Page 22 of Romancing the Throne
Elowin looked slowly up and down the empty corridor. “Protect you from what, Sparrow?”
I flushed, because I didn’t have a good answer. “Um, bandits, of course.”
“Ah, of course. Those pesky bandits.” He smiled, but it wasn’t one of his broad, happy smiles. This one seemed a little regretful, if anything. We reached my door. “I’ll see you in the morning. Good night.”
He turned and began to walk away.
“Wait,” I said.
He paused and turned to face me. “Yes?”
I floundered for something to say that wasn’tplease stay and kiss me some more.In the end I said, “It’s about my magic.”
He stepped closer, and the butterflies in my stomach swooped. He was so handsome. “What about your magic?”
“Only, it was stronger today. But maybe that was because we were right next to the shrine,” I said. “What if it was only temporary?”
He stared at me for a moment, and I saw the second he understood what I was trying to ask. He moved so his face was mere inches from mine, and I had to crane my neck to look up at him. “Would you like me to kiss you to check if it still works away from the shrine?”
“Yes, please,” I said, my face heating. “That is, if you don’t mind.”
“It would be my pleasure, Sparrow,” he said. He moved so his body bracketed mine, then cupped my face in his hands and gave me a slow, lingering kiss. His lips were soft against mine and I kissed him back, letting myself sink into the familiar shape of his mouth.
I shivered and let out a gasp when he ran his hands down my sides, his fingertips skating over the bare skin that the lace panels left exposed. Elowin gripped my waist and kissed me again, more hungrily than he had before, and I felt my magic start to stir in my veins, building like a summer storm until once again there was a tingling under my skin and the rustle of wings.
We broke apart, reluctantly on my part, and Elowin held out his arm. “Look.”
Three massive dark-colored butterflies flapped their wings languidly—except they weren’t butterflies at all. It was an easy mistake to make, especially as the edges of theirwings were outlined in soft, gleaming gold, but a closer look told a different story.
They weremoths.
I stared, open-mouthed, and they flitted around for a few moments before dissolving into golden dust and then nothingness. “I don’t understand.”
Elowin gave me a fond smile. “Butterflies don’t come out at night. But moths do.”
“So it’s not the shrine doing this?”
“I don’t think so, no.”
Excitement bubbled up in me. My magic, which I had always worried wasn’t as impressive as my parents believed, was becoming stronger! In my delight, I leaned up and pressed a kiss to Elowin’s cheek.
Somehow, it felt more real than all the other kisses we’d shared.
Elowin must have felt the same because his breath caught and he stared at me, touching his fingertips to the spot. I held my breath, waiting for him to say something that told me he felt it too, but after a long moment, all he said was, “Sleep well, Sparrow.”
And then he turned and walked away, leaving me with a memory of gold-tipped wings and an unaccountable ache in my chest.
CHAPTER 10
ELOWIN
After breakfast, Sparrow and I returned to the market.
The balloon rides left from the northwest corner of the market near Kidd Kidderson’s Killer Kart Kare, from a field that was empty except for the carts that the balloon was kept tethered to for safety’s sake. There was a lot of bustle in this corner of the market; all the gearheads usually congregated here after visiting the nearby tool and tech stalls. And it wasn’t just the Gearwick elves who filled the place. This was where elves came to get their carts and wagons repaired or to buy new ones, to send communications or goods through the messengers and couriers who hawked for business, or simply to gawk at the colorful balloons that hung in the sky like leaves floating on water.
Sparrow’s face was bright with anticipation as we joined the small line waiting for a ride. A woman came along and sold us tickets, and Sparrow held his like it was a treasure while I pretended not to notice how short the line was and how soon we’d be in the air. It wasn’t that I didn’t like heights—I was fine with heights. It was the lack of anything solid under my feet that I didn’t enjoy. But Sparrow was so eager to get aboard that Ididn’t tell him I wasn’t sure my breakfast would survive the trip.
Eventually, we reached the front of the line just as one of the crew guided the balloon to the ground, where it landed with a gentle thump. After a few moments the previous passengers exited the large rectangular basket, all smiling and chattering among themselves. Then it was our turn.
