Page 97 of Powerless

She swallows. “You’re a shameless flirt, Azer.”

“Only for you.”

“Hmm. Now it seems you’re also a shameless liar.”

I huff out a quiet laugh before saying, “My turn to ask a question.” She opens her mouth, most likely to argue, but I cut her off. “So, out of all the people roaming around Loot that day, why was I fortunate enough to be robbed blind?”

Her mouth snaps shut before splitting into a smile. “You fit a description.”

“A description?”

Her smile is anything but sweet. “Yes. You looked cocky and chalked full of coins. Those are my favorite targets.”

I lean closer towards her. “Well,thistarget knew you stole from him.”

“You knew I stole from youtoo late.”

“Funny, I seem to remember that I caught you not shortly after.”

Her smile is smug. “Only because I came back andsavedyou.” Then she laughs. “So, what, you don’t think I could steal from you again without you noticing?”

“I think that I notice everything you do. So, no.”

She pauses, her face close to mine, momentarily stunned by my words. I smile, enjoying the sight of her flustered. Her next words are soft, slow. “Is that a challenge, Azer?”

“It’s a fact, Gray.”

“Is it?” she says, suddenly dangling something between our faces. “That’s interesting, because I nicked this off you almost immediately after we started dancing.”

I squint in the dim light, swearing under my breath when I realize what it is that she’s holding. Braxton’s leather strap, once safe in my pocket, is now pinched between her fingers and swinging in front of my face.

“I’m impressed, Gray.” I shrug casually before adding, “I’m mostly shocked I didn’t notice with how closely I pay attention to you.”

She rolls her eyes at me. “Distraction.”

My gaze sweeps over her quickly before returning to that smile. “You are quite good at that, aren’t you?”

She’s quiet as she watches me closely before looking away. I avert my gaze too, preparing myself for another one of her prying questions.

“What’s your favorite color?”

My eyes snap to hers. “What?” I nearly choke on my laughter.

“You’re favorite color. What is it?”

For once,Ialmost step on her toes out of shock and sheer wonder. “Of all the things you could ask me, you ask what my favorite color is?” I can’t keep the smile from spreading across my face.

She blows a strand of hair from her eyes in annoyance. “I feel like I don’t know manythingsabout you, so I figured I’d start with the basics.” An amused sigh. “I’m letting you off the hook with an easy question, so don’t disappoint. What is your favorite color?”

I spin her if only to give myself some time to think. I’d never thought about what my favorite color was before. It never seemed important.

Not until I looked into a pair of ocean blue eyes and realized that perhaps drowning was a beautiful thing.

Not until I looked into a pair of fiery blue eyes and realized that perhaps burning was a painless thing.

Not until I looked into a pair of sky-blue eyes and realized that perhaps falling was a peaceful thing.

I’d never thought about what my favorite color was before because I hadn’t seen one that was worthy of the title. Until now, that is.

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