And ready to do some magic.
I use Nariel to warm up—stealing his jacket back after returning it, tying his shoelaces together (thattakes some fine control, let me tell you) before he clouds my vision, prodding him repeatedly with different magical sensations (sizzle, tingle, tap...) to try to get him to tell me how we’re actually getting out of here while he ignores all my efforts with aplomb.
This is amusing to us both for a while, but as we actually exit the airport I’m beginning to get worried and annoyed.
I’m also still wearing his jacket—and his cap, which is loose enough on me that it’s falling into my face. I’m beginning to feel weird about wearing his clothes like I have any sort of claim on them, and not because I’m sure I look silly.
“Okay, ceding making arrangements to you doesn’t mean I don’t need to know what the arrangements are,” I finally say, dropping all the magic so he’ll know I’m serious this time. “How are we actually getting there?”
Nariel turns and holds out one hand, and my heart pounds at the sight of him. Effortlessly confident, his hair dancing in the breeze like shadows, smile sensual, gaze a challenge.
As well it might be, since he looks like he’s about to walk right into traffic and take me with him.
Stupid, to take his hand with no more information. I could trust my instincts, but they’re telling me two different things—that I can trust him, that I should not.
But I’m a wizard, so I don’t have to rely on his goodwill or my own emotions to save me. I have a wand, and I can afford to be bold.
In fact, I can’t affordnotto be.
I take his hand.
Hedoeslead us into traffic, and my hand clenches on his when I feel him gather shadows to cloak us, because surely that will make it harder for cars to not hit us.
But we simply fade out of sight as we cross, and then before I know it Nariel wraps his arms around me and launches into the air, and I hear rather than see the sound of giant wings beating around us. The much-too-big-for-me cap tragically flies off my head.
Reflexively I clutch him, but only with one arm.
“Got your wand in hand, do you? So much faith,” he murmurs.
“Faith is for people who can’t work their own magic if someone decides to drop them out of the goddamn sky on a lark,” I retort into his neck.
“Oh? Shall we try that?”
I lean back and look at him with narrowed eyes.
There’s a light in his gaze, but I can’t tell if he’s amused or offended.
I smile at him, and it’s more like a baring of teeth. “Do it.”
Something passes through his expression, and I think he viscerally wants to challenge me and take me up on that dare.
But I also see that he won’t. Not when he flew up with me without asking. Not when he apparently wants me to trust him, and is bothered that I don’t.
That, I’m not sure what to do with. I feel in tune with him, but how well do I know him, really?
Then again—I know what matters to him. I know his goals and what he’ll risk his life for. I know how he’ll do in a crisis. I know his sense of humor and what I can get away with with him.
Fuck. Maybe Idoknow him.
How did that happen? It’s been—ugh, time differences, I have no idea, but not more than three days, right?
The air is cooler up here, and I fight a shiver. “So this is why you let me keep your jacket. It’ll cover the holes in your shirt when we land.”
“Yes, that’s exactly why,” Nariel says dryly. “I’m going to loosen my hold so that I can spin you around. It will make flying easier. Are you ready?”
Ah, going from my front plastered against him to feeling him warm at my back. Definitely an improvement that will help me keep my head on straight. “Yes.”
Nariel smirks. “I knew you were.”
