(Amaia)

At least he spoke to me without getting angry and acknowledged me as a person—someone who cares for him.

This is not a small step, it’s a giant one when it comes to my relationship with Mintaka.

A smile remains on my lips as I knock on the door to Alnilam’s office, clutching the small gift I have gotten for him.

Happiness dances like little birds in my stomach. Everyone accepted the gifts from me, even Rahria but Alnilam is unpredictable. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Come in!" His serene voice comes. Pushing the door open, I enter. Alnilam is standing near the bookcase, shuffling through the books.

His blue cape hangs behind him while his hair is held in a tight braid today. The ends of it move as if sensing me near and waving at me.

Sneakily I wave back at them and they just begin to swing his braid, left and right like an overexcited monkey swinging on vines in the jungle.

"Cut it out," he grimly says and I sheepishly smile. His hair refuses to listen and Alnilam has to sigh and turn to face me.

Perfection is etched on every contour of this man and he never fails to take my breath away in the most beautiful way.

His eyes, which appear like two distinctive amethysts bathed in moonlight, focus on me. The white silver uniform sits so snuggly against his tall frame.

"Here, I want you to read this book and focus on learning as much as you can on Fae magic." He extends the book he is holding towards me. I observe the cover is all blank with no title. A smart tactic so no one can know what I am reading.

"Thank you! Will do." My hands tremble as I accept it from him and hope he doesn’t notice.

"Amaia, thanks for doing what you did for Mintaka. I appreciate it," he gently says and my head spins.

I am not used to such kind words from Alnilam but I will take them.

"He appeared in so much pain, so I just held him, hoping he would be able to snap out of it."

A seriousness descends on Alnilam’s face and he takes a step closer to me, filling my vicinity with his bookish pine scent.

"Amaia!" He says my name with such tenderness.

No. No. Don’t test my self-control.

He almost whispers, and it makes the bond between us come alive like the spring music.

"Fae have a natural tendency to resist Chitterings because they carry an internal light of their own. If used correctly, they can protect people around them. Remember the darkness only fades when light shines."

Have his eyes turned brighter? I can’t stop staring at him.

"Now, listen to me carefully. Don’t under any circumstances lose your necklace." He points towards it, hiding under the uniform, but the bulge makes it visible to him.

"Saiph is smart, smarter than you can comprehend. He is already suspicious of why the Chittering didn’t affect you the way it did others. So you will need to be careful around him."

Profusely, I nod at him. I have already gotten the same feeling from Saiph. His gaze is sharp and deep. Maybe it comes to him naturally because of his tough job and he keenly observes others.

"Good, training with him will be tough, but it will make you mentally strong," Alnilam says with finality, and I know it’s time to leave.

"I will give my best."

"I am leaving. If anything goes wrong, speak to Jamina. You can trust her. Even if you need help with something just go to her," he finally says. "You are excused."

I hesitate, then let out a slow breath. My breathing harshens, and my heartbeat goes berserk. I didn’t know I would be this terrified while offering him the small gift I had purchased.

Seeing me linger, Alnilam asks. "Is there anything you need to ask?"

"...umm. Yes, I bought you something last night. I was hoping you would accept." I take out the rolled parchment held by a silver ribbon and extend it towards him.

Surprise passes over his face like a shadow.

Damn! This man makes me nervous like no other.

"I am not supposed to accept gifts from my students," he simply says, making my heart drop.

But his magic had other plans. The band holding his hair breaks with a snap and they break loose like the sprinkling of liquid starlight from the heavens. They elongate and roll themselves around the parchment and my hand like mercury.

The dreamy emotions that always came with this man jam the bond between us as his wild hair slithers along my arm, touching my skin.

The other lock takes the parchment and tosses it at Alnilam’s chest. The stunned man has no option but to gather it in both his hands before it can stumble to the ground.

"Perfect," he grunts, trying to reel them in, but they refuse to listen or budge. They crawl on my neck, wrapping themselves around it like a silver necklace.

A burst of emotions just remains under my skin, ready to burst out at the feelings his hair evoked. My knees shake, the small jolts of current course through my whole body. The pulse hammers so loudly in my ear that I could hear nothing but it.

And yet I stand there like a mute staring at my mate, as he struggles to reel in his magic and hair.

Appalled has to be the word to describe his face.

"My sincerest apologies for this outrageous behaviour of my magic. I will accept this so they will retreat," he announces, seeming slightly embarrassed at how his hair clung to my skin.

"It’s fine. At least they like and understand me." I try to awkwardly smile at him. My insides scream, and my hands itch to touch his hair.

Fuck everything, I am going to touch them.

Raising my trembling hand, I reach my throat and gently caress it with a smile. They unfurl from my neck and caress my hand in return as if thanking me.

Alnilam sighs in defeat and focuses on the piece of parchment in his hand. Unfurling the ribbon, he opens the parchment and stares at it and then a surprise passes over his face.

"This is Celestia’s Map." His fingers feel the edges of the creamy, shaded parchment, and he raises it to the light, observing for something I don’t understand.

Excited, his hair finally retreats and gathers all around his broad shoulders.

"What’s a Celestia’s Map?" I ask, curious.