“Is that all?” he asks quietly.
“It will get easier. You’ll get better at controlling it once everything you’re feeling isn’t so new.”
Cerian breathes out slowly. “So for now, use my fire magic more and...water?”
Father nods.
Well, that’s simple enough.
“How is Arisanna adjusting?” Father asks. “She seems to be handling everything well.”
There’s a smile in Father’s voice, and Cerian crosses his arms. “You mean she’s handling me well.”
Laughing, Father squeezes Cerian’s shoulder. “Those words are yours. Not mine. I’m pleased she’s adjusting, though. Now go enjoy your birthday.”
As Cerian wanders back to his chamber, relief fills him. Thank the fates that’s over.
After slipping through his door, he glances around, but Arisanna isn’t there. She must be in her own room. He pokes his head through the open connecting door, but it’s quiet in there, too. Where did she go?
“Arisanna?”
“Stars above. I thought you’d be gone longer.” She stares at him from the doorway to her water closet as she clutches...what is she wearing? Is that his dressing gown she’s holding closed around her?
And her hair is wet. Did she bathe while he was gone?
Whistling wind. His palms are definitely tingling now.
She tugs the fabric even closer. “I-I hope you don’t mind. I borrowed your robe.”
He shakes his head. “I’m just...I’ll be...”
She nods, and he flies from the room, closing the door connecting their chambers as he goes.
Fire magic. He needs to use his fire magic. Standing in front of his stone-lined hearth, he lobs a steady stream of fireballs into the grate. As the fire flows from him, he relaxes. It is helping.
Which isn’t surprising. It helped in the heartlanding, too. Perhaps if he does it for longer, he’ll be able to stop worrying about setting things on fire every time he thinks about kissing Arisanna.
Perhaps he could actually kiss her.
“Cerian?”
He glances over his shoulder. She stands a few feet behind him, wearing her shimmeron gown again. Her hair is still damp, and thoughts of Father’s words fill him.
Water. Take her in the water.
It’s a good thing he’s already using his fire magic with the heat that thought elicits in him.
“Is that what your father said to do?” she asks, and he turns back to the hearth before nodding as she steps closer. “And is it helping?”
“It seems to be.” After a few more moments, he pulls back and flexes his hands. They feel cooler. How long will it last, though?
“I’m ready to go whenever you are. Do we bring food with us?” Arisanna asks.
“Cook probably packed something already.”
“I’m convinced you just want everyone to think you’re prickly. Deep down, you’re a sweetheart, and the people closest to you know it.”
He looks at her in shock. “I what?”
