He mistphased both of us outside, but instead of holding me close as he had last night, he only took my hand, and the second the transfer was over, he released me.
Sighing, I made an effort not to touch him at all once we were on the carpet.
But just as the carpet lifted and we began to glide back to the road, a thought occurred to me that explainedwhyKolewas fighting thisthingbetween us so hard. And it had nothing to do with a strange Solis affinity.
Horror filled me as my thought took root. Perhaps arelationshipwas keeping Kole from being intimate with me. He might be married, and that magic flaring around his wrist could be due to a Solis marriage vow that I was ignorant of. It could be that it was Solis magic reminding him of hiswife, not preventing him from being intimate.
My eyes widened to saucers. That seemed much more likely than it being his internal magic, because I’d never heard of natural magic before that prevented relations.
My cheeks burned hotter. If he were with someone else, that would definitely explain why he kept pulling back.
But then I thought of our one kiss in the capital. He’d reciprocated that kiss. Quite enthusiastically, if my memory could be trusted, but maybe it was because of how quickly I’d kissed him and how I’d taken him entirely by surprise. Perhaps his Solis magic hadn’t had time to catch up.
Feeling entirely nauseated about it all, I did my best to keep several inches of distance between us. But that was easier said than done. The carpet was only so big after all, and a few times when we glided around turns, I brushed against him before I was able to right myself.
It didn’t help that a new tension lined the warrior’s shoulders, and he’d clammed up completely, not saying a word to me since we’d left the rocky enclosure.
It began bothering me so much that not even an hour intoour ride, I couldn’t stop the question from tumbling out of my mouth. “Do you have a wife, Kole?”
The warrior’s dark hair fluttered in the wind, and his head jerked my way. Looking down, his eyes glittered in the morning sunlight, and I could have sworn confusion filled them. “What?”
“Are you married?” I pressed. “You know,withsomeone in your everyday life? Is that why magic keeps flaring around your wrist? Is it from the marriage vow you promised?”
He shook his head, and his eyebrows folded together. “You think I have a female back home? Awife?”
I twisted my fingers together. “Um, yes? Or . . . no?”
For the briefest moment, his nostrils flared, but just as fast, his expression closed off, and he returned his attention to the road ahead. “No, I’m not married, and I’m not with anyone either. I’m as single as they get.”
A heartbeat of silence passed between us, and I wondered if my initial suspicion had been the right one after all. He likely had a Solis affinity that prevented intimacy.
“Oh.” My brow furrowed, and while his statement alleviated my guilt over disrespecting a potential spouse, it only made me feel entirely awful that such a trait had been cursed upon him.
But something told me Kole wouldn’t appreciate me feeling sorry for him, so to cover it up, I gazed at the rising sun and said as cheerfully as I could muster, “’Tis a lovely sunrise.” I plastered a smile on my face for good measure and fell backon my usual fake cheer and positivity. “I love this time of day. There’s so much new magic, and the beauty always captivates me.”
Kole glanced at me again. His sapphire eyes were particularly bright this morning, swirling and igniting. “Yes, it is pretty.”
I beamed up at him, and his focus drifted to my lips, nose, then down my neck. His attention shifted rapid fire, and the aura around him thumped higher with every second that passed. He stared at me so intently, again...hungrilyeven.
Everything in me softened at his obvious arousal for me, but before I could comment, a huge flash of magic flared around his wrist, and he hissed and whipped his hand back, confirming my suspicions entirely. But just as fast, a burst of magic appeared in front of us, and a dillemsill popped into existence, right on the edge of the carpet.
Everything happened so fast that it took me a minute to understand that a messenger bird sat in front of us.
The second that comprehension dawned, my heart immediately plummeted.
“Oh stars, are you here with a message from my aunt?” My hand shot to my throat, dread instantly filling me.
But the bird ignored me and turned to the warrior. “Kole Swordwielder, you’ve been summoned back to headquarters. You’re to return immediately.”
Relief hit me at the same time Kole’s jaw ground together,but just as fast, he smoothed his expression and dipped his head. “Message received.”
The bird ruffled its feathers, then began to spin, moving faster and faster until it resembled a whirlwind. With a final spark of magic, it disappeared, going back to wherever it’d come from.
I held my chest. My heart was still galloping. “I’m so glad that wasn’t a message from my aunt telling me my uncle had taken a turn for the worse.” I took another deep breath. “Is that how you get summoned by the Imperial Council?”
“It is.” His lips thinned. “I need to answer that call.”
“Of course, no problem. I can keep going on my own, if you’re okay with me continuing to borrow your carpet?”
