Page 36 of Markets & Mooncakes

"I was just reading." I put a hand on his arm. "I'm glad to see you."

"Good." He pulls me into his arms, and my eyes drift closed even as he leans in. It's something that's become second nature to use, even after such a short amount of time. I don't think I expected that, but I like it.

Something feels a little bit different about this kiss. Maybe it's the day. Or more likely, it's that we're truly alone. And while we've shared plenty of private kisses, there's never been a moment when there wasn't the risk of someone walking in or there being someone in the next room who might need our attention. Betsy has gone, and it's too late for anyone else to need us, which means that we're all alone.

I break away from him and look up into his eyes, finding the same kind of emotions I'm feeling written on his face. I don't even know how I know that's what they are, especially when I'm usually terrible at figuring out how people are feeling, especially if it's directed at me.

"I know it's not baking, but I did bring something that kind of counts as making," he says.

"Oh?"

"I used the egg whites left over from the salted egg yolks to make marshmallows, and brought the rest of the chocolate-covered biscuits from our marshmallow domes. I thought we could toast the marshmallows on the fire and then squish them between the biscuits."

"That sounds messy."

"But kind of fun, right?"

"Yes. Though Ember might resent being made to leave the fire."

"I thought of that too." He gestures to his tray, where there's also a dish with something meaty in it.

"All right." I grab a couple of cushions and take them over to the fire, putting them down on either side.

Ember shifts within it, lifting her wing so that she can eye us warily.

"I've brought a snack for you," Nate says, lifting up the bowl.

That does the trick and she unfurls her wings before rushing out of the fire in a shower of sparks.

"We probably don't have that long," I say, knowing she'll make short work of whatever it is.

"I brought her a leftover lamb bone, it should keep her going for a while getting all the meat off it," he says.

"No doubt she won't need feeding at all tomorrow after that." I sit down on one of the cushions, pulling my feet under me.

Bright flames come from over where my dragon is cooking her feast, and there are some satisfied but annoyingly loud noises coming from her as she starts gnawing on it.

I'm somewhat distracted when Nate hands me a toasting fork with a marshmallow on the end of it. I hold it out over the fire, feeling the warm glow of the flames against my face.

Nate comes to join me on the other side and starts toasting his own marshmallow. "What were you reading?" he asks.

"It's some Duchess' travel diaries," I say. "Dreadfully dull when she's talking about the weather, but her descriptions of food are so good that it makes you feel as if you're eating it yourself, so it is worth it."

"That does sound good."

"You can read it when I'm done?" I suggest. "It might help with your geography lessons."

He nods. "You might want to lift your marshmallow, or it's going to burst into flames."

"Oh." I pull it back, seeing that it's got a little black spot where it's been too close to the fire. "That's not good."

"It's fine," he promises. "But we can swap if you want?"

I shake my head and twist it around so I can toast the other side. "So your plan is for us to squish these between biscuits?"

He shrugs. "It wasn't a very well-thought-out plan, I just wanted to spend time with you."

"You could have come without anything." I pull my marshmallow out of the fire and grab a biscuit, putting the marshmallow on top before pulling out the toasting fork and getting a second biscuit to squish it down. Hot gooey marshmallow oozes out of the sides, and I have to admit that it looks delicious.