Chapter 10

When they were gone I got up and walked to the kitchen, bringing my cold cup of coffee with me. I suddenly wasn't much in the mood for it. It was only ten 'til eight but I was ready to go to sleep.

I closed my eyes and reached out to my wards, giving them a boost in power and security. I examined the Ministry's wards and they weren't too bad. I added a bit of strength to some of them and let the others get absorbed into my wards. Every bit of protection would help.

"What are you doing?" Draco's smooth voice interrupted, his magic flowing gently around me.

"Making sure we don't get ambushed in our sleep," I answered as I nudged one of the Ministry's wards around, trying to get it to go into my own wards.

"Do you mind if I ask a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Did you mean it?" I opened my eyes and turned my head to look at him over my shoulder. He was leaning against the opening into the living space, looking as suave and perfect as he always did. I tamped down my sudden and odd — yet not as unexpected as it should have been — feeling to run my hair through those blond locks of his.

"Mean what?"

He gave a shrug in an attempt to look as if he didn't really care that much. It didn't fool me for a second. "That you don't regret telling me your secret."

I smiled. The boy acted so insecurely sometimes. "I meant it, Draco." I turned back, closing my eyes to concentrate on the task at hand again. There was one last ward I had to examine.

"I have another question." His voice was closer this time, his magic pressing harder against my skin. There was almost a nervous quality to it, though his voice showed no anxiety.

"Okay."

"How do you know what I'm feeling?"

My eyes flashed open but I dared not look at him. Merda, this wasn't good. "What do you mean?"

"Don't give me that shite, Hemera," he warned, his voice low as he took another step closer. I still didn't turn to face him. "I bet you know what I'm feeling right now."

"I—"

"Are you in my mind? Is that it?"

"No."

"Then how?" I shook my head. In Italy, I would be ostracized for using someone's magic without asking first. And I would be punished severely for making a permanent connection to the person's magic. I had meant it when I told him before that it is considered an invasion. If Alexiares ever found out, he would have to punish me for it.

"I-I don't know."

"Hemera." I felt his hands on my shoulders and allowed him to turn me around. He lifted my chin with his right index finger and stared straight into my eyes. "Please tell me."

"It's your magic," I admitted. And I nearly slapped myself. That's just great, Hemera. Tell the bloke you have an inappropriate fancy for that you're incredibly rude use of his magic led to a permanent connection he has no control over. He's not going to freak out about that at all.

"You know what I'm feeling from my magic?" he asked, his voice dubious.

I shrugged sheepishly, looking away from those intense eyes. "Magic carries feelings and desires. Its part of what makes it belong to a person."

"So every time you feel my magic, you feel what I feel?"

I nodded. "For the most part. I've hardly ever known why you're feeling something, and there are times when I don't understand what you're feeling at all. Like right now, for instance. You're all over the charts and I can't pick out a single one." He didn't answer. Just stared at me with his molten silver eyes. "For a while I thought it only happened when you were thinking about me or looking at me, but now I feel your emotions even when you're reading a book or making a potion. I don't understand it."

Draco chuckled softly. "Oh, Hemera." He tucked a lose curl behind me ear and let his fingers brush across my cheek. It sent lightning straight down my body. "I'm never not thinking about you.".

I blinked "What?" He was close enough now that I could feel his breath brush my face. His eyes trapped me. I couldn't have moved if I wanted. And I didn't. I couldn't make myself.

"You have the most beautiful eyes," he murmured, cupping my cheek with his hand. My breath caught.

"Yours aren't so bad either," I said, my voice breathy and light. A smile flashed across his face as he moved even closer. Our bodies were a breath apart.

"You have no idea how many times I've dreamed of doing this." His thumb brushed along my cheek, making me incapable of speech for a moment.

"Doing what?" He stared at me, his thumb stroking my cheek. His eyes flicked to my lips and back up. I leaned closer, my chest brushing his. He sucked in a breath, eyes flashing.

And he was kissing me. His slightly chapped lips ignited an explosion in my soul. Every centimeter of my body was on fire. I pressed against him, my arms wrapping themselves around his neck. I gave a small gasp as I felt his tongue swipe my bottom lip. He slid his tongue along mine, sending a bolt of heat straight to my toes. I felt one of his hands sink into my hair and the other pull me flush against him. I weaved my fingers into his hair, trying to get as close to him as possible.

I wasn't sure how long we stood there wrapped in each other's arms. Time seemed to stop in its tracks to let us live in our moment for as long as possible. Eventually, we both pulled back, gasping for air. He leaned his forehead against mine, breathing just as heavily as I was. I opened my eyes, and with the light came a realization of what I had just done.

"No," I breathed, pushing myself away from the boy. I shouldn't have done that. I had people chasing me, dangerous people. Draco had enough of war in his life. He didn't need me to drag him into any of this. He looked at me with bewildered eyes as I took another step back.

