Girl of Iron and Magic

37.

36.
PRESENT DAY

"They move him every time," Prince Fintan said. "But I can take you...we can look for him."

He offered her his hand and, with a racing heart, she took it, thinking of Blue and the time they spent together—a time only she could remember.

"I'll probably forget this conversation the moment I leave the tower," he said. "That's how it usually is. I forget things when I leave a room."

"You'll forget everything?"

"Only the good things. Any moment of kindness or friendship. I only remember anger and resentment and..." He looked her up and down. "Apparently I also remember lust."

Lotte tried to ignore her hot face, veering away from the topic as best she could. "How is it you could talk about it so freely?"

He gave her an incredulous look. "Cursed or not, I'm a sky dragon. Nothing is strong enough to silence me."

The Blue she had known hadn't been as proud. But Lotte knew best about the pride one could hide behind for protection.

"I'll remind you what's happening if you forget," she said as he drew her towards him, his wings fanning behind him.

"Thank you," he said, looking into her eyes. From up close, he didn't seem so cold. Just sad.

No, not just sad, heartbroken.

"How do you heal a broken heart?" she asked just as he jumped out of the window.

The wind whistled around them. His arms tightened around her. She felt her body jerk when he flapped his wings, and could see the chilly confusion in his face, illuminated by the red glow of her eyes.

"You're helping me find Vanshu," she told him.

His arms slackened and then tightened around her, chin jutting up as he clenched his teeth.
"You already told me that you'll forget once you jump out of the tower."

Flap, flap, flap. His wings beat the air, keeping them up. Did he say he could remember kissing her? What if she made a map of desire in his mind?

She touched his face, even though it was somehow a frightening thing to do, and stretched her neck so she could touch his lips with hers.
He responded immediately, his fingers going into her hair to deepen the kiss. Now she could understand his desperation. If all he could recall at the end of the day was anger and despair, anyone would be hungry to feel anything that was not unpleasant. Even if the context for every kiss and caress was lost.
"Are you also trying to control me?" he asked, his voice hoarse with desire.

"I want to save you," she cried over the wind. "I want to save Vanshu and myself. Do you think that's wrong of me?"

"No, but why did you—"

"So you'd remember."

The wind changed, knocking them sideways. Fintan righted their course, hovering on a current of icy air. "I want more reminders," he said with a devious glint in his eye. "I can take you back to my tower, and we can find Vanshu later."

He laughed at her glare. "You can't blame me. I suddenly find myself holding you after thinking all day about all the things I'd like to do...with you."

"I'm not really here, you know."

He circled through the air, the palace below blurring. "You seem here, that's enough for me."

"If I kiss you again, will you help me find Vanshu?"

He chortled in surprise. "You are trying to control me with kisses. Do you want to kiss me again?"