At home, Tate and Fawn were sitting at the kitchen table talking. Fawn smiled, "You look like you've had a good afternoon."

"I have," I couldn't stop grinning.

"Would you like some tea? You can tell us all about your day." She pointed at the mugs, "Come on, grab one. I want to know what's put you in such a good mood."

As Fawn filled my cup, Tate used her distraction to give me a serious face and shake his head; he was reminding me to be careful. I appreciated his concern, but I knew Fawn loved this world and didn't share the Queen's low opinion of humans; she'd be pleased for me.

"Something kind of exciting happened. I was with Jolie, and someone commented about my appearance. Apparently, she thought I was too experienced to be spending time with Jolie."

Fawn laughed, "I can see how someone would make that assumption."

"I don't understand what my looks have to do with experience."

This time they both laughed, but it was Tate who answered, "It could be that people think you're too good-looking to be as inexperienced as you are."

At my blank look, Fawn added, "Girls must be showing an interest in you at school. You haven't noticed?"

I thought about Mandy sitting on my desk and the jealousy Samantha had been feeling toward Jolie. "I have no interest in them, so I didn't give them any more thought."

Shaking his head, Tate said, "Is your total cluelessness the big thing that happened today?"

"No, but it helped. When Jolie was trying to explain this to me, I realized that part of her nervousness was because she didn't know how amazing I think she is. So I told her."

Tate looked bored, "So you told her she's pretty? I do some version of that with everyone on my hikes. It's fun, but I wouldn't call it exciting."

"I could tell she didn't believe me, so I opened my connection with her, and then she believed." I grinned, remembering the look on her face.

Fawn gaped as Tate angrily said, "How did you explain that to her?"

"I didn't have to explain anything. I opened enough for her to feel that I meant what I was saying, not enough for it to be overwhelming. Afterward, she felt a little confused but mostly content. She didn't ask any questions."

Tate was still frustrated with me, but Fawn was interested. "That shows an amazing control of your gift."

"Over that aspect of it anyway," I nodded. "I was careful. I wouldn't do anything to scare her off."

Tate and Fawn gave each other exasperated looks. Standing, Fawn said, "Well, that's enough excitement for me today. Goodnight, boys."

"Goodnight, Fawn."

"Goodnight."

After she left the room, I waited for Tate to speak. I knew he was worried about me, and he was trying not to be irritated.

"You took some big chances today, Ash. I don't like it."

"I was very careful."

He answered in a whisper, "You may have been with Jolie, but telling Fawn wasn't careful. What happened to keeping your feelings to yourself?"

"Fawn won't tell anyone."

"You can't be sure. That usurper to the throne has been doing all she can to cause a war within our people. She won't be happy until everyone who disagrees with her laws is dead or in one of her cages."

"Fawn isn't one of her followers."

"She has spies everywhere! Who set us up with this home? Insisted that you live here? Did you really think she would allow one of her best weapons to roam freely?"

I hadn't thought of that. "I don't want to be her weapon."

"I don't think you'll have a choice. You're the one who can get the truth out of people. If she gets her war, she'll want you there to flush out her opposition." He patted me on the shoulder and walked out, leaving me at the table by myself.

Sipping my tea, I thought about the Queen and everything she'd asked of me in the past. She called them favors, as though I had a choice in complying.

I'd walked in her enemy's dreams, asking questions they would avoid if they could. I'd seen people punished because of what I'd told her, so I tried not to tell her anything her Seer wouldn't be able to predict. He could tell her everything I'd found out. 

It didn't take me long to realize that by asking us the same questions, she'd been testing my loyalty. I told her what I had to.

When her sister died in the human world, Crystal announced she would be Queen. There was no time for anyone even to question her claim on the throne, and there would definitely have been questions.

Crystal spent most of the years of Ember's reign away from the court. She didn't come back to stay until shortly after I was born. No one seemed to know what she had been doing in her time away, either. It could have been argued that she was gone too long to rule our people.

Everyone loved Queen Ember; her long reign was a tranquil time for us, and her death was mourned by all.

Soon after Queen Crystal took the throne, she became afraid of resistance groups forming against her. She trusted me because I owed her everything.

Years before, when my parents died, I was a child, all alone. Crystal said she was close to my parents when they were young, and she came to me as their friend promising to take care of me, and she did. Not as a mother, we weren't that close. She was a guardian. I never wanted for anything, and she made sure I got the training I needed to control my gifts.

When she asked me to feel out her rivals, or anyone who would challenge her, I did. Had I known the changes she would make or her hunger for power above all else; I wouldn't have complied so easily.

Everyone thought her only gift was her ability to move people and things, but she has at least one more, a talent for self-preservation, one that blocked my abilities. I'd never felt her emotions or walked in her dreams.

It was fortunate for me that there was no one around to tell her how I felt. She wouldn't be happy with me, especially now.

I thought time would drag here with the days being longer than at home, but it hadn't, if anything, time spent with Jolie had been flying by. I couldn't believe I'd been here for almost three months.

