“What are you thinking about now?” Altair asked.
“Nothing,” she blurted. “Also, how did you know I wanted you to carry me? I thought you said you weren’t in my head.”
He glanced at her with a crooked grin. “I promise I’m not in your head. You’ve been complaining under your breath and gradually slowing down.”
“Sure you don’t want to carry me? I’m not heavy,” she said hopefully.
This elicited a full laugh from Altair, one Iyana had not heard before. Smiling, she forgot for a moment what she had been complaining about. “I know you aren’t heavy, my star. You are exceptionally small.” He placed his hand on top of his head, lowering it considerably to the top of hers to demonstrate their height difference. Iyana grumbled, smacking his hand away from her, but his fingers lingered in her hair for a moment longer than necessary.
“How about a distraction?” Altair asked.
“What kind?”
Golden eyes sparking with hunger, he said roughly, “Not the kind I’d prefer.”
Iyana swallowed. Her face flushed first, then the warmth dropped straight to her core. She wasn’t inexperienced by any means, but no man had ever made her feel so awkward— like she was a teenager again—and no man had ever made her this aroused either.
With a knowing smile, Altair changed his tone back to normal. “We really should work on your magic. Starting with the basics. Hopefully, it’ll keep you distracted enough and you’ll stop whining.”
“I wasn’t whiningthatmuch,” Iyana scoffed.
“Yes, you were,” said Altair. “And those are not the sounds I want to hear coming from your mouth.”
He is going to kill me with all the innuendos, she thought. Iyana briefly considered fucking him.Just to get it out of my system, she told herself. But, realistically, that wasn’t the best idea. They had to travel together long distances. She was a human woman; he was an immortal star. The gods only knew what his plans were after defeating Uther. Would he go back into the sky? For a reason she did not care to examine at the moment, the thought made her unjustifiably sad. She didn’t realize she had stopped walking until Altair gripped her chin lightly, lifting her head.
“Where did you go just now?” he asked softly.
“Nowhere,” she said. Clearing her throat, she continued, “How about those magic lessons?”
Taking his fingers off her chin, he continued walking. She missed the touch immediately.
“Your magic is different from mine,” he said, “since humanity’s magic was a gift from the old gods, but the basics are the same. The other day you mentioned feeling warm?”
“Yeah. When it was first unlocked, it felt like a gentle warmth gliding through my veins, but now it seems to be a little kernel of fire in my chest, right here.” She touched over her heart, where her necklace resided. The necklace itself had been giving off a steady pulse of heat ever since Altair hung it around her neck. It was a pleasant sensation, and it made her feel as though Imo was still with her somehow.
“Everybody has their own techniques of pulling forth their magic,” said Altair. “But I try to find the core of my magic and coax it forward gently. I want you to touch the core of your magic.”
“I don’t know how you expect me to do this while walking,” Iyana said dryly. “I think I need to close my eyes to concentrate.”
“That’s normal when you’re first learning.” With a charming smirk, he threaded his fingers through hers, her small hand completely enveloped. Her heart rate increased. “Go ahead and close your eyes. I’ll make sure your naked toes stay safe.”
Scoffing, Iyana attempted to feel her way towards the tiny kernel of fire within her chest. But all she could focus on was the way her hand was fully enclosed within Altair’s. His skin was so warm and smooth, his grip sure. It felt…right. Then her brain malfunctioned as his thumb rubbed small circles into her skin.
“Stop,” she said without opening her eyes. It came out in more of a whisper than she intended.
“Stop what?” Altair asked, his tone laced with humor.
“You know what,” she scoffed. “You’re making it difficult to concentrate, and I thought you wanted me to learn.”
“You’re right, my star.” Giving her hand a light squeeze, he stopped the extra motions. While it was slightly less distracting, Iyana had to make a conscious effort to block out everything happening beyond her.
Inhaling deeply, she focused inwardly. It didn’t take long to locate what Altair described as the core of her magic. To Iyana, it appeared as a small flame—the kind produced when the flint had just been struck upon the tinder. She had a bone-deep desire to nurture that fire, to see it grow. Reaching slowly towards the magic, she attempted to touch it, only for it to dance out of her grasp. It evaded her completely, not even flowing between her fingers as if she had scooped a handful of water. She focused harder, furrowing her brow, but the magic flitted out of her reach even further. Frustrated, she opened her eyes with a groan.
Altair gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, then let go. She sighed dramatically. “If I can’t eventouchmy magic, how am I going to learn?”
“Don’t fret, it takes time,” he replied. “Which is exactly why we’re walking.” Another groan escaped her. “We’re almost at the next village, my star.”
Iyana started. It suddenly occurred to her that the sun was rising, coloring the world in a soft pink.How long was I practicing?she thought.
