Page 88 of A Whisper of Cinders

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

To my biggest surprise, I actually had a decent night of sleep after my rather…eventful visit. My thoughts are sinful, two handsome males in the lead role. One of them is currently standing in my room, ready to examine me.

My legs dangle over the edge of the bed. The kiss we almost had replays in my head and my focus lingers on his lips. I can’t help it, I really try not to, but when he’s this close, I can’t think straight. It’s the same with the other male that occupies every waking thought.

Althea excused herself, another patient needed her aid urgently, so it’s just the two of us. I’m not entirely certain if that’s a good thing. It kind of makes me want to do reckless things, like grab his face and kiss him endlessly. Maybe I should.

By the way he is looking at me, he might be thinking the exact same thing. Or at least, that is what I’m assuming. I’m not an expert on the men's field at all, so I could be wrong.

“How are you feeling?”

“Good, great!” I answer a little too quickly.

He grins, sharp canines on display. It is the only fae thing I currently see. It makes me wonder what use they might have. Will I have to hunt, or worse, drink blood? The thought alone makes me queasy.

He stops testing me and observes me thoroughly. “Out with it, gorgeous.” My eyes go wide at his words. “Something is on your mind and it must be terrible since your parameters are being influenced because of it. So tell me, what’s wrong?”

My palms are sweaty and my heartbeat is beating a little irregularly, but that seems to be my normal for these past few days. I am warm, but I’m not sure if it is because of what I’m thinking or because of Aramis being this near to me, touching me every few seconds.

Fine, here goes nothing. “I know you have teeth, or I mean fangs. Everyone has teeth. But…are they…what is the use…” oh, come on, Mai, it’s just a question. “Do I need to hunt from now on? Or drink…blood?”

I‘ve seen other students at the restaurant, eating food and the fact that there is a restaurant, tells me that they at least need some of it to survive.

I’m waiting for a mocking laugh, but that doesn’t happen. Maybe he didn’t hear my question, so I look up and see him smiling at me. “You shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions, Mai, a whole new world opened up to you. I think it would be weirder if you didn’t have any questions at all.” He has a point, I know that, but still… “Now, to answer your question, the shortest answer is no, we don’t need to hunt or suck someone’s blood out of their bodies. It is more of an aesthetic feature than it is functional. But, during more…pleasurable activities, it can make the feeling a thousand times stronger, depending on who you share it with, of course.”

Pleasurable activities? Does he mean…oh? Oh! The thought doesn’t abhor me as much as I thought it would and when a strong thigh pushes against my knees, my legs move on their own accord giving him the room to move closer. I have to tilt my head back to look at him as he lifts his upper lip a little bit. “Can you see?”

I nod, it’s the only thing I can do. Never thought I would find staring at someone’s teeth so hot, but well, here we are I guess.

“Do you have any other questions, gorgeous?”

His voice drops an octave and the only other question that is currently burning on my lips is if he wants to kiss me. But since I cannot physically voice that, I do the only thing that gives the same signal and that is staring at his full lips. I burn in my own skin as he takes me in, head tilted to the side.

It is only then that I realise he asked me a question and is waiting for an answer. “Uhm…no…I believe not. Everything is clear.”

“Good, that is good.”

His voice makes goosebumps erupt all over my body and I gently push up on my hands as he lowers his face to mine. The snow and pine scent that is so typically Aramis makes my heart skip a beat. And right when I think our lips will finally touch, he steps away and holds my wrist, right when Althea enters.

“How is our patient doing?”

He looks up, the epitome of calmness as if nothing happened between us, while I sit here, flushed from head to toe.

“Her parameters are good, temperature is a little higher than usual, but that is to be expected due to the origin of her powers.”

Althea moves closer and asks permission to touch my head. I’m surprised she asks, but nod either way, feeling her cool fingertips on my temples. I quickly glance at Aramis who stands behind her, and the look in his eyes gives me the shivers. He winks, which is certainly not helping to remain calm, so I shift my focus on my hands instead. Stupid hormones.

After a couple of seconds, Althea steps back. “Your mental blockage is still firmly in place, but there are some cracks in it.” I’m not sure what that means and the same must be written across my face, making Althea smile. “It means magic will be visible every now and then, but not continuously. Not yet.”

I blow out air I didn’t know I was holding. I don’t know what I was expecting for her to say, but that isn’t so bad. I’ve already noticed that my sight is like a light switch being turned on and off.

“If the headaches become too painful, please come visit. I can give you something to ease the pain. I hereby discharge you, you may return to your room.”

“Thank you.”

Although I was exhausted yesterday, this morning I awoke with new energy flooding my system. I’m ready to discover this new fae world.

“Do you want me to go with you?”