Page 85 of Sophie's Ruin
“What are you doing?” Henry asked, sitting up in the bed. His tone was wary and for a good reason. I stood before the window now. “Sophie…” he warned as I reached for the curtains.
When I turned my head to look at him, he was crouched on top of the covers, his muscles tense as if he were going to shoot off the bed at any moment to tackle me away from the window.
“Do you trust me?” I asked him, as I hooked my thumbs between the drapes that were still sealed tight.
Henry’s gaze darted to my fingers before returning to my face.
“You’re scaring me…”
I arched a brow instead of repeating my question.
Henry’s gaze darted back to my hands on the curtains, then back to me. He searched my face for a few moments. Whatever he saw must have given him the confirmation he’d needed.
“Always,” he finally said, with a heavy sigh.
With a nod, I turned back to the window.
“Sophie!” I heard Henry’s panicked shout a second before I pulled open the drapes.
The night sky greeted me, but the sunrise was close. The clouds were already catching the first pink, orange, and red hues of the sun that was still below the horizon. We didn’t have much time.
When I looked back at Henry, he was on the other side of the room, standing flat against the wall. He’d scrambled off the bed and thrown himself there when I’d opened the curtains. I’d never seen his eyes so wide as he stared at me. He didn’t say anything for a few minutes.
“How is this possible?” he finally rasped. “Is it because of your magic?”
I walked over to him and extended my hand.
“Come with me,” I said low as a smile pulled at my lips.
“Me?” His tone was guarded.
“Yes, you.” I laughed softly. “You will always come with me. Wherever I go. If I will stand before the rising sun, then so will you.”
Henry’s lips parted slightly as he looked past me, toward the window. I could see impossible longing etched into his striking features. His expression became almost pained, as if he wanted to believe something so badly it hurt.
His stormy gaze returned to mine.
Trust me,I pleaded with my eyes.
Always,he gave a small nod as he put his hand in mine.
I led him to the window, and he followed slowly, hesitantly, his breathing speeding up the closer we got to our destination. When I stepped into the early morning light, Henry stopped abruptly on the other side of the line that separated where I stood from the shadowy part of the room. His eyes glistened with tears as he watched me, his gaze like a caress gliding down my body bathed in the glow of the lightening sky.
“One more step,” I urged him, reaching for his other hand.
He let me take it and pull him gently toward me.
I heard a sharp intake of his breath as he willed his legs to move. Squeezing his eyes shut, he put one foot in front of the other and stepped closer to me. He stood frozen before me, and I didn’t think he was breathing. Reaching up, I brushed my lipsover the hard line of his jaw, which was clenched so tight that the tendons in his neck stood out.
“Open your eyes,” I whispered against his lips. “You wouldn’t want to miss it.”
A few more moments passed before Henry unclenched his jaw and released a shuddering breath. Slowly, he pried his lashes apart and looked at me. Awe and confusion were carved into his features. Then he turned his head toward the window, and I watched him as he took in the sight before him. The sky at the horizon was a bright orange hue now, pouring a warm glow over the landscape.
“How is this possible?” he asked again, turning back to me. “Is it your magic? Are you projecting it onto me somehow?” His gaze dropped to our joint hands.
My gaze lowered to them as well before I lifted it back up to his face.
“It is my magic,” I told him, smiling softly. “But I’m not projecting it onto you.”
