliers, for multiple visits to the project sites to get a sense of how it all fit. No wonder his messages had been limited to essentials.

I uncrossed my arms. When had I crossed them? “You look tired.”

“I am. God.” His laugh was frayed around the edges. “But also…What I let slip just now? It probably means that I trust you, enough to let my guard down.”

Something warm and bright fluttered in my stomach. “You trust me?”

“Please don’t make me regret it.”

“I won’t tell anyone.”

He ducked his head. “Thank you.”

Gentle silence wove around us, lingering for a moment. I studied Liam’s face and didn’t look away when our eyes met. Air and water. Or…more? The way he’d been talking almost made it sound as if…But it couldn’t be. My mind still refused to accept it.

Another second passed before I sent him a smile. “It’s only fair, you know? You’ve been keeping my secret for a year.”

His mouth turned down. “I wouldn’t out someone against their will.”

“I know.” Leaning sideways against the counter, I took another second to observe him. “So you really control air and water?”

Hesitation crossed his face, then his chin firmed. “Also fire. And earth.”

I swallowed thickly. “That’s impossible.”

“Is that a challenge?” His tone was playful, but with an undercurrent of seriousness.

“Maybe.” Was it? I had no idea what the fuck I was saying—hell, I could barely feel my legs. All four elements. No one controlled all four elements.

“All right.” He cast me a pointed look. “You’ve already seen me move a carpet, so that leaves three. Agreed?”

I nodded, mute.

“Good. Here we go, then.”

Nothing happened for a second. Then a small pillar of coffee rose from his cup and drained away again.

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