8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Aliya

"E verything's okay, Aliya." His voice drifted from somewhere in front of her.

She tugged the cloak tighter around her neck. The soft fur lining did little to ease the sudden chill in her bones. It shouldn't have gotten dark so quickly. Sunset wasn't for another hour yet.

As she stumbled forward, a faint glimmer appeared ahead. Letting the glow guide her, she made her way to a break in the trees.

Elessan stood, his tunic discarded at his feet. His skin gleamed, now pitch-black. Small points of light, nebulae and stars, drifted across the plains and valleys of his body. The patterns glowed, casting a pale phosphorescence throughout the clearing.

Her heart leaped into her throat as she ran several steps toward him. "Elessan!" He didn't appear concerned. In fact, for someone standing half-naked in the woods, he was remarkably calm. "Elessan?" Her hand reached out on its own accord to touch, but she pulled back at the last moment, face flushing at the liberty she'd been about to take. Tucking her hands firmly back into her cloak, she threw him an apologetic glance.

She turned her attention to the celestial patterns etched across his skin. "This is stunning." Her gaze remained fully focused on the stars as she circled him.

It was more than that, actually. It was amazing —magic more glorious than she could've imagined.

He watched her, clearly giving her time. After her second pass, she met his eyes. His irises were no longer lilac-colored. Instead, they reflected the exact shade and brightness of the full moon.

"You're not afraid?" He sounded surprised.

On the contrary—this was the most unique expression of magic ever. Aliya shook her head. "What's happening?"

He reached out his hand. "I don't know. This has happened every few moons since the day I was born." He paused for a moment before continuing, dropping his voice. "It's why we left."

Taking the hand he offered, she pushed her finger into his palm, tracing the wrinkles. His hand felt warm, the callouses rough. Her muscles trembled at the urge to touch more, like an addict craving their next fix of night-weed.

"What are you doing?"

His question brought her back to the present, and the invisible sparks that ran up her fingers with every brush across his hand. "Seeing if the lights move in response to pressure."

"They don't." He closed his hand around hers, stilling it.

"Is it magic? Or some type of illusion? How long does it last?" So many questions bubbled up, threatening to overwhelm her.

"Perhaps we should sit?" He crossed his legs and settled on the ground. He didn't release his grip, drawing her down with him. She tugged her cloak tight as he continued. "My parents couldn't locate any lore or legends that would explain it. I'll be this way the rest of the night. It's been happening more regularly, and for longer durations, over the past few decades. One day I suspect I'll be like this all the time."

"Hmm." She thought for a moment, eyes glued to the glittering lights drifting across his torso. While the effect was awe-inspiring, fleeing civilization under pitch-black skies because one's skin glowed wasn't her idea of a good time. "I'm not aware of any stories to explain this, either. Our bards have never relayed any stories about the sky blacking out, so it must just affect a small area around you." Aliya traced the stars on the back of his hand with her thumb, the sensation settling the butterflies in her stomach. "Does it do anything? Do you feel any different?"

He held his free hand up to the heavens, looking at the pattern. "I don't think so. It's easy to tell when the change is coming, though. I go into the forest and wait it out." He turned his moon-colored eyes to her. "You're the first person I've shown in…a long time. Ever, actually, except for my parents."

His gaze fell to her tight grip on the cloak, and he released her hand. "Perhaps we should go? This isn't a very warm place."

Without his hand holding hers, the world was, indeed, a little colder. She raised an eyebrow at him and gestured to his torso. "You can't go back to the inn looking like that." She smiled. "Besides, someone taught me how to build a fire." She didn't want to haul herself up and go hunt for firewood, though. She much preferred staying here, with him, marveling at the star-studded display on his skin.

"True. I suppose you are qualified to light a campfire." He paused when she made no move to stand. "Shall I go find us some wood, then?"

"I think you should stay here and convalesce, or something. You're still a little spacey." She chuckled at her own joke.

He smiled, reaching for his tunic and slipping it on.

Aliya schooled her face to hide her disappointment. With his torso now covered, the clearing was significantly darker. And she'd been enjoying the view.

"I guess you have magic, too, huh?" She glanced overhead. "Are you sure this isn't some sort of enchantment? Because with the sky going black and all, it feels like sorcery to me."

