But they were done. My outburst had cost me knowing their decision. I lowered my eyes to the ground as Ruby came back with the girl.
They chattered as they prepared food, as if nothing important was happening, as if this was just another common day. Ruby moved to sit with Grey and Anvil, telling stories of the fairies again. I faded in and out of her tale of Violet Moon. She had come from the South, further than any area of record, and she possessed a wicked knowledge of the changelings. The stories said she was bored with her native land and traveled North, looking for those who would not know of her disguises and deceits. My head lay cradled in darkness where my arms made a nest across my lap as Ruby began regaling us with Violet’s seduction of a young fire fairy, giving plenty of extra and unnecessary details of his physique, when I heard Steed say my name and I looked up, across the fire to him.
I almost choked.
He hadn’t said my name. He’d used my nickname… well, my old nickname… on her. My face burned. He didn’t notice my glare. He was still talking to her, laughing. He reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear and I heard a loud pop, or maybe felt it. I was off balance for a moment and then I realized it was fire.
I gasped as I looked around to see how many of them noticed. Everyone. Not that I could blame them, I had blown fireballs out of my squeezed fists so hard they had actually been audible.
They stood motionless, staring at me.
Finally, Ruby spoke. “Frey… are you alright?”
I took stock. “Yeah.” What just happened?
She took a tentative step toward me. “Have you been practicing your fire?”
I shook my head; I hadn’t practiced at all since the girl had shown up.
“How do you feel?”
“Fine.” I held up my hands. Maybe I should try to do it again?
“No!” She must have read my intentions. “Please, Freya, if you must, then do it away from here.”
I took a closer look at my surroundings, I had burned or singed pretty much everything in a ten-foot radius. “Sorry.” I started to walk off; Chevelle had joined me before I’d gone two paces. He was silent as he walked beside me.
When we were much more than a safe distance from the others, he finally stopped. So I stopped as well, but a few steps later. I couldn’t place his expression as I glanced over my shoulder at him so I simply faced forward and took a deep breath. I had to force myself not to close my eyes, though I still squinted some, as I held my hands out to release the flame. But once I had, I knew my eyes were wide; I was astonished at the size and power of it and it hadn’t even tired me. I turned back to Chevelle, I thought he was hopeful. Or maybe he was just trying not to laugh at my expression.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“Good.” I smiled. And then I felt like a dork so I straightened up to match his posture.
That almost made him laugh. He stepped toward me.
I froze.
We were alone. And he’d positioned himself square in front of me, not an arm’s length away. Not near that far. He didn’t speak, he just looked into my eyes, like he was searching for someone.
At that moment, I remembered touching him. I remembered looking at his strong hands and placing my fingers just so on his.
And I did.
Before I could process what had happened, his other hand was bringing my face to his for a desperate kiss.
It only lasted a moment before he realized his mistake. He pulled back to look at me again as he spoke softly, almost a whisper. “Who are you?”
I shook my head and he understood. He pulled slightly away from me. I was ashamed, I had no excuse for my actions. I’d tricked him. The power, the touch. And then I got lost in the thought… I had remembered the touch. I looked back at him. “What’s happening?”
His face was pained but he didn’t have time to answer. We heard the voices of Grey and Anvil as they approached. Chevelle stepped back from me as we waited for them.
My head spun. The three of them had started an apparently serious conversation but I couldn’t tell what it was about. I merely followed them and massaged my temples as we made our way back to the camp. Steed was still near the girl, quiet. Ruby had my blankets out and I went straight to them, lay down and closed my eyes.