She licked his palm and he immediately pulled it away. “Get your hand off my mouth.”
“Disgusting.” Cringing, he wiped his hand on his pants. “Be quiet.”
“Are you saying you think you and Maeryn are…”
He paced. “I truly have no idea. I just feel so drawn to her. I’ve never felt like that before. Even with Finnick. It’s like I need to be around her. Ihaveto.”
Ava grasped Raine’s shoulders, grinning widely. “I didn’t know…remember? You were the one who told me.”
“Oh…right.”
“But that was because I was still human. You’ll have to ask Cas, but the way he described it to me was similar to what you’re saying. A need to be close. A need to protect.”
Raine bit his lip. “I can’t believe it.”
“Do you really think she is your Miraêl Li’ra?”
“I don’t know. But it’s beginning to feel like it.”
Ava lunged and grabbed Raine around the waist, pulling him into a hug. “I hope she is, because if anyone deserves to find their soulbond, it’s you.” She pulled away. “Are you going to tell her?”
“Fuck, no. At least not right now. I’m not even positive she is. Besides, we’re going to war. I don’t think now is the best time. And I have a feeling she’s been through a lot. I don’t want to push…I want to get to know her first.”
“Whatever you think is best.”
“Are you upset Cas didn’t tell you sooner?”
“No. I understand his reasoning.”
“Well, alright then.” Raine gestured before him. “Now make some of those massive vines I heard about that you used to rip The Scourge in two,” he said delightedly.
9
“Keep going,” Raine coached, standing beside Ava several days later.
A droplet of sweat trailed down Ava’s face and into her eye. Blinking against the sting, she kept her trembling hand extended. With a grunt, she urged the vine to grow longer as it stretched from her palm and wound around the dummy in the training ring.
“Now,” Raine said.
The vine tightened and flowers bloomed along the surface. Pink and blue and…yellow. Dozens of yellow flowers. Bright, and cheery and?—
“Will you make me a pretty flower?”Remy’s voice echoed in her head.
Ava’s gut twisted and the vine disappeared as she stumbled backward. Raine caught her by the elbow. “Let’s take a break.”
She blinked. “Yeah.”
Taking a spot on the ground, Ava leaned against the stone wall and took several deep breaths. Raine sat beside her, handing her a waterskin. She took a swig and handed it back. “Thanks.”
Ava was doing her best to grieve Remy openly, not shying away from the ache in her chest, and though it hadn’t been long since Casimir’s rescue, it was helping. Sometimes the tears would fall in the bathtub, alone in the quiet of her suite. Other times, the pain would rear itself when she was training with Raine, like it did today.
“Are you alright?” Raine asked.
Ava tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Yes. Sometimes, I just…need a minute.”
“It’s the yellow flowers, isn’t it?”
“Yep.” She took another deep breath. “The reminders are hard…but also comforting in a way. I don’t know if that makes sense. Seeing them makes me happy and yet sad at the same time.”
