Page 147 of A Fate in Flames

“Theo is going tokillyou when he finds out you’ve been hiding this from him.”

She sighed dramatically.“I know.”

“Well, I know where I want to go next time.”I winked, feeling lighter than I had all morning.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”She chuckled, threading our arms together again and pulling us back into step.Moving as one, we continued to the library.

Mira was still in a fit of giggles as we pushed through the heavy library doors.

Belshin appeared from behind a stack, arms loaded with books that looked ready to topple.His whole face lit up.

“Mira,” he said with a little bow.Somehow his books didn’t go flying.“Elira.”Another bow.“I didn’t expect to see you both so soon.”

“You know me, Belshin.”Mira tucked her hair behind her ear, still grinning.“I can’t resist a good romance book.”

“And you, Elira?”His smile turned teasing.“Here for some of Mira’s favourites?”

“Not today, though I might have to.”I gave Mira a look.

She shook her head and scrunched her nose.

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you.”

Surprise flashed across his features.

“If that’s okay with you, of course.”

He beamed.“Absolutely.Mira would you—”

She was already gone, her hair flying behind her as she disappeared into the maze of books.

“I guess it’s just you and me.”He gestured for me to follow, still balancing the tower of books.“Shall we?”

We wove through the countless shelves, some tucked into far corners like secret chambers.I trailed my fingers along the raised gold lettering of every spine as we passed.

“Where are your usual companions?”Belshin asked, placing a book onto a shelf so high I had to crane my neck to see it.His height made the reach look effortless.

I waved a dismissive hand.“The fighting pits.They’re completely obsessed.”

We fell into step beside each other.

One side of his mouth quirked upward.“I take it you’re not a fan?”

“What’s to like about watching people beat each other senseless?”I sidestepped around someone carrying enough books to fill a small library.“Doyouenjoy it?”

“I do.”The simplicity of his answer caught me off guard.Everything about Belshin screamed ‘gentle scholar’, from the careful way he handled books to his soft-spoken manner.

“Do you like to fight or just watch?”

“Both.”

He led us to a wooden table in the library’s furthest corner, where the crowds thinned and conversation could happen without whispers.

I tried to picture Belshin in the fighting pits but failed spectacularly.I dropped into the chair across from him.

“Why?”I asked.

“Fighting is a part of us.”He gestured to himself.“An extension of our being.To wield our bodies with power and precision—there’s a beauty in that dance.”