I looked at him again—reallylooked at him. “Who are you, Sy?”
When our eyes locked, he wasn’t surprised at all. He was just…sad and afraid at the same time.
Then he smiled. Lowered his head. “Just a cynic at heart, I guess.”
I didn’t believe that for a second, but when I started to speak, he beat me to it.
“So, you and the Heart boy, huh.”
My mouth clamped shut and heat rushed to my cheeks instantly.
“No, no, it’s…it’s…” Butyes. Yes, me and the Heart boy.
Silas chuckled. “Just be careful is all I’m saying. You know what they say about Hearts.”
“I know. It’s…it’s not like that.” Again, I spoke as if I were someone else or I was being guided by someone else becauseyes, it wasexactlylike that.
“You never know with them. They manipulate emotions before you even realize what’s happening.”
“Yes, yes, I know what they say about Hearts.” They did manipulate emotions, and they could amplify or fade existing ones, but they couldn’tmakean emotion from scratch.
Even so, that would never be March. He just…wasn’t like that.
“Hecan’tdo magic like that if he wanted. It takes a lot of studying and practicing to be able to manipulate emotions and memories and such—he’s our age.”
“I know, but they still have a natural affinity for it. Just likeyouhave a natural affinity to close loops or recognize bad magics or seal unbreakable deals.”
I raised a brow. “You meanwe.” He forgot he was a Spade, too. “And also—no,I don’t know the first thing about breaking loops or recognizing bad magics. I’ve just finished high school.”
“Of course I meanwe.I mean all Spades,” Silas said. “I bet you, if you tried, you could do it.”
Maybe he was right. I just never really thought about it. I was too busy…well, feeling sorry for myself the past two years.
Time’s Teeth, I never even realized what a vicious cycle I had been in for such a long time…
“I get it, though,” Silas continued.
“Get what?”
“Why you’d go for him.” He nodded to the side, to where March and the Seth were carrying a big piece of metal together—and March was looking right at me until he disappeared behind that big pile again. My heart was his prisoner all the while.
Heat on my cheeks again but I was smiling. “‘Cuz he’s handsome and funny and…big?” It was meant as a joke, and Silas did laugh, but he shook his head.
“Because he’d probably burnthiswhole place down for you.” And he waved a finger at the ceiling to indicate the junkyard that wasn’t a junkyard at all.
“He wouldn’t do that,” I muttered, and I told myself not tolikethe idea that he would. I told myself over and over, but I failed.
Silas grinned. “Ah, but he would.”
I forced myself to roll my eyes, but I was still smiling. “How wouldyouknow?”
“Just the way he looks at you. Like you’re more important than everything else around here.”
My heart about broke out of me. I suddenly felt like I could run all around the realm twice and not get tired.
“You mean like youlook at Reggie?”
His laughter was sudden and loud and sharp, and it mademelaugh, too.
