Page 45 of A Winter Crush
“I couldn’t. For some reason. So I salvaged it, cleaned it, and glazed it. I wanted you to keep the first thing you ever made in my studio. I wanted you to remember that day.” His cheeks flushed. “I thought the silver glaze matched your eyes.”
Ori stared at the bowl, then looked at Wareth’s nervous face. Ori ran a finger along the wonky edges.
“All right,” Ori said.
Wareth nodded and started to turn away.
“But you have to promise not to do that again.”
Wareth froze, a look of awe and shock appearing on his face. “You mean—” He wet his lips. “—you forgive me?”
Ori nodded. “This time. But don’t do it again.”
“Really?” Wareth reached out, and as if not believing he was allowed, he touched Ori’s shoulder, a feather-light caress. “I promise, Ori. I promise to never behave like that again.” He stroked Ori’s shoulder, to his neck, staring into Ori’s eyes. “You’re so beautiful. And I’ll try my best to be what you deserve.”
Ori stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Wareth, resting his head against Wareth’s chest. “Just don’t let me go.”
Wareth wrapped his big arms around Ori. “I won’t. I love you,” Wareth whispered against his hair.
Ori swallowed. “I love you too.”
Wareth squeezed him tight, and the tension in Ori’s body unwound.
“Excuse me, Ori,” a voice spoke. He turned to see Aunty Yelan looking back and forth between the two of them. Her arms were crossed. “I think you should introduce yourfriendto your aunties.”
ChapterTwenty-Eight
“I’m glad your brother is doing better,” Wareth said, squeezing Ori’s hand.
Liney ran off in the direction of a hill. Many children walked up one side of it, dragging wooden sleds. They then flew down the hill, their laughter and screams of joy bursting through the air.
“Me too.” Ori smiled. “You can’t even tell he’s been sick.”
All around them the Solstice festivities were in full swing. The village had been set up as it was every year. There were little coloured wooden huts decorated with evergreen branches. The smell of spiced wine wafted in the air, mixed with honey-roasted nuts. Everyone from the village was out celebrating. Several oreads too. More than Wareth had seen in previous years.
Ori’s aunties had also come to attend the Solstice festivities. They had wandered off to talk to Mila, an oread who ran the village store, leaving Wareth and Ori to celebrate on their own. They’d forgiven Wareth. Although, Aunty Yelan had told him that if he hurt Ori again, there would be dire consequences.
Wareth had promised her that he would do his best to never hurt Ori again and to always look after him. He meant every word.
Wareth still couldn’t believe Ori had forgiven him. And when Wareth had told Ori he loved him, Ori had said it back. He didn’t deserve that love, not after what he’d done, but he would do everything in his power to try to be worthy of it, to be worthy of Ori.
“I have to show you something,” Wareth said to Ori.
“What?”
Wareth tugged on Ori’s hand and led him to a stall selling spiced mulled wine. He bought two mugs.
“See,” he said. “It’s our mugs.”
“But they aren’t brown!”
Wareth shook his head. “No. The glaze changes in the kiln.”
“They’re beautiful!” Ori said, holding up the mug. “These are really the same mugs? We really made these?” he asked in amazement.
“We did.” Wareth’s heart swelled at the sight of Ori smiling. “And you’ll have to help me decide how to decorate them next year. You can choose the glaze.”
“Really?” Ori’s smile blinded him.
