Page 129 of Wings of Lies
I flinched, falling on my ass, making him laugh. “Don’t do that!” I exclaimed, irritated but unable to hold back my smile.
“How many times have I scared you? And yet, you still end up on the ground,” Aspen snorted, holding out his hand to help me up per usual. It had become our irritating routine.
“Maybe one of these days, you’ll be kind enough to catch me before I fall.” I grabbed his hand, enjoying the way the tingles tightened my stomach.
He lifted me, then smoothed a piece of my long hair back. “But how else will I come by my weekly chuckle?”
I pushed him and his delicious hands away, trying to act indignant, but it wasn’t easy when his dimples came out to play. They didn’t grace his face often, usually because of my prying words, but when they did, I melted.
“So, what sliver will you give me today?” Yep, and there they went. Unlocking anything from Aspen was like attempting to find where my mom hid her old text about bonds. I had searched everywhere for the damned book and still couldn’t find it. Aspen wasdisappointed when I told him, but I said I would keep looking and tell himif and whenI found it. Until then, he visited, we talked, and I tried to learn things about him.
So far, I had learned that Aspen loved apples and possessed a bonded sword, which was a weaponhecould only touch and channel his power into. After he explained, I demanded an example and watched as his eyes and intricate sword lit with blue flame. I also learned he enjoyed fighting because he was excellent at it, his words, not mine, and that he wasn’t from here. But when I asked where he was from, he said those same six words and left me. So, I now resorted to letting him choose what to tell me. For the most part, my curiosity got the best of me at times and bit me in the ass half the time.
He stepped closer, brushing more of my wild hair from my face, which he did almost every time we met. I gazed up at him, smiling because I had officially become addicted to his tingly touch, stupid dimples, and even the thin-pressed scowl and frown he wore every five minutes.
“Tell you what, sweetheart.” He started to call me that after I accidentally leaped on him after he surprised me with one of my favorite chocolate bars. I didn’t mind one bit. “I’ll make you a deal. If you answer a question of mine, I’ll answer any question of yours.”
At first, I wanted to jump with joy at his offer, but then my smile dropped. Aspen liked his secrets, or at least thought he had to keep them, and I wasn’t much better with my own.
“Who is after you?”
I stepped back. Out of all the questions he could’ve asked, it wasn’t the worst, but it’d only spawn more. However, he was my guardian, so maybe he needed to know. I decided to compromise and give him a half-answer.
“Everyone.”
Or more of a non-answer.
He snuffed out the distance I had created and grabbed my hand. I wondered if he knew how easily he could sway me with his touch and the tingles that pitter-pattered their way into my lonely heart.
Maybe that was why I said it. For once, I wanted someone else to know the secrets of my past. I’d keep it vague enough he’d be safe if, for some crazy reason, he was questioned by the wrong people, but I’d give him a sliver.
“I was never supposed to exist, and my—” I gathered my thoughts before I spewed something I shouldn’t. “We’ve been hiding from my fathers.”
“Fathers?”
“Yes, plural.”
A soft glow illuminated his eyes, like he despised the fact someone so close to me was after me. Or someone was after me to begin with.
“Where are they now?” he demanded, clenching the hilt of his sword.
My lips pressed into a thin line, holding back my smile.What was he going to do? Kill them for us?
“My mom hasn’t shared that information with me.”
Determination rested in his brows. He opened his mouth, likely about to ask more questions.
“Oh, no.My turn, Aspen. Where are you from?”
He shook his head vehemently.
“We made a deal,” I said, releasing his hand to brush his cheek, giving him a taste of the delicious torment.
He squeezed his eyes shut as if battling himself or possibly the influence of the bond between us. “If I tell you, you must promise never to follow me there.”
I nodded, all too eager to know.
But when he opened his eyes, they were all flame.
