But now that I was finally free to go, I needed to thank him. He’d saved me from potential future weeks of Abel’s pestering behaviors.
I glanced at my enchanted carpet, which lay motionless on the street since I’d deactivated its magic. All of my supplies were still sturdily secured to it. Another blessing. Amazingly, I hadn’t lost anything, except for Verin’s bottle.
I breathed a sigh of relief, and my earlier annoyance with Abel and concern that I was hours behind schedule began to melt away. Optimism surged through me anew, because this delay was proving to be just fine after all, even lucky if I thought about it. It’d entirely gotten Abel off my back.
I walked toward the stranger, approaching him from behind. Since he had his back to me, that impressive sword running the length of it, I couldn’t help but notice the width of his shoulders.So broad.
A tingle shot through me, but before I could say anything or reach out to touch his arm and catch his attention, he turned to face me.
His movements were slow. Steady. It was as if his everymove was calculated, and I was reminded of the efficiency in which he’d taken down Abel in one fluid move.
I gulped and thought of what this stranger had been put through.
What a morning.
When only an arm’s length separated us, I stopped, but I had to tilt my chin up to meet his eyes. Another breeze drifted down the quiet street, bringing the heady scent of the Wood. I entwined my fingers together and gave him what I hoped was a thankful yet apologetic smile.
“I’m so sorry for everything this morning, truly, but I can’t thank you enough for your help.”
He stared at me, his eyes so vivid and sparkling. Seriously, how was it possible for them to be so blue? Vain females would kill to have eyes like his.
“And I’m very sorry about forcing myself, I mean...kissing you,” I added in a rush. “Truly, I acted rashly, and I can’t apologize enough, but thank you so much for playing along.”
His expression still didn’t falter. He was thatstill. But his gaze had fixated on my mouth.
“So—” I thrust my arm forward for a formal handshake. “Thank you...” I let my words hang since I still didn’t know his name.
He glanced at my arm, and it felt like centuries passed as I stood there. But just when I thought for certain he was going toleave me hanging, he reached out and wrapped his hand around my forearm.
Our fingers encircled one another, and I became acutely aware of the feel of his forearm. It was hard and corded. Thick veins were palpable beneath my grip, and Stars Above, once again tingles shot up my arm, a shiver following. I pumped our arms a few times just to do something normal.
I could have sworn that his nostrils flared, ever so slightly, as if he was scenting something, and the longer we stayed in contact, the more my magic vibrated inside me.
It felt as though something in my chest cracked. Yawned. Stoked.Grew.
Head spinning, I abruptly let go of him and stepped back. He took a step forward, as though he was going to close the distance between us, but stopped himself just as a whip of magic came from his wrist.
Chest heaving, I cleared my throat and gave him what I hoped was a radiant smile. But honestly, at this point, any smile would do. Something was seriously wrong with me, considering how I was reacting.Goddess, the legends were right about the Stone.
“Thank you again,” I said, relieved that my voice sounded normal and even.
His gaze was transfixed on my face, but he didn’t respond.
“May I ask your name before I leave?” I said, then wondered why I bothered to ask. It wasn’t like I would ever see him again.
Another moment of silence passed.
And then another.
My heart began to beat like a steady drum.
Like the handshake, I was certain he was going to leave me hanging, but then he said, “Kole.” His deep, smooth voice rumbled all the way through me, coating my insides and making me want to melt like butter at his feet. “Kole Swordwielder.”
Swordwielder.
Before I could process what his last name implied, the stranger gave me his back, then strode around the alley’s corner and disappeared into the bustle of Whiteolf.
He was gone before he could see my mouth drop to the ground.
