Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Allow me,” I say before conjuring a sword and shield to his hands.
I noticed his powers feel weaker today. I picked up on it when he came to my room. The more he uses them, the more they will fade.
I wish we could have gone out as I had planned. It would have allowed him to recharge for a bit. Oh, well. Next time.
“Focus, Blaise,” he chides as I stumble a little.
Seeing he’s a serious warrior, I focus and show him I’m no damsel in distress.
“Let’s go,” I say tightly as I call forth my own shield.
A smile curves his lips. I find myself with a smile of my own as well. We spend the next few hours taking each other to task. It’s more fun than I could have imagined.
Chapter 13
Snow
Blaise
“Is that… snow?” he says and looks out of the window.
“Have you never seen snow before?”
“I’ve only seen it through holograms in my world. I’ve never experienced it firsthand. I heard it used to snow all the time, but something happened many years ago,” he says, still staring out the window with awe.
“Come, you have to go outside,” I say and grab his hand to tug him out of the castle with me.
I’ve been waiting for him to meet me in the foyer after breakfast. He wanted to freshen up. I needed time to collect my thoughts, so it was a win for me.
I haven’t been sleeping well. My thoughts are always filled with him. Knowing his new room is just down the hall messes with my head every night.
“This is more beautiful than in a hologram,” he murmurs as we stand out in the little storm.
I look at his face as he looks up at the sky. Snowflakes fly onto his high cheekbones and against his full lips. I want to reach out and touch them, even as they melt against his skin.
He lowers his gaze to mine, and I quickly look away. He pinches my chin and brings my face back to face his. His finger brushes my scar beneath my lip and his eyes fall to where his skin meets mine.
“I thought it would feel different, hard or liquid-like. It’s soft like the rest of your skin,” he says in awe. I drop my eyes to the ground. “Blaise, look at me.”
I look into his blue eyes. They seem to sparkle out here in the open light. I can see his breath as the cool air chills it. He moves closer to me.
“Your eyes are the color of the sky. Not only blue but blue and gray. They look like clouds,” I say, not able to stop the words.
“Your eyes are expressive. I can see your thoughts through them.”
This moment has become too intense. I pull away and move quickly to grab a handful of snow to throw at him. The look of surprise on his face causes me to laugh.
A slow smile comes to his lips. “I like it when you laugh. However, I’m going to make you pay for that one.”
I yelp and run away as fast as my hooves will take me. Argon is faster. A snowball hits me in my shoulder and I stumble forward a little and trip over my own feet.
“Blaise,” he calls in concern, rushing to catch me.
His arms are around my waist, tugging me into his chest before I know it. I look up into his eyes and blink. He’s truly fast.
“I’m okay,” I whisper.
“I shouldn’t have thrown it so hard. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m fine. I tend to trip over myself sometimes.”
He searches my eyes. I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until he reaches to brush a snowflake from my hair. I bite my lip.
“Come on, let’s go back inside. It’s cold out.”
I shake my head. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”
* * *
Argon
Blaise takes my hand, her eyes full of excitement. She leads me to the rose garden, where the fire roses are. I don’t know how my father found his way to them.
They’re encased within a maze. The walls shift, closing off passages we’ve moved through as we go. Blaise maneuvers the path easily as if knowing the way by heart. However, I get the feeling anyone else would be lost in these mazes forever.
Their magic alone threatens to suffocate. The leaves ripple with power as we pass by. They whisper warnings with every step.
Go back… Enter at your own risk… Do not touch what isn’t yours. A price will be required.
I narrow my eyes. How could my father have been so foolish? Was that rose really worth it?
Argon, beware.
Blaise squeezes my hand gently. “They will not harm you as long as I am here.”
“How does one make it through without you?” I question.
“You mean, how did your father make it into the garden?”