The noise of the square presses in around us—laughter and music and the hum of magic thick in the air. Too loud. Too crowded. Senna's breathing too fast beside me, and I need to get her somewhere quiet. Somewhere we can actually think.
I weave us through the festival, past the booths and performers and couples lost in each other. My wings flex instinctively, blocking out anyone who gets too close, and I don't stop until we're at the edge of the square where the cobblestones give way to grass.
A garden sprawls ahead of us, tucked behind a low stone wall. Lanterns hang from the trees, their light soft and golden, casting shadows that dance across carefully tended flower beds. It's quieter here—the festival noise muffled by distance and magic.
Perfect.
I pull Senna through the entrance, past rose bushes heavy with blooms that glow faintly in the dark. When we're deepenough that I can't see the square anymore, I stop and reach for my magic.
It comes easily, a familiar burn in my veins. I shape it with practiced precision, throwing up a shield around us. Nothing fancy—just enough to keep anyone from stumbling into this space. To give us privacy.
The air shimmers faintly where the barrier settles, and then we're alone.
Senna pulls her hand from mine, wrapping her arms around herself. She still won't look at me. Won't meet my eyes.
And that—fuck, that scares me more than Serai's words did.
"Are you okay?" I keep my voice low, careful.
She nods, but it's not convincing. Her shoulders are hunched, her head bowed, and I can see her fingers digging into her own arms hard enough to leave marks.
Without thinking, I step closer. Reach for her.
My fingers brush her chin, tilting her face up toward mine. I want to see her. Need to see her. The mask hides too much, those silver petals beautiful but in the way, and it would be so easy to just?—
No.
I force my hand to still, my thumb resting against her jaw instead. Touching her feels like breathing. Like the first full breath I've taken in years. But I'm not going to push. Not going to take more than she's willing to give.
Even if every instinct I have is screaming at me to pull that mask off and kiss her until neither of us can think straight.
"What's wrong?" The question comes out softer than I expected.
She finally looks at me, and the emotion in her eyes hits me hard. Fear. Confusion. And underneath it all, something that looks dangerously close to longing.
"I don't—" Her voice cracks. "I don't understand what's happening."
"Neither do I." Honesty seems like the only option here.
"But you felt it? What she said?" Senna searches my face, and I wonder what she sees. What she's looking for.
I should lie. Should tell her Serai's full of shit, that the Nashai just like to stir up drama and make people believe in fairy tales. That tonight was just—what? A dance? A coincidence?
But I can't.
"Yeah." The admission scrapes out of me. "I felt it."
Her breath hitches, and for a moment I think she's going to pull away. Going to run back to whatever life she came from and leave me standing here with this ache in my chest that I don't know how to name.
Instead, she surges forward.
Her arms wrap around my neck and then her mouth is on mine and?—
Fuck.
Nothing has ever felt more right than this.
Senna kisses like she's drowning and I'm air. Like she's been waiting her whole life for this and can't wait another second. Her lips are soft and desperate and perfect, and I'm kissing her back before I can think, before I can question it.
