“I don’t ask for much from you, but I am asking for this,” he says. “I need a few more hours.”
I follow his gaze to Juniper. My stomach twists at the laugh-filled expression on her face, and as I watch her, I’m reminded of the stark contrast in her crying eyes.
“This one means more,” I say.
“I think she could. I think there’s something more here. And I think you’ll feel it once you’re with her.”
My teeth clench. I don’t like putting too much faith in the what-if’s.
“Your mark faded this morning,” I tell him.
“Fuck.” He runs his hand through his hair. “Did you?—”
“I left mine,” I assure him. “You realize it doesn’t have the same worth as yours.”
“Mine is a pathetic reminder of my last failure,” Blaze mutters. He stretches his fingers wide and looks down at them. I can see the magic swimming beneath his skin, flickering as if it’s lost its momentum.
“Any progress?” I ask.
“It’s erratic,” he answers.
“You’ve forgotten what it means to want it, brother. Remember the way we brought cities down and undermined our mother’s every move. It’s still in you. You lost your spirit, not your life.”
Blaze’s jaw tightens as he regards Juniper again. A darkness settles in his gaze that makes my insides squirm. He’s in there. The brother I knew,he’s still there.
I just have to bring it out of him.
“That was fear in your voice last night,” I say.
Blaze doesn’t speak.
I regard Juniper again, trying to see her as deeply as he does. “If the fear of losing her isn’t enough for you to fight, then what will be?”
“I’ll fix it.”
“You’d better. If you’re serious about this, you’re going to need it. And I need my brother back.”
“Give me today. Give me a start. Let me find out what these sprites have already told her.” He finally drags his gaze to mine, and I almost smile at the fire behind those pupils.
“I’m not losing again,” he says.
Chapter 11
Juniper
The kite festival is happening on the beach today.
I can see the various designs waving in the wind from the bar. Holiday designs, dragons, birds, wings… The colors make me smile, and I go a little slower making this Bloody Mary. Even though I was always terrible at trying to get a kite to fly, I love watching them. There’s something magical about them soaring together against the wind. It’s a peaceful sight, so different from the way I felt staring at the sun this morning and the cold tears that had run down my cheeks because I couldn’t stop them.
Three days to my birthday.
Four days to the anniversary I’m dreading.
Remembering that this year will be the first year that I won’t be walking to the jetty on my birthday with my dad is hitting me hard. I was able to contain it yesterday. Even so, this morning nearly broke me.
Thank fuck Nick was awake to get my mind off of it.
I’d sent him the picture of the sunrise thinking he’d see it later, but my chest had swelled when he answered seconds after. The air had warmed around me, my racing heart had calmed.I don’t know why it felt as if someone leaned against my side, hands cupping mine, a thumb swiping the tears from my cheek.
