Page 79 of Kingdom of Locks

He hesitated, their eyes locked in intense but wordless communication. “I’m not as wonderful as you seem to think I am.”

“Of course you’re wonderful,” Aurelia said calmly. “I don’t understand why you can’t see it as clearly as I do.” She tilted her head to the side. “But I’m getting the sense that it’s often hard for people to judge that about themselves.” Her smile was warm as her eyes lingered on his face. “You’ll just have to take my word for it.”

“Aurelia, I’m not…I’m not supposed to…” He swallowed.

“Not supposed to what?” Aurelia prompted. “Not supposed to kiss me?”

His breath caught audibly, and his eyes dropped to her lips. She waited hopefully, but the moment stretched out, long enough that she began to feel embarrassed.

“I’m sorry,” she said, lowering her gaze, but not quite able to bring herself to remove her hand from his chest. “I see I made a mistake. I thought you felt the same way I do.”

Suddenly Amell’s hand was on her chin, and she found her face being gently raised to his.

“I do,” he assured her, the earnestness that she loved back in his eyes. “I do feel the same way. I just…I know I shouldn’t assume…I shouldn’t take advantage of the fact that—”

His rambles remained unfinished. Aurelia had heard enough, and once again gathering her courage, she pushed herself onto her toes and pressed her lips against his.

Two things happened at once. The first was that Amell’s arms wove instantly around her, and he pulled her gently against him as his lips responded to hers. It was magical, and toe-tingling, and more incredible than Aurelia could possibly have imagined. She could almost hear her heart singing as Amell held her, and she knew herself to be loved back by the man who’d claimed her heart.

The second thing was less pleasant. As their lips connected, Aurelia became aware of a strange draining sensation that seemed to originate in her midriff. At first she ignored it, too lost in the sensations exploding from the point where Amell’s lips met hers. But all too quickly, the feeling spread, until a heavy weakness had settled over her whole body.

She pulled back with a small groan, sagging in Amell’s arms.

“Aurelia?” he asked, alarm clear in his voice. “Are you all right? What’s happening?”

“I’m not sure,” she admitted, lifting a hand to her forehead. “That storybook Cyfrin brought me once had a girl who went weak at the knees when she was kissed. Maybe this is what that feels like.”

Amell’s eyes searched hers in growing concern, clearly finding no humor in her joking words. “You look pale,” he said. “We’d better wake your mother.”

With an effort, Aurelia shook off the fogginess clouding her mind. She straightened, shaking her head. “No, I’m fine,” she said. “I think I just got overwhelmed by the new experience.” She smiled shyly up at him. “The very nice new experience.”

He still looked a little worried, but he smiled at her as well. “Aurelia,” he said. “That was…you’re…I’ve never in all my life met anyone so…”

“I don’t think your lips are at their best when they’re talking,” she informed him solemnly, grasping hold of his shoulder and pulling him back toward her.

He needed no further encouragement, and a moment later she was back in his arms, one of his hands gently cupping her cheek, and the other flat against her back. Aurelia still felt strangely weak and foggy, but she was encouraged that the draining sensation didn’t happen again. She was ready to abandon herself to Amell’s kiss when his hand traveled, apparently unconsciously, up from her back to tangle into her hair.

The moment his fingers spread across her scalp, a feeling of repulsion raced over her, and she pulled back with an involuntary gasp.

“Don’t touch my hair,” she cried, pulling it out of his reach.

Amell looked as horrified as if she’d slapped him, and she felt instantly repentant.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, clearly aghast. “I didn’t mean to…please forgive me. I should never have—”

“It’s all right,” Aurelia told him shakily, the weakness rushing back now that her mind was no longer distracted. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. It isn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. I suddenly just—”

Just what? What exactly had happened in her mind when he’d touched her scalp? Some horrible realization had exploded across her consciousness, but she couldn’t grasp it, couldn’t articulate it.

“It’s not you,” she assured him, her voice coming out distressingly faint. “I don’t know exactly what’s happening, but I promise it’s not you.”

Without warning, she slumped against him, and he caught her, his fear palpable.

“Aurelia? Aurelia, what’s wrong?”

She couldn’t find the energy to answer him, but inwardly she marveled at the strength of his arms. They quivered with tension, seeming even more full of energy than usual.

“Abigail!” Amell shouted, so loudly Aurelia started in his arms. “Abigail, we need your help!”

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