“That’s a relief. I can’t believe I said that.”
Tharios laughs harder, and Rominy fights the heat climbing his neck.
“It’s too bad Elowyn doesn’t have plant magic, isn’t it?” Tharios says. “Or is it my life magic you envy most?”
Rominy smacks his arm. “She has water magic, you know.” The heat spreads to his cheeks. “Let’s pretend I didn’t say that.”
“I heard it. You can’t take it back.”
“She’s your sister! This conversation just got very awkward.”
“If you heard half the conversations I’ve had this week, Rominy.” Tharios shakes his head as he chuckles. “I could use some levity to go with them.”
“Then I guess I’m glad to be of service.”
“I think you and I will get along just fine. Now, food and then sleep. For both of us.”
“Or neither of us.” He’s already up to his neck in this. He may as well do a proper job of mortifying himself.
“If we’re lucky,” Tharios whispers.
“Yeah, this isn’t awkward at all.”
“Brotherly bonding. I’m enjoying it. Cerian just tries to singe my eyebrows. He has plant magic, too, you know.” Tharios lifts his brows and grins back at Rominy as he goes to check on Elowyn again.
“That was just cruel!” Rominy rubs his eyes and tries not to smile too widely.
He needed some levity, too.
Starfire
Episode 112
“Ivotewestayon the train this time.”
Cerian looks down at Arisanna where she sprawls across his lap in her leather dress and laughs. “I’m not eager for another adventure like the last one, but ending up in the hot springs with you was wonderful.”
“Mmm. Yes. I enjoyed that part. And I learned my lesson. If you vanish, I’m running after you right away.” There’s a dreamy note to her voice, and she looks completely at home lying on his lap like that. The thought draws out his smile as he gazes down at her.
“So what shall we do? Explore the train? I’m not certain there’s much here to see that we haven’t already seen.”
“There are probably other railcars.”
“More railcars like this one? Sounds scintillating.”
She laughs at his words before stretching with her arms over her head, and she leaves them there, completely relaxed in a way that draws on his fire. Open and free. Holding nothing back, the way she offered herself to him in the real world before she fell asleep in his arms in the water in their bathtub when he was done loving her. She barely stirred when he wrapped a warm towel around her and carried her to the bed.
That she feels so safe with him is hard to fathom. But she does. And he’ll spend his life being her safe place.
The way she’s his.
“I don’t even care where we go as long as I get to be with you,” she says softly. She’s clearly feeling close to him now. It’s surreal knowing he has that effect on her.
Before he can respond, the train whistles and the brakes squeal, and she groans.
They don’t have to get off the train, do they? Just because it’s stopping doesn’t mean they have to move.
“Let’s take this night off,” he says. “Stay here. Talk. Snuggle.”
