Page 161 of The Incendiary

I broke my stare with Elias and looked at my friend. “You think Elias Winterton gets jealous of other men around me?”

“Not think,” he scoffed. “Know.”

“Do you want to help me prove it?”

“How—”

“Kiss me.”

Mina groaned and covered her eyes.

His brow furrowed with concern. I knew my eyes were red and swollen. I knew I looked crazy, and my proposition was ridiculous.

“You sure?” He searched my face. “Yes.”

Mavic contemplated for a few more seconds, then flashed his handsome, oafish smile. “Nice.”

I grabbed his stubbled chin and kissed him before I could change my mind.

Mavic was a good kisser, but I felt nothing.

“He looks like he wants to kill you, Mav,” Mina muttered. I threaded my fingers through Mavic’s hair and deepened the kiss. “Oh! He’s getting up!”

I swiped my tongue against Mavic’s, and he moaned in pleasant surprise. He chuckled against my lips and returned the favor.

“He just threw his fork down and stormed off,” Mina updated us. “I don’t think I’ve seen him so angry before!”

When I drew back from the kiss, Mavic’s pupils were full, his lips red and swollen.

“Where the hell did you learn to kiss like that?” he uttered under his breath. “Weren’t you holed up in a cabin in Warrich for twenty years?”

I shrugged, my eyes welling with tears again. Maybe it hadn’t been the best idea for my heart, but I shoved the sorrow down with a sip of wine while vengeful satisfaction settled like a jagged, rusty anchor in my chest. It was enough to ground me.

“You know, Your Highness,” Mavic leaned close, his voice a whisper only I could hear. “I mean this with the utmost respect and care. If the mood ever strikes you and⁠—”

“No.” I gave his cheek a friendly pat. Mina had told him everything that had and hadn’t happened in the showers. Somehow, that ridiculous offer was exactly what I needed to laugh for the first time in days. “I adore you, but no.”

Mavic smirked and took a long drag of wine from his cup. “Can’t win if you don’t try.”

I laughed until it led to more tears. Mina rested her gentle hand in my lap, bringing me enough comfort to keep from crying profusely. I wiped my eyes. When they were clear, my gaze caught on a sprinkling of blue in one of the bouquets of flowers left over from Reverie that adorned the mess hall tables.

“Mina?”

“Yes?”

“I would like you to give me a tattoo.”

After supper, we lit every sconce and lantern in the cabin to give Mina enough light to work. It took her three hours, and it was perfect. Behind my ear, just below my hairline, were three small flowers with sky-blue petals that faded to white at the edges. Their stems were dark green, fine, and the entire piece followed the curve of my earlobe.

“Forget-me-nots? How romantic.” Mavic’s mouth was full of his apple. He winked at me in the mirror. “Who are they for?”

Mina slapped his chest and hissed, “Mind your own business, Mav!”

He tossed his head back in laughter I was grateful to hear. I would continue to need it.

“They’re for me.” I carefully touched my finger to the delicate blue flowers. My skin was a little warm and irritated around the edges.

“The redness will fade after a few days,” Mina assured me. “As will any lingering soreness.”