My hellfire loves the chase, loves seeing me desperate for her.
Her eyes follow my every move, her smile widening with each step I take toward her.
Let’s see how much my mate misses me when I’m not around.
I take the opportunity to call my shadows and disappear. They curl around me, eager to play along.
I reappear behind her, keeping just enough distance so she doesn’t sense me.
Hazel pushes off the wall quickly, a switch flipped inside her. The smile on her lips fades as her fingers drum against the dagger at her waist, searching the crowd for me.
Even though a part of me feels bad for worrying her, the rest of me is thrilled. She’s panicking because she can’t find me.
Fates, I love my fireball.
Hazel drags her bottom lip between her teeth, her head turning in every direction, getting more and more agitated the longer she can’t find me.
When I can’t take it anymore, I slip behind her and rest my chin on her shoulder.
“Looking for me, hellfire?” My voice now, right against her ear.
Hazel jumps before realizing it’s me, then melts back into me with a soft sigh.
See? She likes me. Maybe even more than like.
I grab a glass of the earth fairies’ special brew from a passing server and offer it to her as a peace offering. A silent apology for making her worry.
“Why would I be looking for you?” Her tone might be casual, but she’s still leaning into me, flooded with relief.
“Because you missed my handsome face.”
“You’re insufferable.” She takes a sip to hide her smile behind the glass.
“Insufferably adorable, you mean.”
She rolls her eyes, and all my blood rushes south.
I love grumpy Hazel. I love every version of her, but this one is my favorite.
I wrap an arm around her waist and steer us toward the stage. Taking her empty glass, I set it aside before leaning in to whisper, “Come dance with me.”
“I don’t know how to dance.”
“Don’t worry, baby. I’ve got you.” I guide her hand to my shoulder, pulling her closer. “I know it’ll be difficult for you to listen. Might even kill you a little inside, but sometimes it’s good to let someone else take the lead.”
Tension drains from her shoulders as she slowly relaxes. But when a server accidentally drops a tray, the knots are back.
I hate seeing her so stressed. Ever since Timor found us in the human realm, she’s been jumpy. And after what I saw at the waterfall that night, I know how tight she’s holding herself.
But this isn’t her burden to shoulder alone.
I grip her chin and turn her face toward me. “Whatever worst-case scenarios you’re building in your head aren’t going to happen.” She looks at me in shock. I might goof around a lot, but Iseeher. “I promise you no one is going to barge in and kill us all.”
“Shut up.” She grumbles, clearly not thrilled that I can read her so easily.
“I checked every portal myself. The guards know exactly who to let in, and they’ll alert me the second someone unapproved shows up. Nothing is going to ruin this day for our family, Hazel.”
I spin her once before pulling her back against my chest.
