Chapter1
I told Nate that I'm in love with him.
Even Mama's visit and the threat of having to socialise more fresh in my mind can't take away that thought.
I did what Veronica has been telling me to do for a couple of months and told Nate how I feel about him.
I touch my lips, recalling the way it felt to kiss him.I've never thought much about kissing anyone until recently, but I have to admit that now I want to do it again.It was much more enjoyable with Nate than any of the other times I've kissed anyone.
I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do now, but I'm glad that I did it, especially because he feels the same, and that makes me feel all kinds of warm inside.
A crackle from the fire draws my attention, and I look over to see that Ember is curled up within the flames, her wings tucked against her side.At least that's one less thing to worry about.Maybe I should take the opportunity to go back down to the kitchen.But Nate said that he needed to finish preparing for tomorrow's breakfast, and I don't want to make things difficult for him.He's only just taken on the job as the castle's pastry chef, I don't want to get him into trouble.
Even so, I find myself turning towards the door, but am stopped before I can open it by a knock.
Hopefully it isn't my mother on the other side this time.
I head over and touch the handle, my heart pounding in my chest in a wholly unusual way.I pull it open, relief crashing through me as I see the man on the other side.
"Nate," I whisper.
"Evie," he responds.
"I'm glad to see you," I blurt out.
He chuckles."I'd be disappointed if you weren't.Unless you're trying to tell me that everything in the kitchen was a daydream I was having while making croissant dough."
I step closer to him and put a hand on his chest."Have you daydreamed about kissing me before?"I meet his warm brown eyes, realising that I know what I want him to say.
"Would you believe me if I said yes?"
"Why wouldn't I believe you?"I respond."You're not in the habit of lying to me.At least not as far as I know."
"I don't lie to you," he assures me."So, now that you've had time to think about the kissing..."
"We can do it again," I respond, completely ignoring all of the complicated feelings I have thanks to Mama's announcements."If you want to."
"Definitely."He cups my cheek in his hand and leans in.
I close my eyes and let myself get lost in the moment, enjoying how close we are together, and the fact that his arm has reached around my waist, pulling me closer.He tastes faintly sweet, but I can't place the flavour.Maybe it's just him.I'm probably going to have to kiss him a lot more to find out.
"Ahem."
We break apart at the sound, and I look over to where my sister is standing in the corridor, looking at me with an expression that I think I'm supposed to understand, but I don't.
"Do you know what this is?"she asks, leaning in and tapping on the door a couple of times.She sounds amused, but with Veronica, it's not always easy to guess.
"It's a door," I respond, a little confused about why she'd ask me such an obvious question.
"Good.Now watch me close it and remember how to do it next time."There's a loud clunk as she pulls it shut behind her.
"Sorry, I think that's my fault," Nate says.
"She didn't tell me she was coming," I point out."She's probably coming home from the feast.I did just leave during dessert."
"I thought you weren't supposed to do that?"Nate asks.
I grimace."I'm not.And Mama has already been here to tell me off."
