Page 82 of Beneath the Flames
At least until now.
But the words wouldn’t come, no matter how hard I tried.
In the end, a frustrated sigh slipped between my lips.I took her arm with gentle fingers and turned her to face me, then took the wrist she had been cradling into my hands.I kept my touch light, barely a whisper, studying the fading bruise.
Her only reaction was a sudden intake of breath when I touched her, but she didn’t flinch or pull away.
“Maren?”I met her gray eyes, and they sucked me in.I couldn’t look away.How could a human have such magic over me?She didn’t speak aloud, but her head cocked as if to say,What?
I tore my eyes from hers, looking once more at her bruised wrist, running a finger over it.Goosebumps rippled down her arm.
“Who did this to you?”I repeated, voice quiet, not wanting to break this strange moment we had fallen into.
The toes of our boots were touching, and it would only take a shift of my weight to lean into her, to kiss—
That’s enough, Rhydian.She is not for you.
I forced the thought to stop in its tracks.I couldn’t take such a risk.What were these feelings anyway?I’d never felt anything like this, least of all for a human.
I was so lost in my thoughts—and trying to stop them—that it startled me when she finally answered.
“Do you really want to know?”
The sadness in her voice made me release her wrist.She dropped it to her side.The air inexplicably felt colder without her skin on mine.
“Only if you want to tell me,” I replied.I wasn’t going to force information from her whenIhad barely shared anything at all.
Her eyes dropped to the ground, and a familiar emotion surged in her mind, my magic instantly grasping onto it.It wasn’t difficult to decipher, as I had just felt it myself minutes ago.
Shame.
“My father.Sometimes, he—” She paused, wrapping her arms around herself.I had the sudden urge to pull her into me and hold her in my own arms.
Maren gave a shake of her head.“I was the reason he would leave my mom and siblings alone.When I’m not there…” A single tear escaped the corner of her eye.
I didn’t even hesitate.My thumb caught the tear, brushing it away from her cheek.Glistening gray eyes snapped up to mine.I left my hand there, cupping her face.Try as I might, I couldn’t get my hand to fall.I couldn’t tell if it was my imagination or not, but it felt like she leaned farther into the touch.
I dared a step closer.“I’m sorry.”The words slipped through my lips like butter.Why was I suddenly able to apologize to her when it had my voice choking a few minutes before?If she was surprised at the words, she didn’t show it, keeping her gaze on the ground.
Maren sniffled, and the sound cracked something in my stone heart—something that had been dead for centuries.
What is this human doing to me?
“That’s why I need to get home, Rhydian,” she pleaded.“They need me.”
I didn’t understand much about humans, especially this one, butthisI could understand.Wasn’t I just thinking a few days ago that I would do anything to save Nico from my fate?He didn’t deserve it.Neither did Maren’s family.
Thoughshedidn’t deserve it either.
If the curse was ever broken, maybe I’d pay Maren’s father a visit.I could take care of her problem like I took care of the man who’d tried to kidnap her.
No one would ever know.
Would she want that?At the moment, with her skin touching mine, I felt like giving her anything she wanted.It was a strange feeling, but not an unpleasant one.
An unfamiliar pang of regret snapped through me.I had taken her away from her family.They needed her, and because of me, who knew what they were facing now?
The portal to her world flickered in my mind.The curse was supposed to forbid a human from leaving Avalea, but could I try anyway?If my magic cooperated long enough, I could attempt to send her home.I didn’t know if it would work—I’d never tried before.
