Chapter 16

16

MARIAH

T he warm morning light streams through the stained glass windows in the inn's lobby, casting kaleidoscopic patterns across the reception desk. I absently trace my fingers over the shapes, my mind a thousand miles away from here.

I barely slept last night, my mind at war. Half of me wanted to run back to Thorak and finish what we'd started, and the other half of me was screaming to bury myself under my pillows and never reemerge.

In the moment, I believed every word he was saying—especially given his method of expressing his remorse. And the sensations he evoked inside of me…well, I'd say it was about the closest I've ever gotten to wielding magic myself.

But the minute we were interrupted, the spell was broken. All of our history came rushing back.

Even still, though, the taste of Thorak still lingers on my lips, the memory of his strong hands gripping my hips as his tongue?—

Ugh, Mariah. Get a grip.

I put my forehead down on the desk and close my eyes. Take a deep breath, and then another.

We'll have our verdict from Kingsley soon and then I'll be able to get some space from Thorak and…figure out what I'm feeling. For now, I just need to ignore my raging hormones and get through this.

Just then, the front door swings open. I glance up to find Thorak striding in purposefully, his broad shoulders filling the doorframe. My heart skips a beat at the sight of him.

So much for ignoring my hormones.

"We need to talk," he says in a low, serious voice as he approaches. I get another instant flashback to last night and the sinfully delicious growl of his voice as he murmured apologies into my core.

I nod slowly, swallowing back the nerves fluttering in my stomach as I step out from behind the desk.

Leading him to a quiet alcove off the main lobby, I sit on the edge of an overstuffed loveseat, chewing my lip anxiously.

Thorak sits down opposite me, leaning forward with his elbows braced on his knees. "About last night," he begins hesitantly. "I just wanted to say?—"

"Thorak, wait," I cut him off, my voice wavering slightly. "I'm not sure I'm ready to have this conversation."

His brow furrows in confusion as he looks at me searchingly. "What do you mean?" he asks, his tone gentle but probing.

I sigh heavily, running a hand through my hair in agitation.

"This whole thing between us," I say, gesturing vaguely in the space between our bodies. "I didn't want this kind of romantic complication in my life. I need more time to think about this."

Thorak is silent, his expression pensive as he seems to mull over my words. Then slowly, almost tentatively, he reaches out and takes my hand in his much larger one, his calloused skin warm and somehow reassuring against my own.

My breath catches at his touch.

"Mariah," he murmurs, his voice a deep rumble that I can feel in my bones. "I'm aware this is unexpected. For both of us. But I need you to know that what happened between us wasn't just physical for me."

I have to fight the urge to yank my hand away, to run from the intensity in his gaze. A battle rages inside me—the primal desire to surrender to the undeniable pull between us, and the self-protective instinct to guard my battered heart behind impenetrable walls.

I open my mouth, but no words come out. What can I possibly say? That a huge part of me wants to crawl into his lap and have his arms around me again?

That the bigger, wiser part is terrified of risking the fragile peace I've found for myself on a man who once bullied me mercilessly?

Thorak seems to sense my inner turmoil. He squeezes my hand gently, his thumb rubbing soothing circles over my knuckles.

"Hey," he says softly, ducking his head to catch my gaze. "We don't have to figure it all out right now. I just...I wanted you to know where I stand. That this means something to me. You mean something to me, Mariah. And if you decide you don't want something romantic with me, that's okay. I'd like to be in your life and I'll take that role in whatever way works best for you."

Tears sting behind my eyes and I blink rapidly, determined not to let them fall.

Thorak stands and gives my hand one last gentle squeeze before releasing it.

"I should go." His deep voice is rough with pent-up emotion. "But, Mariah, I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here when you're ready."

With that, he strides purposefully out of the inn, the door swinging shut behind him, the sound echoing in the sudden stillness. I slump back against the loveseat, my racing heart slowly returning to its normal rhythm as I stare unseeingly across the room.

I'm still reeling, trying to process everything that just happened, when the creak of hinges makes me jump. I twist around to see Laurelle emerging from the back room, a sly smile on her face.

