The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 21

"Iris. Iris!"

She was cold, but not frozen, and she could feel. She could feel the warmth of the amulet flowing through her hand, finding the tip of her nose where the biting wind had struck her, the ends of her toes where ice still clung to her. She could feel the blankets wrapping around her in a cozy cocoon, the warm hands cupping her face.

Iris, wake up.

Wake up.

"Iris, wake up!"

Char's voice blended with the whispers, but she recognized it. It was closer than the whispers, easier to focus on and understand. She heard his worry, and she knew the hands she felt were his. She didn't want him to worry.

"I'm fine." Her words came out as a mumble from numb lips, and when she opened her eyes, it took a moment for his face to swim into view. "I'm fine."

She tried to sit up, but he kissed her with an intensity that took her breath away. Soft, warm lips met hers again and again, his warmth chasing away the lingering chill, and the memory of all the other kisses they'd shared at the party came back with a rush of embarrassed heat to her cheeks.

"Char, stop."

"You were blue last time," he murmured between kisses. Though they were chaste, she could taste his relief, and every kiss brought back more of the party.

Open-mouthed kisses she'd instigated, dancing body to body with him, his hands on her hips or her bare back, his sharp green eyes locked on hers.

Had she really done that?

In front of other people. Strangers.

Just thinking about it mortified her.

"Char, stop!"

He pulled back from her, giving her the space to sit up and look anywhere except at him. They were in a stone room, but not a cave. Human hands had cut and mortared the irregular blocks together. A faded rug covered most of the floor, its design too far gone to be made out, and candles in wall sconces sent strange shadows dancing across the walls. The only furniture in the room other than the bed she sat upon was a bureau.

Char was sitting by her side, stroking her hair. She liked his touch more than she cared to admit. She'd liked his kisses more than she cared to admit, too.

"You're red this time."

Her eyes snapped to his, narrowed with amusement above a smirk that made her heart do a somersault. Heat flooded all the way to the tips of her ears. She released the amulet, and his eyes dropped to her chest. Then she realized her right hand was under the tight party dress, and she yanked her hand out, shoving him back with both hands and jumping to her feet while pulling her skirt down and fumbling for the package of clothes among the blankets.

He was chuckling. That made her blush even more.

She found the package and tore at the twine. "Where are we?"

"A mage's tower."

The package slipped from her hands as she spun to face him. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest and that smirk sharpening his gaze. Beside him, wind and snow whistled past the frosted glass panes of a single window.

"A mage's tower?"

"Yes."

She stared at him, heart pounding with sudden fear. "But—"

He pushed off from the wall and stepped toward her, and somehow, her heart sped up even more. His hands slid around her waist to her back, pulling her flush with him, and she couldn't look away from those green eyes.