Page 110 of Spoils of war
“You didthat?” he asked.
“That’s not what I was trying to do. I don’t know how I—”
"Yeah," he cut in, eyes still wide. "How did you do that?”
"The woman told me to let it all out, face my fears, my emotions." I swallowed, still staring at the ashes in my palm. "And then Aran kept pushing me and it just... happened.”
Will’s whole body stiffened.
"He what?” he head snapped toward Aran. "You pushed her?”
"Not like that—” he explained.
Will wasn’t buying it. Not for a second. His eyes narrowed like he was waiting for Aran to slip and give him a reason to pounce. Aran stepped forward anyway, grin widening like he couldn’t help himself.
“You’re not getting it,” he said. “Shesoared. I’m serious. She lifted off the damn ground. It was horrifying. And incredible.”
Will stared at him like he’d lost his mind. “What are you talking about?”
“Kera. Fucking. Soared.”
Will glanced back at me.
”How?”
“It just... happened.” I said. ”I think I finally just let it all out and faced it. Like that woman said. All the things I’ve been trying not to feel, to bury..”
“So… going to her actually worked?” he asked. “It’s helping?”
I nodded slowly. “I think so.”
“I think I did a great job too,” Aran said, clearly proud of himself.
“Yeah,” I muttered, eyeing him. “At pissing me off.”
He flashed that smug grin of his. “You’re welcome.”
I rolled my eyes, but then something caught my attention. Will was gripping something, his fingers curled into a fist, but a glint of metal peeked out between them. A chain.
“What’s that?” I asked, nodding toward it.
He opened his palm. Nestled there was the blue crystal, wrapped tightly in steel wire, like a tiny cage. It hung on a thin chain, catching the light.
“I figured… if you wanted to keep it close to your heart,” he said, eyes flicking to mine, “this might make it easier.”
“You made that?” I asked, the words curling into a smile.
He gave the smallest nod, almost like he was embarrassed.
And then a slow clap erupted behind us.
“You made her a necklace?” Aran said, dragging the words out like they physically disgusted him. “What happened to 'they’re just overpriced rocks’?” He mocked.
Will glared at him, but he didn’t take the bait. Aran raised his hands in mock surrender, but the grin didn’t leave his face.
”I love it. Thank you.” I said, trying to ease the tension, taking it from his hand. I stepped between them, holding the necklace gently, then turned around and swept my hair aside.
“Will… would you?”
