Page 212 of Elemental Becoming
She catches my gaze in the mirror. “What?”
I had not realized I was staring.
I straighten, fully dressed now, but I still cannot stop watching her fingers work through the dark braid draped over her shoulder. I want to cross the room. To press my mouth against the back of her neck and bury my hands in that impossibly soft hair.
But I know exactly where that would lead. If I touch her now, we’ll never make it to the infirmary.
A faint smile pulls at my mouth before I can stop it.
“Nothing,” I murmur.
Then, softer this time, the word slips free before I can think better of it.
“Zephyr.”
She turns then, brows raised.
“Did you call me a breeze?” she asks with a laugh.
“I did,” I reply, unable to hide my smile. “A zephyr, to be exact.”
The look on her face levels me: pure delight.
“Why?” she says with a laugh.
I move to stand behind her, meeting her gaze through the mirror. I find myself caught in the warm brown of her eyes yet again. Gods, I don’t think I’ll ever tire of that color.
I rest my hands on her shoulders and swallow, struggling to explain what she’s done to me. How she makes it easier to breathe. She must see it on my face because her brows furrow.
“Thane, what is it?”
Her expression shifts from delight to concern.
No.
I don’t want that look on her face. Not because of me.
“You make me breathe,” the words stumble out.
Her brows pull together. “What?”
I shake my head softly, frustrated with myself. Gods, why is this so difficult?
“Before you . . . ” My grip tightens slightly against her shoulders. “It felt like I was drowning beneath all of it. The war. The crown. The shadows.”
I meet her gaze in the mirror.
“Then you arrived, and suddenly I could breathe again.”
Her expression softens instantly, her eyes shining.
“Thane . . . ”
“You’re my zephyr.”
She turns around and wraps her arms around my waist, pulling me to her. I fold her against me without hesitation. For a moment, I simply hold her there, marveling at both the strength and gentleness within her.
Zephyr.
