Page 45 of Starfall
So pleased with herself, she showed Liv, who joined in on their fun.
The musician and his advances were forgotten when they delved deeper into the tent, giggling and smiling. Liv handed Ari something before Ari spoke to the vendor, who proceeded to hand over a small bag. While I stood tall, I couldn’t make out what she’d purchased.
I made myself stay in place until they returned, the bag swinging from Ari’s fingertips.
“What you got there, lass?”
Her eyes danced with mischief when she reached inside and retrieved the intricate bull. Taking hold of my hand, she placed the carving into my palm. “Now you have something to decorate your place with,” she said proudly.
“I don’t like clutter,” I replied, but I pocketed the bull, a warm feeling expanding in my chest. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had gifted me anything.
“All right, on to the next one!” Ari grasped both of our hands and tugged us into the fray without another word. Her eyes were wide as she eyed each food cart, her lips parting at the scents of roasted caramel apples and cinnamon sugar breads.
Against my will, a small laugh bubbled up in my throat as she guided me, her grip strong enough that I couldn’t escape. Not that I wanted to. I was…having fun .
It was addicting staring at Ari, taking in these new sights with fresh eyes and a pure heart. I could almost imagine seeing the magic of Persh through her eyes, and when she twisted to every new tent and performer, I found myself glued to her side, eager to see where she brought us next.
“I’ll get us some caramel apples!” Liv announced when we passed a cart selling the sickly-sweet atrocities. She gave me a gentle nod as she headed toward a cart, already eyeing which ones she wished to select. The smell alone made my stomach twist.
Ari didn’t acknowledge Liv. Hell, she probably hadn’t realized she’d gone. When she faced me, her face aglow with the hundreds of fairy lights, my heart stopped short.
I hated how stunning she looked. Hated how much I wanted to touch her. Despised how she changed the way I viewed my future—which had become so very different in such a short period of time.
“I…” she met my gaze while she trailed off, her hand still holding mine as the world around us became a blur of color and sound.
All of it grew hazy at the edges until she became the only clear thing.
A star maiden on Earth, holding me, staring at me as though I were someone worthy of a wish. Or just simply…someone worthy .
“It’s the most glorious thing I’ve ever seen,” she whispered, inching closer.
I mimicked the movement, drawn to her by some invisible tether.
“I understand now, the life you were talking about in this city. How it consumes you until you become a part of it, another face in a sea of people. It’s exhilarating.
The feeling of being a part of something bigger than yourself. ”
I went still.
It was the reason I loved Persh as much as I did. Why I’d been enthralled with a city so brutal and callous. Why I stayed here after getting beaten to a pulp that first night when Darren saved me from Charlie’s men.
When Persh was cold, it was glacial. Cruel in a way that I’d not seen anywhere else.
But when it opened its arms to you…you were incapable of resisting its siren’s call.
Unable to deny how your blood pumped as you moved through a dozen different cultures and quarters, all feeling like home in their own way.
Ari craned her neck, her eyes glittering, her lips parted. Liv painted them a darker shade of pink. They looked full and lush, and my heartbeat suddenly picked up.
Ari stared at me expectantly, her eyes lowering to my mouth.
Tingles raced across my body, my heart thudding as I leaned closer, as I craned my head, about to?—
“I got the last two!” Liv appeared in a flurry of excitement, two caramel apples clutched in one of her hands, the other carrying a steaming cup. I hastily stumbled back as Liv shoved one of the sticky concoctions in Ari’s direction.
Ari flinched as she came back to reality, slowly pulling her attention from my mouth. My lips .
“Thank you,” she said in a rush, accepting the apple from Liv’s outstretched hand.
“I know you don’t like anything that remotely tastes good, so I got you spiced coffee.” Liv handed me the white cup, the delectable scent of coffee reaching my nose. I took it with a thankful nod, wishing I had the capacity to produce a clever retort to her jab.
Linking her arm with Ari’s, Liv hauled the star maiden away, leading her to an artist’s tent that focused on portraits, the man’s choice of colors bright and clashing in a way that somehow melded perfectly.
I stood just outside, the heat of my drink burning into my palm.
Ari beamed at each painting, and when she found the artist, she grabbed his arm and leaned up onto her toes, whispering something into his ears.
My chest tightened. The man was older, but attractive, and obviously talented. When his hand moved to her lower back so he could steer her to another portrait in the back, my blood heated.
She went with him, smiling at whatever he said, her laughter floating to my ears.
Ari catching the eye of every eligible man and woman in Persh was driving me to madness for no sensible reason. All I knew was that I wanted to whisk her away from all the vultures like I had with the musician. Before I turned around, Liv waved at me, shooting me a devilish wink.
Sometimes I wondered why we were friends.
Gritting my teeth, I marched to a rubbish bin and tossed my untouched coffee.
My mood had quickly soured.