Aerén stopped near Leya. “Are you going to answer her?”
She cut him a lowered glare. “We’ve been dating.”There!
A smile ghosted his mouth. He shook his head, crossed to the sink, and got a glass of water. Crystal in hand, he leaned against the counter, his sky-blue hair gleaming beneath the bright kitchen lights, and drank his water.
Hana’s eyes widened, her stare fixed on Aerén’s head. “You havta give me your hairdresser’s name.”
Damn, Leya bit back a groan. Her sister’s mouth could run off worse than hers at times.
Aerén brows tipped into a V. “What?”
“The color, I love it.”
He cut Leya a knowing look. “I’m sure Leya will tell you all about it.”
She glowered at him. He was enjoying this a little too much.
“So?” Hana leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb. “Are you guys gonna tell me when this clandestine affair started?” She narrowed her eyes at Leya. “I Facetimed you regularly while in India, and you never said a word. I always tell you everything.”
“Fine. But this will take time, and isn’t Dan waiting for you?”
“Oh, shoot!” She jerked upright, face scrunching. “Forgot about him after hearing your news.” Her irrepressible grin flashed, and she pivoted, only to swing back. “Ley, whatever foundation you’re using on the nasty bruise on your face works wonders. I must get some.” She scampered off to her room.
Man, Leya rubbed her cheek where the bruise had been, as coffee spluttered into the pot, permeating the apartment with its aroma. Of course, the wound had healed, because Aerén had applied his own brand of quick healing. She caught the glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
“So that’s your sister,” he murmured, glancing at the doorway Hana had gone through.
Leya nodded as she took out mugs and poured the steaming coffee into them. “I’m going to need time to explain us to her, and believe me, it will be needed.”
He cast her a long look, and she lifted a shoulder in a helpless shrug. “In my defense, Ihadto believe you, because not only did the rebel open a portal right outside the office, butyoudematerialized meandtook me to Exilum just before that! Hana’s not going to believe anything straight off, especially about the magic. When my father used to tell us fables as children, she’d scoff and say those things never happen in real life.”
She sidestepped him and got milk from the fridge.
“I know someone else who thought I was killing humans and was…what was the other thing she accused me of?Rrriiight, a trafficker.”
Leya scrunched her nose as she shut the fridge door, and he brushed her cheek with his knuckles. “If she’s anything like you,caelimea,she’ll be fine.”
Footsteps sounded. Hana hurried out, wearing heeled boots and one of Leya’s long coats covering a short, fitted skirt and shimmering white top. “What do you mean a portal opened at the office?” She stopped at the hallway entrance, eyes narrowing. “And what magic?”
Oh, shit.How sharp was her sister’s hearing?
Leya didn’t want to fob her off with a lie. “Um, we’ll talk when you get back.”
“No, tell me now.”
“Hana, this isn’t something I can just say with a few words.”
Her brown eyes shifted to Aerén, then back to Leya. “Ley! Come on. You know I’m not gonna budge until you do.”
Leya glanced at Aerén, who remained silent. Well, he did leave this up to her.
“Fine.” She added milk to both coffees, pushed one Aerén’s way, then cupped her mug to heat her still icy fingers, even though the apartment had finally warmed. “I met Aerén last night.”
“Last night?” She cast Leya a gimlet glare. “You guys didn’t meet last night. I’m not blind. I’ve seen how you look at each other. And you, Leya,youdon’t let anyone close until much later. So, try again.”
Leya sipped her coffee, trying to figure out where to start. “This is going to sound a bit far-fetched. So, try to keep an open mind, okay?”
“Hey, I am open-minded. Can’t blame me if people talk nonsense like sighting Big Foot and expect me to believe that trash—”
