I burst out laughing. It was a dead-on impression. Riven and I might’ve set a few animals loose. We were terrible children.
“Oh!” Riven held up another finger. “I also missed the frogs.”
“The frogs?” I asked drily.
He nodded, face serious. “The frogs. You know, there aren’t frogs in the bigger cities.”
“So?” I asked, wondering if I was anywhere on this list of things he missed.
“There’s something about them,” he said. “They’re so green. So slimy. I miss the slime.” His eyes had a mischievous glint, his tone light, and I shoved him.
“You’re teasing me.”
“Of course I am. That’s what I do.” The corners of his eyes crinkled. “Yes, I missed home, but I also really missed you, Emma.”
“More than the frogs?” I asked.
“Let’s not get carried away,” he said, leaning forward, so close I could feel his breath on my cheek. I swallowed, his face inches from mine. We stared into each other’s eyes, his flecked with pops of green. My heart pounded in my chest, everything in the world fading awaywhen it was him and me, just like it always had. Riven had this way of making me forget every problem, every trouble, every thing that made my heart ache. He filled all those little cracks and holes with his light.
“Did someone order tea?” Herman appeared around the corner of the shelf, a tray balanced on the end of his pink-scaled tale. I gaped at the tiny dragon carrying an entire tray. My father would probably be able to rattle off every fact about the miniature dragon species, but I had no idea they had such incredible strength.
“No,” I said at the same time as Riven said,“I’d love some.”
Herman flew forward, laying down the tray with two cups, two tins of leaves, and a glowing red kettle on the table. “Layla could have just spelled the tray,” I pointed out with an arched brow.
Herman shot me a mischievous look. “Layla is busy. Besides, I thought the great Riven Shiu deserved some personalized service.”
Riven smirked.
I crossed my arms. “How do you even know who Riven is?”
Herman settled on the other side of the table across from me and Riven, his tail curling over the cushion. “Oh, I don’t know. You’re only humming and singing his music all day, everyday and mentioning him just as much. Riven this... Riven that...”
My cheeks heated as Riven gave me an assessing gaze. “Really? Do you want me to sign your arm?” His gaze dipped to my chest. “Or somewhere else on your body?”
“Oh, yes,” Herman said. “Can’t get her stop talking or singing. And every note is off-key. Can’t carry a tune to save her life.”
“Okay! That’s enough out of you,” I said with a nervous laugh.
Riven just studied me. “I didn’t know I had such an admirer, Emma Thorne.”
The way he said my name sent shivers down my spine. This entire interaction, us sitting so close, the way he was staring at me, reminded me of one particular night so long ago, a night where our friendship almost took a very different turn.
I shoved those thoughts away and straightened, moving backward toward the window. “Well, it’s hard not to be a fan when everyone’s singing your songs. I have them stuck in my head.” The playfulness in his eyes dimmed, and I hoped I hadn’t offended him. “You’re very talented, and you know I love your music.”
“Right,”he said as Herman curled his tail around the handle of the kettle—which was bigger than him—and poured us both tea, ribbons of steam curling into the air.
“This smells amazing.” He took a deep inhale of the orange blossom and cinnamon flavor.
It did. I couldn’t wait to try it.
“Thank you, Herman, that will be all,” I said, an edge to my voice. I nudged my head toward the bookshelf, hoping Herman got the hint.
He just sat there, blinking. So much for that.
Out of nowhere, a book flew off the shelf and straight toward my head. I ducked, the book thwacking into the window. A crack formed in the glass, and I groaned. Not this again.
“Emma, move!” Riven yelled before throwing his body over mine right as the window shattered.
