Page 239 of Eternal
I could feel my heart might actually beat out of my chest.
“Fuck,” Nikolai says, chuckling under his breath. “That was fun, Azra.”
I drag myself upright, still gasping but smiling at this comment. Itwasfun. My body needed it and my mind needed it even more. “I’m exhausted. Might not even make it to your party tonight,” I say, wiping the sweat from my face.
Nikolai stands slowly, grabbing a water bottle and tossing me one. He raises an eyebrow at me. “You’d say no to the Emira?”
Ben laughs, shaking his head. “Oh, you really don’t want that.Zcan be... impressively terrifying.”
I laugh weakly, but it stops when I realize they’re serious. “But what if I say Nikolai beat me to death and I need medical attention?”
Ben raises his bottle in salute. “Zee’s still gonna order me to check your vitals. So drink some water and suffer like the rest of us.”
I shake my head, half-smiling, half-exhausted. I don’t get it, them,this... whatever this is.
Eventually we wandered out of that building, heading toward the parking lot.
“You even have a dress for tonight at least?” Nikolai asks, glancing over at me.
And that’s when full-body panic sets in.
Panic mode at its apogee.Oh fuck.“No. I don’t.”
Nikolai laughs softly, “You should ask Z. She’ll know where to take you.”
I hesitate, fingers twitching at my side. I don't want to owe anyone favors, but worse than that, I hate asking for help. But the good thing is, the Emira is fighting the same people, it’s almost comforting in a way.
I sigh and pull out my phone.
Me
Hey, it’s Voron. I don’t have anything to wear for tonight and I wondered if you’d be available to show me some places where I can get an outfit?
As soon as I hit send, shame punches me square in the chest. My whole body’s hot with it, red, embarrassed for no goddamn reason, I can see the flush blooming in my palms.
Ben and Nikolai just grin at each other like proud siblings and stay back, waiting, pretending not to watch as I swing onto my bike.
“Be careful Voron, see you tonight.” Niko says as I can’t hear him anymore.
I rode back to the house, muscles trembling, head still hurting because it’s been so long since I took that much alcohol.
I arrive a few minutes after and peel off my clothes, throw everything in a heap, step into the hottest shower I can stand, trying to burn away the nerves, trying to understand them, this... ease, this lightness I can’t name without flinching.
I still feel sore from training when I leave my phone on the table, but then it buzzes.
Zanae’s reply flashes on the screen:
Zanae
I'd love that. I'll pick you up in two hours.
I stare at the message, blink, re-read it twice, maybe three times.
She said she'd love that. It’s not just a yes, it’s nice.
I’ve never done this before, shopping outside casually with another woman, much less the Emira.
I pace the living room twice before grabbing my phone and calling Vik. He doesn’t even get a hello out before I cut him off.
