The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 22

"Thought you weren't going to sleep."

Iris woke with a start at Char's teasing voice in her ear. She pulled free from his embrace and climbed out of bed, careful to avoid his green eyes. "I guess you're comfortable," she said coolly, trying to ignore the heat in her cheeks.

"Comfortable. That's a new one."

There wasn't much in the room to look at other than him. She went to the window and put her hand on the glass, leaving fingerprints in the fog. The blizzard was still raging outside. She hadn't thought about it last night, but it suddenly struck her as strange.

"Why is it snowing?" she asked. "It's summer."

"I've been wondering that myself," Char replied, coming up behind her and sliding his hands around her waist.

"Char-"

"Good morning, Iris," he whispered in her ear. His lips touched her neck, and she wished she could repress the shiver that ran down her spine. He was good at this. Really good. And she wondered again exactly how many girls he'd done this to.

"Shouldn't you introduce me to your friend?" she asked nervously.

"In a minute." He turned her around and kissed her on the lips, and she couldn't pretend she didn't feel the butterflies fluttering around in her stomach.

"Good morning, Char," she said shyly.

He smiled as he gazed down at her. "I don't want to leave you, Iris."

Her heart did a somersault in her chest. "I bet you say that to all the girls you sleep with."

"None until now. And I haven't actually slept with that many girls."

She pouted. "You're just saying that."

He chuckled. "No, I'm not. Rath is the playboy in our family, not me."

"But all those girls at the party-"

"They don't mean anything to me. I like to dance. That's all." He placed a chaste kiss on her lips, and then he pulled back, taking her by the hand and leading her to the door. "Hide that amulet and let's go."

"Wait. Is my hair okay?" she asked, pulling free and finger-combing through her hair. "And my dress is wrinkled from sleeping in it..." she muttered, dropping the amulet down her neckline.

"I can help you change, if you'd like," he teased, his green eyes dancing.

She scowled at him petulantly. "Never mind. Let's just go to breakfast."

Outside the door was a small landing breaking up a tight spiral staircase. Char led her down the blackened stones, past more flickering wall sconces, to another rough wooden door. He pulled the iron latch and went in ahead of her.

"Hey, Jonah," he called cheerfully.

Iris' ears pricked at the familiar name. But it couldn't be.

"Hey, Char. Who's that behind you?"

She knew that voice. She pushed past Char, and her eyes landed on a man in his early thirties with platinum blonde hair and warm, pale blue eyes. "Jonah?" she gasped.

His eyes widened. "Iris?"

He pushed his chair back from the dining table and stood up to catch her as she ran into his embrace. She threw her arms around his neck, and he picked her up, spinning her around once before setting her back on the floor.

"Jonah! I can't believe it's you!" she exclaimed, beaming up at him.

"Never mind me. What happened to the little girl who used to follow me around like my shadow?" he asked, smiling brightly.