The Silver Siren by Chanda Hahn Page B

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Hemi and gauge his reaction, but since Joss had backed off, he’d
put the knife away and sat back in the chair. Now his eyes were
closed, and he rested his head on his chest feigning sleep. I knew
better. I swore I could see his ears twitch with interest. My
stomach growled and I began to dip the bread into my now cold but
still delicious soup.
    “ Thalia, there’s something
I would like to ask you.” Joss wrapped his hands around his mug and
stared at its half empty contents for a few seconds. He took a deep
breath, pushed the mug away, and looked up at me with a guarded
expression. “Are you in love with Kael?”
    The question startled me and the soft
bread became like a stone. I couldn’t swallow it. I coughed loudly,
reaching desperately for the cider to wash down the bread before it
killed me.
    Joss leaned over to try and give me a
reassuring pat on the back.
    During this whole horrid scene, Hemi
still hadn’t moved.
    “ Joss. I’m really—um—not
sure that I—no. I’m not—in love with anyone!” I shot out in between
fits of coughing. One great red eyebrow rose on Hemi’s large face
before it dropped back down and he let out a snore. Absolutely
feigning sleep.
    Finally, when my coughing subsided and
my faced returned to a normal color, I looked over at Joss. His
expression was unreadable. Joss’s blue-green eyes gazed at me
thoughtfully. He leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers
along the hard wood table.
    “ Huh, I wasn’t expecting
that answer. Not exactly. But then I guess I deserve it, because I
need to earn back your trust. Don’t worry. I will.” Joss flashed me
a very relieved and determined smile.
    I was happy—I think—at his reaction,
but I suddenly felt overwhelmingly tired.
    “ I’m sorry, but I think I
need to get some rest.”
    Joss immediately jumped up and Hemi
lumbered up as well. My room ended up being the same room as the
last time I’d stayed here. Joss and Hemi shared the room connected
to mine.
    Hemi had already walked through my
room and checked the door between the rooms. He went back in to
settle in for the night, which left Joss and me alone in the
hallway. Joss was reluctant to say goodnight. Only one sconce on
the wall remained lit. My door, at the end of the hall, was in the
darkest corner.
    Joss grabbed my hand and clasped it in
between his. It was warm and comforting, until I looked into his
face and saw the heat burning there. Suddenly an excited thrill
race up my body.
    “ You don’t know how scared
I’ve been, knowing you were gone and that I couldn’t go after you.
I was drowning in worry the last few days without you. But now that
I have you back, I can breathe again.” He pressed his forehead into
mine as his hands delicately ran up my forearms sending a wave of
goose bumps in their wake.
    I shuddered and pressed myself closer
to him. It was a different being near Joss than it was with Kael.
Joss was like a slow burning flame that, if given the chance, could
quickly spread and overtake me. And I truly believed he would give
up everything to be with me, even leaving his home, his clan. That
thought both disturbed me and pleased me.
    “ Do you trust me?” he
asked.
    “ Yes.”
    Joss leaned forward and ran his
fingers back up my arm, but this time it was different. I felt a
tingle of power race up my body and I shivered. It was warm and
thrilling. I could see what he was doing. He was opening up a
thread of power and was slowly trickling it along my skin. It was
intoxicating to be touched by his power, and I wanted to be closer,
wanted more. He leaned in and I closed the distance between us
greedily.
    The mix of our power and our kiss made
my subconscious rise. Even with my eyes closed, I could see the
bright light that was his center pulsing and burning brightly. My
thread of power reached toward his and caressed it gently. Joss
shivered in reaction. But then I saw the color of my power. His was
glowing gold, mine a dark shadow. Could he not