Page 3 of Weave the Dark, Weave the Light
Jonathan lifted his hand—but not in aggression. “You should ask before you take.” His leather-clad fingers hovered near Ari’s shoulder. “May I?”
They nodded, unsure of what Jonathan was asking, but so very sure they wanted whatever was being offered.
His palm cupped Ari’s shoulder, and elemental energy slammed into them. Not fire—no, nothing so simple. This was a lick of lightning or the arc of a transformer, but colder. The depth of space.
The heart of the universe throbbed in Jonathan, a distant bell reverberating through the bones of the earth and the moon. Ari sucked the energy into their soul, wrapping themself around the wild,untamablejoy.
Jonathan’s lips parted in a feral parody of a smile. “Oh, little witch, you are something different.”
Ari placed their hand on Jonathan’s midnight peacoat and slipped two fingers between the buttons. “I’m hardly little.” Hardly young or inexperienced. What would it be like to have this man under them? Bound? What would his skin taste like under lips and tongue? To linger in bed and talk about the mysteries of the universe?
Jonathan’s laugh, sharp and biting, clouded the air. “Dangerous.”
“You or me?”
“Me. You’re merely reckless.”
“Am I?” Ari pushed their fingers further into the coat, stroking the warm fabric that lay over muscle and bone.
“You have no idea what you’re playing with.” He removed his hand and took a step back, out of reach.
Ari brushed their thumb against their lips, tasting lingering warmth. “Not fire. You’re not that.”
“Certainly notthat.” Jonathan’s scarf glittered in the moonlight, as did his eyes.
The latter blazed for a second, and Ari sucked in a breath, feeling that strange, cold brightness twine and burn within them. Ancient. Older than the world. “Starlight.” The word fell from their lips. Ofcourse. Aster. Star.
The playfulness on Jonathan’s lips fell away.
“Plasma, then.” Something Ari shouldn’t have been able to draw or keep or even touch. And yet, they felt the strands inside them, as much as they could hold.
Reckless? Maybe. Dangerous? Most certainly. Even if Jonathan hadn’t realized that.
“I should add brave to your list of descriptors,” he murmured.
Ari stepped forward and touched the buttons of Jonathan’s coat. “Why are you here?”
“Some secrets you have to earn, Ari.”
They stood together for silent moments. Curiosity warred with frustration and slipped into lust. What would it be like to fuck a star?Thisstar? To strip Jonathan of his clothes, tie him down, and take him apart? To verbally spar with him for hours? To be known physically and mentally by something so powerful? “And how does one earn your secrets, Jonathan?”
He unlooped the scarf from around his neck and draped it around Ari’s, holding on to the ends. “Weave me a spell.”
The fabric was shockingly warm against Ari’s skin, or maybe that was their blush rising. Spells for another required a connection that didn’t exist yet between them and Jonathan. Ari breathed out fear and drew in strength. “What sort of spell? Protection? Empowerment? Love?”
Jonathan tugged the scarf before letting the ends go. The motion brought Ari closer. “Your choice, fire witch.” He paused. “Though I don’t think anyone can spell someone into love.”
“It’s an alignment of intent. I canhelpwith that, in the case of love. But if one party isn’t interested…” They shrugged, dug into their pocket for the citrine they always carried, and handed it to Jonathan. Once again, when they touched, energy sparked. Ari pulled more into them.
“All magic is intent.” Jonathan closed his fingers around the citrine before bringing it to his lips and kissing the stone. “It’ll be interesting to see what you do with yours.”
Ari wanted that mouth open in surprise and ecstasy, wanted to see Jonathan gasping in need. They wanted to know Jonathan—and wanted to be known in return.
“I had no idea humans could channel plasma. It’s not an element anyone talks about.”
“You, I believe, can do whatever you want.” Jonathan tucked the stone into the pocket of his coat. “It might be a human trait, but I suspect that’s peculiar to you.” His smile was knife sharp. “I suppose we’ll see.”
“We’ll meet again?” Those words were a blade pressed to Ari’s throat, all thrill and adrenaline. They lifted their chin. Another chance to uncover Jonathan and unfold themself.
