She pauses. “What?”
“When we find the heart, you can brandish it, fulfilling the prophecy.Youcan win the great power promised.” I shrug, as if this is acasual offer, though there is nothing casual about it. “But only if you tell me your secret.”
It’s the only way I’ll ever be able to trust her. Because she’s gone to great lengths to keep this secret. I want to know why. What is she hiding? Who is she protecting?
She turns it around on me, becauseof course she does. “Why would you do that?” she demands. “Don’t you want the power for yourself?” The power the oracle promised was vague but is sure to be magnificent.
No. Never. “I do not wish to become a god. Too much power is dangerous. I have never wanted to win. I simply want to save Lightlark.”
“You would give it tome?” She doesn’t think much of herself. I curse myself for having any role in that. And yes. Yes, I would give it to her. Because she has the same flame within her—the one that burns in me. A desire to be better. To do better. To protect those she cares about. And those are the same things I saw in Egan.
“Who else? Do you suppose Cleo should have it?” She makes a face. “Precisely.”
“How about Azul?” she asks.
“No.” The last thing the Skyling ruler wants is more ability. I watch her consider. I wonder, for an endless time, what is going on in her head. I wish I could know her every thought. I wish she would tell me, freely.
Finally, she shakes her head.
I sit back, shocked. “Either you are the only other ruler not interested in the Centennial’s prize, or your secret is worse than I suspected.”
“That’s not a question,” she bites back. With that, the game ends.
IGNITE
She lets me hold her.
We fly to Moon Isle, to visit the oracles in search for the heart, and she buries her face in my chest. She digs her nails into my shoulders. She teaches mehow to hold her. How to cradle her body against my chest. How to make it comfortable for her.
Can she feel my heart racing? Does she have any clue I’m barely breathing?
What would she do if she knew I think about her in bed, when I’m supposed to be sleeping? What would she do if she knew I lose sleep remembering everything she’s ever said to me?
I’ve lost my mind, and I can’t find the will to care.
We walk through the snow, and this time, when she shivers, I wordlessly hand her my cape. I’ve never given my cape to anyone before, but it was instinct to keep her warm. To give her anything, in the hopes she might actually take it.
She does.
And then, the oracles tell us the most important breakthrough yet.
The heart is on Moon Isle. It’shere.
Relief battles with dread, knowing that the moment we find the heart, she won’t have any reason to spend more time with me.
And that’s not the point at all, is it? But as I sit in bed later that night, it’s all I can think about.
I stare at the cape she borrowed from across the room. She heldit tightly. Treasured it. I never thought I would be jealous of a piece of fabric.
Ten minutes tick by, excruciatingly slowly. I find myself slipping out of bed. Clutching the cape in my hands. Bringing it to my face.
It smells like her.
I want the entire room to smell like her.
I want her to smell likeme.
It’s such a primal thought, I drop the cape and back away. This heat, this longing ... it’s intoxicating. Poisonous. These thoughts—these wants.They’re dangerous. They’re not me. I’ve never been like this; I’ve never wanted anything or anyone like I want her.
