He stares at her for a moment before clearing his throat and glancing away, but he offers her a hand, and she takes it. It’s warm, though not burning. Then he tugs her toward the door, and she hurries to keep up.
Tearing Down Walls
Episode 35
Cerianeyesthewall.
Is he really going to put a door in it?
Arisanna hasn’t even been here a day, and he’s already dismantling Windhaven for her. What sort of hold does she have on him?
He glances at her where she studies his collection of tree-grown figurines. Little toys. Why in the Wildthorne Woods didn’t he pack them away before they left for Nunia?
“These are exquisite.” She holds up the unicorn figure. “Did you make them?”
Clearing his throat, he nods. “That one’s supposed to be Stardust. My mother’s unicorn.”
Arisanna stares at him. “Your mother has a unicorn? She rode a horse to Nunia.”
“She didn’t want to leave Stardust in the care of...”
“Humans?” Arisanna asks when he doesn’t finish.
“Yes. But only because unicorns can be very particular. Stardust will only eat fresh oats from a clean bowl, and she prefers to drink straight from the Waters of Pendarra.”
Arisanna stares at him some more. “And I thought Dahlia was picky.”
Before he can stop himself, laughter bursts from him, and she fumbles the figurine. As it slips from her hand, he reaches out to catch it.
“You have a nice laugh,” she whispers. Her heart is racing.
Is that because of him? Does he really have that effect on her?
He sets the unicorn back on the shelf, trying not to dwell on whatever she is or isn’t thinking.
“So. The wall,” he says.
“You don’t mind?”
Demolishing part of his personal sanctuary?
She steps closer to him. “You have a look about you.”
A look? What does that mean?
“I suppose I’ll be fine on my own,” she continues. “I don’t know what was going through my head. You must think me pathetic, wanting a door in case I need you at night.” A nervous huff of a laugh parts her lips.
Honestly, that was the last thought on his mind when she suggested the door earlier. The fact that she desired a door instead of a wall between them was enough to banish every lingering fear about her not wanting him near her this morning. He would have agreed to build her a replica of Starhaven in Celesta if she’d asked at that moment.
“What sort of door do you want?” he asks.
“You don’t have to—”
“Tell me?”
She gazes at him with a softness that makes him want to wrap his arms around her again, but he keeps his hands to himself.
“Just something simple,” she says.
