Shadowburn (2)

Chapter 4

Sin couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed so freely. She had certainly never done so outside the walls of Del' Shire, with anyone but Thorn.

But it felt good, to truly laugh. To feel real mirth. To feel, period.

Her laughter died off slowly into chuckles and she shook her head at Kalen. She rather liked him; he seemed genuinely fond of Andreas, and she grew more and more certain that Andreas was wrong about the reason Kalen stayed.

But she more than understood his reasons for keeping his friend at a distance. More than he will ever know, she thought, gazing at the two of them. She had told him a lot of her story, but by no means had she given him all of it.

There were some things even she couldn't talk about. Some things even Thorn steered entirely clear of.

Shaking her head one more time, Sin turned her attention back to her food. She had only a quarter of a plate left, and she wasn't about to let it go to waste. She reached over and plucked her fork off the table, then dug in again. The food wasn't her favorite, but it was good and she'd been hungry.

Andreas was staring at her like he'd never seen her before, and she lowered her fork after only two bites, frowning slightly at him. "What?"

He shook his head, like he was coming out of a daze. "Nothing," he said, softly, looking at her. "You should smile more often."

Sin blinked, not expecting that. She felt a blush rise to her cheeks and she stared at him for a moment, trying to keep it down. Gods but she hated blushing.

She cleared her throat, and she didn't know what to say to that. She rarely had a reason to smile--something that he knew.

He smiled faintly though, and she couldn't help but like the softness in his eyes. Couldn't help but like the thought that he was looking at her that way. That she'd caused it.

So she returned his smile, just a faint curve of her lips into a true smile.

Then she ducked her head and returned to her food, vaguely noticing Kalen's confused, lost expression.

"Kalen, I believe you have somewhere to be," Andreas said, suddenly.

Sin glanced up at them, watched Kalen blink in surprise. Then he cleared his throat. "Right. That. I'll see you at dinner," he said, hurriedly, and stood. Sin watched with faint amusement as Kalen gave her a small bow. She'd just finished her plate, and he gathered hers and Andreas' plates along with his own before walking toward the door.

Over his shoulder, he called, "Just please, not on the table."

Sin blinked, unsure whether she wanted to laugh or choke. Andreas threw his still mostly full goblet at the other man, sending Kalen scurrying from the room.

After a moment, Sin shook her head and sighed, looking at the place where her plate used to be. "I... wasn't done..." She frowned sadly.

"Dessert?" Andreas waved a hand over the table, and the food dishes vanished only to be replaced with different kinds of cakes and puddings.

Sin stared for a moment, then grinned and reached for a piece of cake. As she did, Andreas spoke, his words low and thoughtful. "Don't hide your smiles from me again, please."

Sin froze, her face flaming as warmth prickled across her skin, billowing from somewhere in the dangerous vicinity of her heart. She didn't look at him, too frozen and unsure of what exactly was going on to move. She felt him touch her cheek, the backs of two fingers stroking her skin in a gentle caress as if he thought he could trace her blush, feel it through her face.