I took a sip and the flavor of peaches, honey, and sunshine burst across my tongue, tickling my mouth with those bubbles. I didn't even taste the alcohol. “Holy shit! This is amazing.”
Keltyr grinned and lifted his glass. “To taking a chance on love.”
“To taking a chance on love,” I repeated and clicked my glass to his.
The ringing sound felt like the beginning of something great.
Chapter Seventeen
After dinner, we strolled through the city. Keltyr confidently led me through the maze of steel and glass, striding proudly down the sidewalk with me clinging to his arm, while sleek carriages drove by. They were pulled by horses but looked different from any carriage I'd seen before, made more of metal than wood. One of them had a body that was completely glass, as if the occupants wanted to be on display.
“I didn't know places like this existed,” I said as I watched a couple walking across the street from us with a little, uh,somethingon a leash, prowling before them. “What is that creature?”
“A Kamandar. It's a dog, Ember.”
“That's adog? Where are its eyes?”
“Under the fur.”
“That's fur? I think it needs a grooming. How does it see?”
Keltyr laughed. “Its fur naturally forms ropes. It can see through them, though most people will tie the bangs back with a ribbon.”
“I've never seen a dog like that before.”
“It's native to Wen.”
“Is that where we are—the continent of Wen?”
“Yep. And look, here's the Yun River.”
The buildings stopped just short of a steel railing that edged a steep drop, and the street ended in a circle, our sidewalk curling with it. Beyond the edge, lay a broad river, its water sparkling with the reflection of thousands of lights. On the other side of the river, the city resumed, undisturbed by the separation.
Kel led me to a break in the railing and as we approached, I saw a set of stairs leading down to the riverbank. Here was where the Dhon permitted nature to have its way—a little. A strip of forest ran along the water. Within the greenery, a stone path ran in a straight line, just a few feet from the river, and the steps met up with it so we wouldn't have to walk on the grass. I got the impression that doing so was frowned upon.
Keltyr and I went down the stairs and turned left, taking the avenue through the overhanging trees. The river was wide enough that if I turned toward it and looked up, it almost felt as if the city didn't exist. You could even see the stars a little. But I didn't do that for long because I liked seeing the contrast of the two—nature and urban civilization living side by side.
Other couples strolled along the river. Some stopped to sit on the benches that were set every few feet, facing the water. Down there, the noise of the city faded into a soft hum, most of the noise rolling above the Dhon-made valley. Lampposts set beside the benches kept the path from falling into darkness, casting soft halos of light that reached out to each other. It felt like a sanctuary.
“I can be serious, you know,” Keltyr said suddenly.
“I know. You've had some serious moments tonight,” I said.
“But you prefer stoic men. That whole, strong and silent shit.”
I snorted. “Fuck no. I love Rath and Xaedespitetheir grim natures.”
“Then why has it taken so long for you to give me a chance?”
“You're lighthearted, and I like that. But it is hard to take you seriously when you're never serious.”
“As I said, I can be serious when I need to be.”
“Yes, I see that now. And I understand why you act as you do. With what we face every day, you need laughter or you'll just sink into darkness.”
“Exactly.” Kel nudged my shoulder with his. “Sometimes I have to force myself to be funny, but I do it because if I don't, I think I might just lie down and never get up again.”
“It's another type of armor.” I nodded.
