My smile faltered. “Your body feels cold.”
“It’s warmer when I’m near you.”
I swallowed hard, but the lump in my throat refused to go down. “You almost sound like a man falling.”
His gaze met mine. I could get lost forever in his pretty eyes, and I suspected he knew it.
“Maybe I am,” he said softly.
Magic prickled under my skin. Soft light spilled from my fingertips, threading through the hedges like a living thing.
“Oh no,” I hissed.
Frowning, he glanced around. “What’s happening?”
“My magic,” I said, watching the maze shimmer. “It reacts when I—uh—feel things.”
He arched a brow. “Feelthings? You said it does this when you’re angry, but you’re not angry now. You’re…feelingthings.”
“Don’t start.”
The light thickened, weaving itself into the vines, the roses, and even the stubby trees trying to take over the open area.
“Well,” Kieran said, his eyes widening. “At least it has a practical side effect.”
“I’m a walking lantern,” I said. “Thrilling.”
That teasing warmth eased back into his voice. “Abeautifulone.”
I caught a flicker of hunger in his eyes. Not for blood, but for something far rarer. Warmth. Life.Me.
“Flattery noted.” My voice came out croaky, but I couldn’t control it. Couldn’t control anything about this interaction.
After getting to his feet, he leaned down, offering me a hand to rise, and I took it, letting him tug me up to stand with him.
The garden had softened even more, the rough parts smoothing out from my joy magic. Plants sprouted. Bloomed. And the entire area glowed.
The maze might be responding to my magic, but Kieran was looking at me like I was the miracle.
“Amazing,” he breathed. “Can you do this whenever you please?”
“Sometimes.”
“I was going to make time to come work on this garden, and I still will.” He looked down at me. “Will you come with me and help? We can finish bringing it back to life.”
“You’re not upset that I’m interfering with a task you enjoy?”
“Not one bit, because we’d be doing it together.”
My heart got caught between my ribs, and it pinched. “I’d be glad to help.”
“It’s a deal then.”
More magic spilled from my fingers, gliding across the grass that sprouted behind it.
When it reached the hedge, it spiraled upward, and an arched opening appeared.
“I believe your magic has found us a way out,” he said, sounding a touch sad. Did he wish we could remain here, trapped for a bit longer?
