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“No, no,” I quickly say. “I mean, it was rather bold but...”
I hope Nolan will say something, to save me from having to search for the words, but he doesn’t. He peers at me expectantly.
“I... I have also been thinking about last night.”
His fingers tighten around my wrist. “What have you been thinking?”
“That...” I lower my gaze, unable to look him in the eye. “That I would like to kiss you again.” I wish I could blame my words on the wine, but the goblets are quite small and filled halfway. I’ve also only drank one so far.
I’m sure I sound as embarrassing as I do in my head, but Nolan smiles. His arm wraps around my waist, pulling me nearer. “I would also like to kiss you again,” he whispers into my ear.
Remembering that my father is still somewhere in this hall, no doubt watching me closely, I jolt and withdraw from Nolan. “Not here,” I murmur.
He lifts his head in a slight nod and then starts toward the double doors, leading me with him.
We are barely out of the hall before he starts kissing me. Luckily, this corridor is tucked away enough that there’s no one around. And it’s also shadowed, since all the aether crystals are turned off.
His lips are soft as they glide over mine. The cold stone wall presses into my back like hard ice, but with all the warmth pouring through me, I barely notice the chill.
Nolan’s fingers weave through my hair. Then he pauses our kiss, admiring my face. His touch follows his gaze, and he gently traces my cheek, coming to a stop beneath my lower lip.
“Reyna,” he murmurs, “you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met.”
I don’t respond with words. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and pull him back to me, kissing him as deeply as I can. When my teeth graze his lips, a groan escapes him.
He pushes me harder against the wall. Now there’s no escape, even if I wanted it. His every touch threatens to undo me, and all I know is that I need more of him. I can’t kiss him quickly enough.
Nolan’s hand slides up my waist, skimming over the pearlescent silk of my dress. He breaks our kiss, but I have no chance to protest. His lips slowly trace my neck, and his hand slips higher up to my chest. He cups the soft flesh through the thin fabric, and I can’t stop myself from moaning.
A disgruntled cough sounds to our left. Nolan tears himself from me, and we both glance down the corridor. Two old magi stand there, shaking their heads at us. I suppose with how busy the Arcanium is tonight, it was foolish to think we wouldn’t be caught here. Thankfully, they soon continue on their way.
“Perhaps we should go somewhere else,” Nolan says when they’re gone.
“Like where?” I ask. It’s only as I speak that I realize how unsteady my breaths are. At least Nolan’s aren’t much better. “The Upper City square, like last night?”
He shakes his head. “Somewhere more private. Somewhere we won’t be interrupted.”
My heart drums with anticipation. I have no chance to recover before his lips are on mine. They are even softer than before.
“You could teleport us somewhere else right now,” he murmurs, his fingers tracing my shoulder. I shiver. “We wouldn’t even need to walk.”
“Do you have somewhere in mind?”
He pauses. “How about the cliffs?”
“The cliffs?” We would be awfully secluded there, and we certainly wouldn’t need to worry about anyone finding us.
Both desire and nerves ignite through me. How much further does Nolan intend to take our kiss? I don’t know whether I’m ready for this step yet, but I find myself nodding all the same.
Nolan kisses my cheek as I draw aether into my fingers and wrap it around us both, preparing my spell.
“Laxus.”
Magic basks us in violet light. We fade away, disappearing from the Arcanium’s narrow corridor.
When I next blink, we are standing on the shadowed cliffs. And something cold and sharp presses into my neck.
I freeze.