In the darkness she almost missed his shrug.

He swallowed. "I never managed to figure out how to stop it."

"Too bad it's a secret. If you sold tickets, I bet the entire Mage College would kill for the chance to study something like this. You could make enough money to never work again…or at least for the next century." Aliya rolled her eyes as a sour taste rose in the back of her throat. "You'd also have a hundred different opinions on what this is, none of which would be right, and several years' worth of debates where they would argue with each other until they all turned blue in the face." Now she was babbling. She snapped her mouth shut.

"That doesn't sound fun at all. Is that what they did to you? About your shapeshifting?"

She shook her head. "By the seven gods, no." No way would her father have told those busybodies she was anything other than human. She'd have to keep that particular aspect of herself secret when she arrived at the Mage College if she hoped to hide in plain sight. "When my magic manifested, my father did hire an old wizard to tutor me. The old man spent hours forcing me to read these dusty old tomes and grimoires, and then got upset when I couldn't produce the results he wanted." Always harping on her about control, learning control, being in control. Fortunately, he quit out of sheer frustration. She sighed. "It didn't go well."

Elessan chuckled and flashed her a star-filled smile.

Her stomach flushed with an unexpected wave of heat. She bit her lower lip.

He tilted his head and studied her. "I wish I'd been there. You're not too bad to instruct. You didn't light me on fire, after all."

She barked a laugh. "Don't give me too much credit. You weren't trying to teach me magic. Whoever's stupid enough to think practical learning can be done by memorizing a book should get what they deserve."

He nodded. "Point taken."

She looked at his face and arms, at the stars still twinkling. "I know it happened a while ago, but I'm sorry you had to run."

"A long time ago. But thank you."

She yawned. Pulling her knees up and wrapping her hands around her shins, she met his eyes. "I didn't sleep well last night, so I'll probably fall asleep soon. But I did hit you with like twenty questions or so, which makes it your turn."

His smile suggested he wasn't keeping count. "Okay. How did you learn to speak Elven?"

She tore her eyes away and winced. "My father insisted. He said to win the war, we needed to understand our enemies, including their language." She peeked at him, looking for his reaction as she fought not to shift her weight under the force of his gaze. "I learned because I thought it sounded elegant, but I'm starting to think the rest of what they taught me wasn't entirely accurate."

He took a deep breath and exhaled, his face carefully devoid of expression. "You should sleep, Aliya. No need to let me interfere." He paused. "Where will you go?"

Her stomach fell. A small part of her had hoped to travel with him a while longer while she figured things out. "Tonight? Likely right here. Tomorrow?" She swallowed. "The Mage College is outside a place called Westcliff. I'm going to go there…with my ability to shapeshift, hopefully Malkov won't be able to find me hidden among a bunch of others." As long as he didn't send the man with the glowing red stone. "You? Did you receive any more messages to dispatch?"

He pursed his lips together and nodded as his gaze turned distant. "I did, but nothing that can't be delivered in time. Would you like company until you reach your destination? I can at least help get you there in a few days, hopefully before he arrives. Assuming he stays to wrap up the wedding festivities."

Her heart leaped at the hint of invitation as her muscles went weak with relief.

Clearing her throat, she mentally shook herself. Get a grip, Aliya. If he saw how desperate she was, he may well rescind his offer. "I doubt anyone would think to search for me out here." She gestured to the surrounding forest. "But I can tell you value your privacy. Are you sure you're up for it?"

"Your company, specifically. As long as you don't shapeshift without warning." He winked as he held up his hands. "And, assuming you don't mind putting up with this."

She shrugged, hoping to pull off nonchalant. "Well, someone promised to teach me how to hunt and use a bow."

A slow smile crawled across Elessan's lips. He gave her a formal nod. "Someone did."

The tension between Aliya's shoulder blades released. With a sigh, she lay on her side, resting her head on her arm. Regulating her breathing to mimic sleep, she peeked out from under her lashes, watching the stars dance over his skin. Elessan sat for nearly ten minutes, giving her plenty of time to fall asleep. The grass rustled as he settled next to her. "Let's hope someone's an adequate teacher," he whispered.