And Thomas and I? We continued to know, grow, and fall more in love with one another.
He tickled my palm, right where my thread scar marked the sacrifice I’d made for him years ago. I giggled and pulled away. “You’ll lose hand-holding privileges,” I teased.
I felt his stare on the side of my face. When I finally turned to face him, the tenderness in his eyes made me gasp, my insides scrambling for order.
“I want more, Lyra.”
“Sorry?”
“I want a future together.”
I gave a shaky smile. “I’m not going anywhere, Thom.”
He adjusted, the sands shifting as he maneuvered to pull something from his pocket. A light green ribbon rested in his hands, the color of lily pads in the summer heat, the ones which once clustered by our pond.It fluttered in the desert breeze.
I bit my cheek. For once, he managed to hold eye contact without adjusting his glasses or rubbing his nose, and his face was inches from mine when I finally unfurrowed my brow.
“I won’t marry until I’ve finished my studies,” I said.
He grinned. “I expect nothing less from my top pupil.”
I laughed. “Yourtop pupil? You still haven’t ripped a single piece of parchment I’ve given you.”
Teasing outrage sparked in his eyes. “I’ll get there.” He turned onto his side, leaning over me, his head framed by thousands of stars twinkling above.
“You better,” I said, pulling him down by his shirt so his lips met mine. My insides fluttered, my breath quickening as one of his hands moved to my waist.Longing burned in my chest as we pressed against one another, our kiss unhurried and familiar.
A pang coursed through me when he turned away. “So… what do you say?”
“You’ll wait until I’m certain I’m ready? If that day ever comes?”
“I’ll wait forever for you, Lyranore.”
I took the ribbon from him and examined it. My fingers paused at the clasp on each end.
“You can always change your mind,” he added with a pointed look. “You’re free, and I want you to continue feeling that way.”
I pulled his mouth to mine again and got lost, breathless in the privacy of the sands, the other students snoring in their tents.
I came up for air, unable to stop the smile tugging at my lips. “Scared I’llhopaway?” I asked.
His expression tightened. “Very funny.”
“I’ll have toponder…”
“I’m looking for a simple yes or no,” he mumbled.
“Can you speak frog? Ribbit ribbit.”
He kissed me again, and this time, it would be a while until another joke could make it out.
But I didn’t mind. I was happy, proud of myself and the life I’d chosen, and I had a long life ahead of me to enjoy it.
It wasn’t the life I’d once imagined for myself.
But this? Travelling the world, training to be a Mage Council member, helping others traverse the class divide?
This was infinitely better.