"Hemera—"

"I shouldn't have. I'm sorry." I whirled around, determined to run straight to my room and stay there for a decade. But he grabbed me before I even got one foot on the staircase.

"Stop, Hemera. Stop." I glared at him, trying to pull my arm free. How dare he touch my skin, make me feel like lightning was tingling across my body, when I was trying to save him a load of heartache.

"Let go of me."

"Not until you at least talk to me." He grabbed both my shoulders, forcing me to look at him.

"What?" I snapped. I was angry. Angry at him for being such a great kisser. Angry at myself for letting myself kiss him. Angry at the world for blowing up so I couldn't be happy that the boy I fancied had just given me the most incredible kiss.

"Why are you running, Hemera?" His eyes were intense, full of something I didn't understand. It was sad, expectant. "Just tell me why you're running and I'll let you go." I frowned. His tone and his magic and his eyes were confusing me, drawing away my anger. I knew what I was thinking, but I wasn't sure what was going through that secretive mind of his.

"Because I shouldn't have done that."

He let go of me, pacing away. "Damn it, Hemera! Why?"

"Because you don't deserve to get drawn into another war."

He froze, every muscle going taught. His eyes seared into mine, demanding and questioning. "What does that mean?"

I sighed, getting agitated myself. Why was he making this harder than it already was? "Getting involved with me means getting involved in a war. A war you don't have a hat in. Don't you think you've been through enough war?"

His muscles loosened and his face fell into a frown. "You're saying you don't want to be with me because it would force me into something you don't want me in?"

"I'm saying you shouldn't be with me because it would force you into something you shouldn't have to be in."

He took a step towards me. "So you want to be with me."

I took a step back. "That's not what this is about."

He kept coming towards me, backing me up to the staircase. "That's exactly what this is about, Hemera." He reached me at the bottom of the stairs, standing nearly as close to me as he had been moments before. "If you weren't being hunted, if you were just a muggle-born bookworm with a penchant for trouble, would you be pushing me away right now?" I looked away, unable to meet his quicksilver eyes.

"If I was just a muggle-born bookworm with a penchant for trouble, would you have even kissed me?" He slowly reached up and lightly dragged the back of his hand across my cheek. I didn't stop him. I didn't have the strength.

"Hemera, if you were still Hermione I would have kissed you weeks ago." I blinked. He would have? "I held back because I didn't think a girl like you could ever want a bloke like me. I honestly thought you were going to slap me back there."

I frowned. "A bloke like you? You don't give yourself enough credit, Draco. You're a good person. I'm the part of the equation that doesn't fit."

"If you're going to stand there and tell me you're not a good person I will shake you. Don't think I won't."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course not. But I'm Sacerdotessa."

Now he was frowning. "You never said that the Sacerdotessa aren't allowed to have relationships."

"No, they can have relationships, but it never happens. No Sacerdotessa has found a lasting relationship in the last fifty decades. They just don't work out. We're scary powerful and don't like to be controlled—"

"Which is sexy."

"It's something that—what?" I stopped, my brain slowly realizing what he'd said.

He gave me that half smile that made my heart melt just a little. "You're a crazy powerful witch that won't take shite from anyone. That's sexy. And anyone that doesn't see it is either blind or a misogynist."

"Well, uh, thank you," I mumbled, blushing. He thought I was sexy? No one had ever said that to me before. My mother had always said I was pretty, and my sister claimed I would be a heartbreaker if I put forth more of an effort, but sexy? Never.

"And you're worried about the war, right? About me getting involved?" I nodded since he seemed to need an answer. "Well you should know I've had a horse in this race since the moment you told me who you really are. Because I'm going to protect you from this, Hemera."

"You don't—"

"I know you can take care of yourself in a fight," he cut me off, eyes flashing with intensity. I choked back my response, letting him finish. "But I can't stand the possibility of you leaving my life right after you finally got to it." He cupped my cheek gently, rubbing his thumb across my cheekbone so lightly it stopped my breath. "My heart wouldn't survive it. The question is, would yours?"

I stared into his eyes and imagined a life without Draco Malfoy. It seemed funny to me. We'd only really been around each other for a couple of months and we'd only gotten to know each other really well a few weeks before, and yet I couldn't imagine my life continuing without him. Draco had wormed his way into my heart when I wasn't paying attention, and he was there to stay.

"No," I breathed, watching as his eyes sparked.

"So you're out of excuses then?"

"Not unless you have any on your end." His face spilt into the biggest smile I'd ever seen and my heart stopped at the sight. Sweet Circe but that smile was beautiful.

"Thank Merlin." He took my face in his hands and slanted his lips over mine in a kiss that made my toes curl. I melted into him, all coherent thought going out the window. But I didn't need thoughts or a working muscular system. I had Draco. And in that moment, I felt I could face down anything with him beside me.