Page 47 of Heir Of Sun And Moon
“You love him, don’t you?” she asks almost incredulously.
“I do, but as a friend. Nothing more.”
“That could blossom into something more, Bahira! Plenty of people go from friends to lovers. You haven’t eventriedto see him in that way.”
I drop my gaze from hers, because thatisn’ttrue. Ihavetried. I have watched him sparring half naked and sweating, his muscles flexing as he lifts his sword in rhythmic movements. I have tried in quiet moments between just the two of us, where his mellow laugh fills the air. And I have tried in tense moments—like in the council rooms when news of Nox is sparse and my heart beats out of fear in my chest. None of those moments have ever made me feel anything for him except a deep appreciation of his friendship. But Haylee won’t understand that. So instead, I settle on something else. It isn’t a lie, but it isn’t the whole truth.
“Not until I find the answers I’m looking for. Not until I fix our kingdom. Until I fix—” I hesitate, voice cracking with emotion I’d rather not express.
Haylee’s eyes relax as she takes me in, her hands reaching out to cradle one of mine. Her eyes are imploring as she says gingerly, “I know. You deserve to be happy, Bahira, and despite what you may think right now, Daje could make you happy. Just— Don’t count him out yet, okay?”
I stare at my best friend and the sympathetic look on her face. Slowly, I breathe out, nodding my head in agreement and squeezing her hand a little tighter for reassurance. Another set of footsteps sounds before the door to the veranda opens suddenly and a younger mage pops his head through, his chest rising and falling quickly.
“Your Highness?” he asks, looking around until he meets my gaze. “Your father sent me to find you. He’s just received word from Nox.”
Chapter Twenty-Four: Rhea
Thesunreachesitshighest point in the sky when Flynn knocks. I take one last look down at my light purple dress, the built-in corset traveling around my subtle curves and flowing out into a long skirt that nearly touches the tops of my feet. The sleeves are billowy and land just above my elbow. The dress is delicate and pretty and so out of place for me to wear in a stone prison. Tucking my unbound hair behind my ears, I take a deep breath and walk to the door.
There is a slight creak as it opens and reveals Flynn standing on the landing. My next inhale gets stuck in my throat, my heart pounding like a drum as I take him in. He isn’t wearing his guard uniform today—though he did opt for black trousers tucked into brown boots that go to his calf. A form-fitting dark green tunic draws my gaze, the golden tan pigment of his skin glowing against the rich color. The laces of the tunic at his neck are loosened enough that the skin of his chest peeks through. My mouth dries and swallowing becomes momentarily difficult as I tilt my head the rest of the way up to look at him. I watch as his gaze traces a searing line down my body. The survey is quick, his eyes back to mine in a flash, but the heat left in the wake of his perusal burns me from the inside out.
“You look beautiful, Rhea,” he says, his deep voice rasping.
Heat rises to my cheeks as I dip my chin in thanks. I nearly respond withso do youbut luckily stop myself in time. He extends a hand out to me that I hadn’t realized was behind his back, a single flower in his grasp. The beautiful rose is perfectly bloomed, its petals a perfect pink and stem the most vibrant green.
“Thank you,” I say shyly, taken aback by his kindness and… well, justhim. Our fingers brush in a whisper of contact when he passes me the flower. Those incredibly soft-looking lips of his beam back at me, his handsome face lighting up with the movement. I nearly feel disoriented as I step back and let him in.
“Did you miss me?” As usual, his steps are graceful, his body laden with power as he walks through the threshold and into the tower. For someone as broad and tall as he is, he moves like a man half the size. It reminds me of the warriors I’ve read about and how they’ve honed their bodies to be perfect weapons.
I bite back a smile, rolling my eyes as he watches. “Did I miss you prattling on about how handsome you are? Hmm, I’m not sure.” I tap my chin, feigning indecision.
“Notice you said how handsome Iam,are you confirming what we both know?” His raven hair touches the tops of his brows, and I wonder for a moment if those few rebellious strands represent a side to Flynn that I have yet to see fully. It’s physically torturous to stop my hand from ruffling through his locks as I walk to grab a small glass jar by the sink for my rose.
“You may pull from that whatever you need to hear,” I remark with my back to him as I set my gifted flower on the tea table. His chuckle is luxurious, a heady sound that promises fantasies I have no business entertaining.He is forbidden in every way,I remind myself.
“So, what have you planned for us?” he asks, thankfully changing the subject. Bella walks over to him and leans her head in on his lower stomach, searching for pets while I stare at Flynn.
“What?” I squeak out, my heart picking up speed as panic sets in. I was supposed toplansomething? Did I misunderstand what he had meant in the letter? Stars above, am I expected to have this whole day planned out? What can we evendohere?
Flynn’s laugh draws me from my thoughts as he steps forward. “Your cheeks are so red right now,” he teases with a smirk. He rubs Bella’s head before his affectionate eyes find mine. “I was just hoping we could read together.”
Was that vulnerability in his voice? It is impossible for me to believe that this usually confident and magnetic man would feel self-conscious aboutanything. Let alone wondering if a woman stuck in a tower wants to read with him.Not just a regular girl.His words repeat in my mind. Huffing out a sigh of relief, I playfully roll my eyes to hide my embarrassment. Still, my nerves are simmering beneath the surface. Above all else, I really want Flynn to like me, and that leaves me feeling even more anxious than before.
“Do you want the official tour?” I question, waving my hand towards the room. His lips widen into a full smile, one that I find completely unfair. It’s unfair to be that handsome and kind and funny and—Get it together, Rhea.
“Lead the way, Sunshine.”
“We really need to talk about that nickname.”
“Do you not like it?” he questions, studying me as we walk, his gaze burning into the side of my face.
“I just don’t understand it. Why ‘Sunshine’?” We enter the library through the arched doorway, and any response that may have been on the tip of his tongue vanishes as he gawks at the space. A strange feeling of pride bubbles inside of me while I watch him walk along the edges of the crescent-shaped room, eyeing the different titles that line the shelves. Bella curls up in a sunny spot on the floor in front of the bench and rests her head on her crossed paws.
“Can you evenreachthe ones up here?” He stretches an arm overhead and grabs a book from the very top shelf. That constricting feeling in my throat returns as I watch him. I’m feeling both flushed and somewhat jealous.
“No, but I always viewed it as a sort of prize to be won. Like once I finish all the books I can reach, the top rows are my consolation,” I say as I take a seat on the bench by the window. The light and heat of the sun bathes the room in a beautiful brilliance, no nook or cranny left untouched by its rays.
“You can’t be anywhere close to reading all the books here, can you?” he asks, looking around.