"Damn, Mariah!" the older woman exclaims, her voice pitched high with excitement. "What a man ! I mean, did you see the way he was looking at you? Like you hung the freaking moon!"

She plops down beside me, the loveseat cushions bouncing under her enthusiastic weight. I groan, burying my face in my hands as mortification floods through me.

Of course Laurelle was eavesdropping. I should have known better than to have this conversation anywhere near her supersonic elf ears.

"It's not...we're not..." I sputter weakly, but Laurelle just cackles, throwing an arm around my hunched shoulders.

"Oh honey, don't even try," she says, her grin nearly splitting her face. "I haven't seen chemistry like that since I accidentally mixed salamander spittle and dragon horn dust and nearly blew up my house!"

Despite the inner turmoil still churning in my gut, I can't help but snort out a laugh at that mental image.

I lean into Laurelle's half-embrace as I stare down at my hands twisting restlessly in my lap. "I don't know what to do," I admit quietly. "It's all so...complex."

Laurelle hums, giving my shoulders a comforting squeeze. "Of course it is," she says, her tone suddenly gentle. "The best things always are. But you can't let fear rob you of a chance at real happiness, sweet pea."

I glance up at her, my brow furrowing. "But how do I know it's real?" I whisper, the words tasting like broken glass on my tongue. "How do I know I can trust him after...everything?"

Laurelle is quiet for a long moment, her expression uncharacteristically somber as she seems to mull over my question. Finally, she shrugs.

"You don't," she says simply. "That's the whole point. Love is a risk, babe. A leap of faith. No one can ever know for sure how it'll turn out. But if you don't jump, you'll never fly."

She stands, reaching down to boop me playfully on the nose as a mischievous twinkle returns to her eye. "Just don't forget a harness, if you know what I mean." She waggles her eyebrows suggestively. "Safety first and all that jazz."

"Laurelle!" I swat at her, my cheeks flaming, but I'm laughing too.

Before we can continue the conversation, Kingsley walks over to us, a sheepish expression on his face.

"Sorry to interrupt," he says, his voice hesitant. "But I was wondering if you could give me some advice on where to go sightseeing today?"

Grateful for the distraction from my windmilling thoughts about Thorak, I nod and stand up. "Sure thing. Let me show you a map of the best spots in Elderberry Falls."

I lead Kingsley over to the reception desk, where I keep a stack of colorful brochures highlighting the town's attractions. I unfold the map across the polished wood surface and Kingsley leans in, his brow furrowed in concentration.

As I point out spots in town that he hasn't seen yet, Kingsley's demeanor begins to shift. His posture relaxes and the lines of his face soften, as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

"You know," he says, his voice tinged with wonder, "I never thought I'd say this, but Elderberry Falls is starting to grow on me."

Surprise flickers through me at his admission. "Really?" I ask, my eyebrows arching upwards.

Kingsley nods, a hint of a smile on his mouth. "Seeing the way Thorak's parents reacted last night...it made me realize that I've been a little closed-minded myself."

Wow. I never would've taken Kingsley as a person willing to confront his own biases and preconceptions. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to challenge ingrained beliefs.

"I'm going to really explore the town today," Kingsley tells me as he folds up the map. "Try to take it all in and understand the culture here."

My smile grows as Kingsley turns to leave. "That's great, Robert," I say sincerely. "It sounds like you're becoming a changed man!"

He glances back over his shoulder, a look of slight embarrassment creeping onto his face.

"Oh, I don't know about that," he says, waving off the compliment with a dismissive hand as he reaches the door. "If I'm going to be importing goods from Elderberry Falls, it only makes sense to have a better understanding of the place and its people."

I know he's trying to downplay it, to frame his newfound interest in the town as a purely pragmatic decision. But I can see the truth in his eyes, the way the charm of Elderberry Falls has begun to work its way under his skin.

It's time for me to follow Kingsley's example. Or take Laurelle's advice.

It's time to open myself up to magic—and take a leap of faith.