Page 47 of A Touch of Stars and Stones (Kirrian #1)

I busy myself with my food as she approaches.

“Cal, a word.”

“Sure,” he answers around a mouthful of food, but makes no sign of moving.

“Alone,” she growls.

He looks up at his twin, then to Ten, before rising to his feet with a dinner roll in his hand. He makes sure to slide me a quick wink before she leads him to the other side of the hall, next to the crackling fire.

“Will this be awkward?” I ask Ten.

“Possibly. But only if Crimson makes it so. She has a choice.”

“Yeah, but won’t she see it as a betrayal? We’re hardly friends since the knife incident.” Being honest, it was from before then, maybe on first sight.

He just shrugs, his eyes flashing between mine and the food he’s eating. I change the subject.

“What happened?” I nod to him, my eyes running over the bruises growing in colour over his face.

“That would be Calix’s handiwork. I believe you’re acquainted.”

That punch to my face—yes—I don’t think I’ll forget that anytime soon. “Why did he do that to you?” I keep focused on my food in case he doesn’t want to elaborate.

“I needed to let off some steam. Calix knew that taking the edge off would help me.”

“Was it that bad? With Azur?” I risk a look now, and I’m met with an equally sombre look on Ten’s face as he pauses before carrying on eating. The moment stretches out. “This training isn’t just for you. It will benefit us all.”

Evasion. A non-answer.

It’s okay. He’s arranged all this. I have to trust he’ll tell me in his own time.

Micah comes over and takes a hasty seat, eyeing up our plates. “She’ll talk to us, but not now.”

“What did you ask her?”

“Just that I wanted to talk. I couldn’t really tell her everything in front of the others.”

“This isn’t some secret we have to keep hidden, right?” I look between Ten and Micah. “We are allowed to do what we want outside of the formal timetable, right?”

“Yes. But the less the Custodians or my father know, the better.”

“Your father? What’s he got to do with this?” I ask Ten.

“When are you meeting her?” Ten asks Micah, dismissing another question.

“A couple of hours. In The Court, at the tavern between Natural and Elemental.” Ten just nods.

The bench jolts, and I turn to see Calix has taken his seat next to me, and he continues with his dinner.

“She’s not happy we’ve formed some sort of club around you.” He shovels the last of his meal down his throat. “And she’s stubborn.”

“As Novandia,” Ten adds.

“Yep. And she’s not on your side right now either, Ten.”

They share a pointed look that makes me wonder exactly what happened between them when they decided to go fight with each other.

“It’s going well then.” Micah’s tone is sarcastic.

“It is what it is. Unless anyone wants to change their minds?” Ten asks and looks between Calix and Micah.

“Thank you. All of you. In case that’s not been clear. But I don’t think we’re going to be the problem, Ten.” I keep my voice soft.

“Great. We stick to the plan, then. We take it into our own hands to ensure that Ever is ready. And hope that she doesn’t hand us our asses doing it,” Calix states, then looks to me. “In the morning, you’re mine, Ever.”

Ten’s body flinches at the words, stiffening as his jaw flexes and shoots his eyes to Calix with a warning look that sets my blood humming.

He looks… mad. And with his swollen eye and the abrasions on his face, I can see the intimidation, the threat, he carries.

“Hey, what did I say?” Calix looks at his friend, then at me.

“Nothing. Just…” Ten relaxes his shoulders and drops his cold stare in favour of his fork, but doesn’t eat another bite. “I’ll see you after your training.” He goes back to his plate.

Right.

Dismissing us.

Calix gives me a questioning look but stands and shrugs his shoulders.

“You need me to call on you to make sure you’re up?” Micah checks.

“I’ll get her. Unless you want to volunteer for training too, Star?”

“Uh, no. She’s all yours.” He grins at me. “Good luck with the early mornings.” He stands and heads towards the kitchen. He still hasn’t eaten.

And then, it’s just us.

Me and Ten.

“Tha—”

“You better get to bed. Calix won’t take it easy on you tomorrow.”

I stare at him. His face is devoid of any sign of feeling or emotion, and I can’t read him. Well fine.

“Look, I’m grateful. For all of this, for helping me. But you’re acting like you did before when you went all moody on me and closed off. Just tell me what’s going on. There’s nobody else here.”

He pushes his plate away and looks at me.

“I’m sorry. I’m just mad.”

“At Calix for punching you in the face?” I check.

“Well, no, not that.”

“At me?” I press. “For what I did to you?” The worry swarms, sending nervous tendrils down my arms.

“No, zuns, no. Ever, that’s why I’m doing all of this. I’m on your side, and believe me, I’m fucking furious that you’re the last one to know anything around here. It’s not right.”

“But I hurt you.” I lean forward on my forearms, resting on the table, and look at his hands, now splayed out in front of me. It would be so easy to take one of them and hold it.

As the image comes into my mind, that familiar heat sizzles at my fingers, edging me on, daring me to reach out and brush his skin.

I snatch my arms back and lean away from the table.

That first time we touched, before my Transference, it knocked me out. But now I’m wondering about every time he’s taken my hand. Did it cost him?

“Please tell me what happened to you? Because I’m terrified that I’m only going to cause you pain if we touch again.” I can’t look at his face as I say the words. But that fear has taken up residence in the centre of my chest.

More than what happened with Azur or Ascella.

I don’t have to fear Micah or Calix. Well, maybe Calix in a different way, but with Ten, there’s something I don’t want to have to stay away from.

“Let me take you back to your room.” He stands.

I try and hide the deep sigh at his dismissal again. But as I come around the table and head towards the hall back to our rooms, I swear I feel the ghost of a hand at the base of my back.

My eyes widen, and I whip my head to Ten.

“What happened today, or any of the past times we’ve touched, won’t stop me from wanting to keep touching you, Ever.” He doesn’t look at me and keeps walking, leading me. And the fear that wrapped around me eases, just a fraction, at his words. “Nobody’s told you about the new moon.”

He doesn’t phrase it like a question. “You said it yourself. I’m the last to find out about anything. And things that you’ve known your whole life are foreign to me.”

I look at him and see a grin on his lips.

“This might be one thing you’ll enjoy hearing, then.”