She looks hesitantly up at him.
Whistling wind. Is she really his?
Not taking her eyes off his, she lifts her mittened hand to his chest, laying her palm right over his pounding heart.
“From this moment on, our two hearts beat as one. I bind myself to you, Cerian Westaria. Until my end of days.”
The words of the heartbinding.
And before he can stop himself—if he even wants to—he crushes her to his chest once more.
Cozy Heat
Episode 40
CerianholdsArisannatightto his chest in the snowy tundra of their heartlanding. He’s so warm. She just wants to exist in the cozy heat of his fire magic forever.
What possessed her to repeat the words of the heartbinding, anyway? Words that apparently are etched onto her heart now. They were just there when she needed them.
When he needed to hear them.
He doesn’t reciprocate, but that’s all right. Her elven prince speaks most clearly without words, and with the way he keeps clinging to her, she can easily discern his feelings.
He’s choosing this. Choosing her in a way he didn’t before, when she was just the unfamiliar human princess he was barely willing to bind with to save his mother.
Now...he’s choosing her for her.
At least, he seems to be.
A tiny prickle of ice hits her cheek, and she opens her eyes to a stunning winter scene. Bright, fluffy flakes of powdery snow fill the air, and she gasps. “It’s snowing.”
“It’s been coming down for a few minutes,” Cerian says quietly. His warm arms still hold her close, and she doesn’t pull away.
“Oh. My eyes were closed. I was just...basking in you.” She tilts her head to look up at him. He feels it, too...doesn’t he?
His expression is unreadable, though.
“What are you thinking?” she asks again. “I’m not scaring you off, am I?”
His mouth quirks, and he shakes his head.
“What, then?” she asks.
“I’m trying to decide if you like me or my fire magic better.” The faintest hint of that brilliant full smile of his ghosts across his face. Are they flirting again? Her belly warms at the thought.
“I’m not sure your fire magic would be as appealing without you to wield it.”
His brow furrows. “That doesn’t even make sense.”
Laughter fills her at the confusion on his face, and he shakes his head, a smile tugging at his lips.
“Maybe I like the whole package,” she teases. “You and your magic and those pointed ears of yours.”
He glances away, but not before an adorable flush races up his cheeks, all the way to the tips of his ears.
Is he growing warmer? Perhaps she shouldn’t tease him like that. His hands are hot against her lower back, even through the thick cloak he asked the heartlanding for.
When did he slide his hands to her lower back? Probably around the time she rested her palms against his chest. She could slip them around his neck. Gaze up into his eyes. Would he kiss her again? A real kiss this time?
