Again he steps toward me, but before I can settle, he moves again. Locked in his embrace and with the guidance of his hand on the small of my back, I move with him.
“Are you scared?”
My brows crease with the question.
“Of what?” I ask.
“Of us. Of marrying,” he replies.
I heave a sigh. “The answer isn’t simple,” I say and he waits for me to continue. “I’m not scared of you or being with you. I’m scared you’ll regret your choice.”
Disappointment is inevitable. He’ll come to see the demon I see, know the demon I hide. Learn the things I’ve done, the urges I fight.
Ryc halts, giving me a rather fierce stare.
“Not possible,” he says, his tone firm. “You’re no more demon than the rest of us. Ifeelwhat’s here.” He nods toward my heart. “Despite what you choose to share from here.” He leans close, pressing a kiss to my brow.
What a mess that must be.
To feel what I feel, yet only hear the thoughts I’m willing to share.
“Though,” he says, sweeping off again with me in tow. “I will fault you for lying about your ability to dance.”
It’s then I realize we’ve moved through the same dance as those around us, albeit at a much slower pace. Cursed by either the gods or Nektos herself, my heel catches and I stumble.
Laughing, Ryc’s arm tightens, keeping me balanced, but it’s not enough. As I plant my foot, my ankle rolls and my knee buckles. In an attempt to save myself, I bring my foot down once again—
Square on Ryc’s toes.
Bursting into laughter, Ryc somehow manages to keep me upright.
“I take it back,” he laughs. “You are a demon. The toe-targetingkind.”
“You did this to yourself,” I shoot back as I try to wriggle from his grasp. “You were warned.”
My wriggling fuels his stupid grin.
“I’ll do it again if you don’t release me, nyraphim,” I near snarl.
He leans close, running his nose along mine. In a low, velvet rumble he says, “I’ve seen you spar. I’m not concerned.”
“You—”
A ground trembling clap of thunder tears through the darkened sky, echoing through the square. A warning come too late. Before the sound ceases, the clouds open themselves unleashing torrential,coldrain.
I pause, lifting my face toward the heavens and Ryc does the same.
Shrieks, shouts, and laughter rise around us. People scatter, drawing their hoods and covering their heads as they rush beneath awnings and into shops.
Anything to escape the rain.
But escaping is the last thing I want to do right now.
Instead, I remain still. Letting the rain crash against my face as I close my eyes. I’ve never experienced rain this heavy, thissudden. It pours in sheets, soaking through my cloak and clothes, matting my hair.
My eyes fly open as I’m lifted from the ground, Ryc hoisting me into the air. He laughs, twirling with me, and I cling to his shoulders, laughing with him.
The rain creates a strange haze through the now near empty square, few others sharing in the marvel around us. As Ryc stops, I lift my hands, catching water in my palms. It fills my hands, cascading over onto his shoulders.
