Page 14 of A Winter Romance
“Look up ahead.” Sero pointed.
Aryn gasped. Little golden lights floated through the trees.
“Magic!”
“Not quite.” Sero chuckled. “They are Solstice beetles. They appear just before the Solstice and disappear soon after. I’m sure someone could tell you why they do this, but I just know that I like to watch them.”
Aryn looked around in amazement, taken aback by the beauty of the golden lights. He watched them for several moments and realised that they slowly blinked. He’d never seen anything like it.
“Here,” Sero said.
Aryn turned towards him, and his mouth dropped open. Sero’s hands were cupped together, golden light flashing within.
“You’re holding one! Does it hurt?”
“No.” Sero shook his head, smiling widely. The corners of his eyes crinkled, and his cheeks dimpled.
“Does it hurt the beetle?”
Sero laughed, a rich, bubbly sound. “No. So long as you don’t crush it. Now hold out your hand.”
“Really?”
Sero nodded.
Tentatively, Aryn stuck out his gloved hand. Sero transferred the beetle onto Aryn’s palm. He placed one of his own hands over Aryn’s so the beetle didn’t fly away. Aryn held his breath, keeping completely still.
“Now give me your other hand.”
Aryn did as instructed, and then Sero replaced his hand with Aryn’s so Aryn held the beetle cupped between his palms.
“I’m holding it.” An excited laugh burst from him. Even through the material of his glove, Aryn felt tiny beetle legs crawling on his hand.
He looked up into Sero’s silver eyes. Tenderness beat within his chest. For a moment, he wished he could pause time and stay in this moment with Sero.
He looked down at his hands. The golden light flickered. What a foolish thought. He’d return to the city soon. That was where he belonged. Not here in this magic forest with Sero.
ChapterTwelve
Aryn took a shaky breath. “Should I let it go?”
“If you want.”
Aryn lifted his hand. The golden beetle crawled around on its six spindly legs, its rounded back blinking. Its wings opened, and it took off into the night, joining the others.
“I do love these mountains.” Sero sighed. “There is so much life and movement. It’s always the same, but always changing with its seasons and rhythms.” He smiled at Aryn. “There is so much beauty here if you know where to look.”
Sero’s voice was hypnotic, and listening to Sero speak, Aryn could see the mountains through his eyes. Not as something wild that had tried to kill him, or that he needed to fear, or that should be controlled, but as something majestic. Something magical.
“Thank you for showing me this,” Aryn said.
Sero turned towards him and took his hand. “You’ve been out here long enough. Let’s head back to the cave before you freeze.”
“I’m glad I got to see this,” Aryn said.
“I’m glad too. It’s nice to have you here. It’ll be nice to share Solstice with you.”
Aryn’s chest lightened at the words. He knew now that Sasha had only ever wanted him for his family and their business. For three years they’d stayed together because of that. But Sero didn’t know his family. He’d never even heard of them. So if Sero liked him and wanted to spend time with him, it wasn’t for his family. It was for him. Just him.
