“Yes, really. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want to.” He gave me a soft smile. “If that doesn’t sound good, we can go somewhere else. Anywhere you want.”
“No, that sounds good.” I smiled.
He nodded and smiled back at me. But Abram’s gaze lingered on my face like he was lost in thought. He reached forward and pulled a twig from my hair.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He shook his head, “Nothing. I’m excited to go out with you.”
My chest tightened at the words. I was excited too.But in the depths of my mind I heard Nyxthra laughing.
The city of Akecia buzzed with life. The streets brimmed with people wandering between food vendors and trinket stands, laughter and music weaving through the air. The sun dipped low, but lanterns strung across the road bathed everything in a golden glow.
I turned slowly, trying to take in every detail. I had never been anywhere like this before. My mouth parted in awe at the painters lining the square, the children chasing each other, the couples spinning to the rhythm of a distant lute.
When I looked at Abram, he was watching me with a soft smile.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” I admitted.
He nodded, but his gaze flicked to the left, narrowing. I followed it to a man standing still in the street, staring betweenus. He froze mid-step, eyes lingering on me. I glanced back at Abram, silently asking if he knew him.
Without answering, Abram stepped closer, his hands finding my hips and pulling me flush against him before pressing his lips to mine in front of everyone. My breath caught. When he pulled away, his thumb brushed a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
“I’m glad I could bring you here,” he murmured.
“Was there a reason you were glaring at that man?” I asked, glancing back, but the stranger was gone.
“Just letting him know you’re not interested in anyone but me,” Abram said lightly, but his body stiffened. “Right?”
I hesitated, caught off guard by the question and by the look in his eyes, as if he needed the answer. Was he actually worried?
He parted his lips to say something more, but a group of children ran up with a tray of pastries. Abram sighed as I turned toward them, the tension breaking.
“Whatever you want, Elowyn,” he said, taking my hand.
I pointed to a dessert, and he paid far more than it was worth. The children squealed and dashed off as I bit into it. Abram’s gaze lingered on me, unblinking. I offered him the other half, and he took it from my fingers.
“Dance with me,” he said, nodding to the couples twirling nearby.
I smiled and nodded. Abram spun me around, his hand firm at my waist as the music swelled. Lanternlight flickered across his face, catching in the green of his eyes. For a moment, it was easy to forget anyone else existed.
“What do you think?” he asked as he looked around the festival and back to me.
“I love it. Thank you for bringing me.”
Abram’s eyes roamed over my face thoughtfully. I swallowed hard.
“You didn’t answer my question from earlier.”
His hands gripped me tighter like he was worried about my answer. But I smiled at him softly, and he relaxed.
“I’m not interested in anyone else.” I almost asked him if he was, but the words caught in my throat.
My gaze fell from his instinctively at the thought. Yes, he was interested in someone else, his mate he’d never met. My throat was tight as Abram pulled me against him so I could lay my head on his shoulder. Nyxthra’s whispering began in the back of my mind, reminding me that I would never hold his attention.
Stop being a bitch,I hissed at her, but it only made her laugh.
“I’m not either,” he said softly.