I hated that I waited a month to enroll in school; that was more time I could have known her. I'd needed that time to work on my understanding of humans and their colloquialisms. I was blending in well and excited to go out with my friends. 

As I changed my clothes, Tate walked in without knocking, "Going out?"

"Yes, and please, come right in."

He laughed and stretched out on my bed as I finished getting ready. "So what's the plan for tonight? Going to show Jolie any more of your talents?"

"I don't plan on it, but I'm glad I did what I did. The last few weeks have been perfect. She's different now that she knows how I feel about her, so much more comfortable."

He gave me a blank look, "That's nice. I still don't understand where you think this can lead."

"Tonight, it leads me to Coffee House to listen to Dahlia and hopefully dance with Jolie." I smiled, "You're welcome to come with me. Clara and Mark will be there."

He grimaced, "Go to a crowded indoor space to listen to Dahlia and watch people bump into each other? No, thanks."

"Are you sure? There could be someone you'd like to bump into."

Raising his eyebrows in shock, Tate laughed, "I'm not sure these new friends are a good influence on you." Getting up to leave, he said, "Have fun."

Walking into Coffee House, I spotted Mark. Joining him, I smiled, "Hello. Are the girls here?"

"Hey! Yeah, they're in the bathroom. A guy walked in that Clara decided is worth a double check on her hair and makeup," he rolled his eyes, and I chuckled.

It was only a few seconds later when the girls returned. I stood and pulled the chair next to me back for Jolie. She smiled as her cheeks turned pink, and she took her seat. I was glad she still blushed for me even though she wasn't as nervous; I would have missed that.

As soon as she sat, she reached under the table to hold my hand resting on my leg. I  loved it, and it was nice that her excitement mirrored my own.

Clara clapped her hands once, "All right, people, music should be starting any minute. Where did the hottie go?" She looked at Mark, and he shrugged his shoulders. "You were supposed to keep an eye on him!" Her eyes bugged out dramatically.

"Sorry, I didn't know that was my job," he laughed.

Jolie giggled, "It's no biggie Clara, I'm sure you'll find him. If not, you'll find someone else to dance with."

Clara huffed and looked at Jolie, "There are exactly three Efron level hotties here. The guy Mark lost, our gay best friend, and your boyfriend."

At the word boyfriend, Jolie's cheeks turn a brighter shade of pink, and she felt more agitated than she had in days. Was I her boyfriend? Did she want me to be? We'd never talked about it, but it felt important to her.

The more I looked at her and thought about the word boyfriend, the more I liked it. I wanted the human label; I wanted to be hers, and for people to know we were together. I wanted her to be mine.

After scanning the room, Clara waved her hand toward a table on the other side of the dance floor, "Perfect. The only available hottie found a table full of college girls to sit with. I hope you planned on dancing, Mark because you are now."

"You know I'll always dance with you, Clara. It's not a punishment," he smirked, and she pulled her lips to the side.

"Fine, be sweet. I won't be annoyed with you anymore," she poked his shoulder and smiled.

Dahlia took the stage, and the crowd clapped. The music started, and people quickly filled the dim dance floor.

Clara grabbed Mark's hand, "Let's go!" He chuckled as she dragged him through the crowd and found an open space for them to dance.

Jolie was watching them with a grin, and I couldn't look away from how her face lit up when she was happy. She turned to me, raising her eyebrows when she caught me staring.

The noise was a good excuse, so I leaned in close to speak in her ear, making her shiver. Her hair smelled like flowers, and for a second, I couldn't think. What had I done to deserve this girl's notice? "Dance with me."

I felt her smile, "OK."

She walked in front of me, and I placed my hand on her waist. I couldn't stop touching her. She found a spot next to Mark and Clara and turned to face me. I had a second to remember that I'd never danced like this before, and then she was so close it didn't matter.

The crowd around us was moving to the music. There was so little space that everyone was bumping into everyone else, but I only felt Jolie. Her hand on my shoulder, her leg when it brushed against mine, the feel of her under my hands.

After a few songs, Clara leaned over and yelled, "We're going to get a drink. We'll be at the table."

Jolie nodded, "OK!"

The music slowed with the next song, and I pulled her closer. She rested her head on my chest and reached one arm around my waist. When she lightly pressed her other hand on my stomach, I couldn't tell if the frenzy of feelings were hers or mine.

I didn't want the song to end, but it did, and Dahlia announced that the band was taking a break. Jolie took a small step back and smiled shyly at me. This closeness was new for us.

From the comments Tate made, I understood we were taking things slowly, but I was in no rush. If you've found the one you want to be with forever, what was the hurry?

I took her hand as she started back toward our friends, and I realized I wasn't ready to share her. Leaning down, I asked, "Do you think they'd mind if I walk you home now? I want to spend some time alone with you."

Smiling back at me, she said, "I'd like that too. They won't mind."

She stopped at the table and told them we were leaving. Clara pulled Jolie down to say something in her ear that made her blush and shake her head.

Turning around, Jolie took my hand and started toward the door. I waved goodbye to Dahlia as we passed, and she gave me a nod, but her eyes seemed to follow Jolie.