Ehren took her hand, causing her song to stop mid-verse.

“Don’t stop, please,” he whispered in her ear.

She turned to look at him and her eyes widened in surprise at just how close he was to her. At this distance, he could see clearly that her eyes were a mix between hoary and azure. He watched in facination as the two colors swirled together, creating an icy blue grey. He could feel her rapid breath on his lips. Every second in her presence not touching her, was pure torture for him.

“If you keep looking at me like that, I might have to kiss you,” she murmered.

He leaned closer.

“If you wanted to kiss me all you had to do was say so,” he told her in a low voice.

She gave a breathy laugh.

“Why are you laughing?” he asked.

She didn’t answer. Instead, she placed her free hand on his cheek and brought her lips to his. It wasn’t the kiss he was expecting. He’d expected to at least feel her lips on his. What he got instead, was more like a ghost of a kiss. He growled in frustration.

“You are a tease,” he growled.

“Not on purpose,” she laughed. “But it does give you something to look forward to, yes?”

“The problem is, I don’t know when we’ll see each other again,” he groaned.

She was about to reply when the door burst open, which was hard considering both doors were quite large and heavy.

“I should have known you’d do something, Asena,” a man spat with obvious venom.

“Oh bloody fucking hell,” Akira cursed under her breath.

“You know him?” Ehren asked.

“I don’t just know him, I’m related to the possessive bastard,” she growled.

She stood and moved toward the door. He moved to follow.

“Stay with Askel, please,” she told him. “This is something I need to take care of myself.”

With that, she made her way to the man framed in the doorway.