Cerian glances away, but Father turns Cerian’s chin back to meet his gaze, and Cerian sighs.
“I wasn’t expecting...that.”
“That her heart would seek out yours so quickly?”
Cerian nods. “And that...” He breathes out slowly and looks away again.
“And that you’d feel it, too?”
Father always knows. He always has. For all Cerian’s life, Father’s understood him better than anyone but Elowyn.
“Don’t fight it. Let it grow,” Father says softly. “Give it a chance.”
It’s terrifying being so drawn to a stranger. But it’s been growing all day. This inexplicable need to be near her. All he could think about earlier while he spoke to his parents was her. Was she all right? Did she need anything? Was she warm enough?
Whistling wind. It’s unsettling.
“Do you feel this way all the time?” Cerian asks, and Father laughs.
“My air magic keeps looking for your mother. I’ve pulled it back so many times already.”
“No wonder it’s drafty in here,” Cerian mutters, and Father laughs again.
“Do me a favor, Cerian. When your fire magic grows difficult to control, come find me, all right?”
Cerian frowns. His fire magic?
Before he can respond, the door swings open, and the women step out.
“She’s already asleep,” Grandmera says, and Cerian swallows as he peers through the open doorway. Arisanna lies there peacefully, with her reddish-brown hair spread over his pillow.
His human princess is sound asleep in his bed.
Awkward Moments
Episode 24
Cerianblinks,andhisentire family is gone.
At least he doesn’t have an audience as he stands uncertainly in the open doorway to his chamber, watching Arisanna while the blankets covering her gently rise and fall with her steady breathing.
What now? Is he supposed to sleep beside her?
They slept beside each other last night.
That felt different, though. There was no bed involved, for one. And she wasn’t exhausted into delirium. Will she even remember her words when she wakes? Begging him not to leave her?
As if he could abandon her. It’s like threads have wrapped around their hearts, binding them together.
A heartbinding. Aptly named.
Well, he’s not going to sleep in the corridor.
Quietly, he steps into his chamber and closes the door behind him. The lantern light someone left flickers on Arisanna’s rounded ear, and Cerian studies it. What does a human ear feel like?
Not just a human ear, though. Her ear. Arisanna’s. Did he really meet her two days ago? Surely it’s been longer than that.
He gazes longingly at the bed beside her. He’s not exhausted to incoherency the way she was, but he is tired. It’s been a long day.
