Page 44 of Mermaid on Heels

“What is a mage?” The question escaped her lips absently, as though this was Bianca she was talking with, to whom she had been asking questions that started withwhat isa lot recently. Liriya pursed her lips as heat crept up her neck. “Sorry, I do not know most landish things; I am only learning.”

“Please don’t apologize, Liriya, I completely understand,” he said softly. “A mage is a human born with magic, and there were a lot of them at that time. However, since their children didn’t inherit the abilities from them, the magic died out. For the last few centuries, there hasn’t been even one found.”

Liriya hummed in acknowledgement.

“I know what you’re thinking; the human world has a lot of mysteries yet to be known to you. And I promise to be the one to help you discover them if you let me.” Luke stopped and turned to her with a half smile.

She realized he was waiting for her response and nodded, returning the smile. “I would be honored.”

Luke squeezed her hand and turned to look downward ahead of them. That was when Liriya noticed they had stopped at the top of a staircase. Luke climbed down effortlessly with grace that seemed to Liriya as if he was running. She couldn’t do that, especially when the steps looked different from the ones she had climbed before—these were higher.

She climbed after him tentatively, absently tugging at their joined hands for him to slow down. Luke stopped and looked back at her as she held up her gown with one hand and placed one foot down on the step with extra caution. She looked up and met his eyes, blushing furiously.

“We are never going to make it to your destination with me moving like a sea-slug.”

Luke rejoined her side, looking as though he was trying not to smile. “Here, I’ll carry you.”

“What?” Liriya’s eyes widened.

Luke’s lips twitched at the corner. “I’ll carry you down to mydestination, if you let me.” When she opened her mouth, he rushed to add, “I agree these stairs are tough to climb down. Even Cedric used to descend them in a sitting position when we were younger—don’t tell him I said that. So if you insist on keeping going like this, we’re not going to reach down there even by sunrise—no offense.”

How could she possibly find that an offense when he was flashing her his breathtaking crooked grin and allowing a brief glimpse into his childhood, all while teasing her? She tried to picture two little boys descending these stairs, one of them moving in a sitting position, and couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her.

“I guess I’ll take that as a yes?”

“Do I have a choice?”

Luke shot her a grin with a shrug of his shoulder and the next moment, her feet were swept off the ground and she found herself in his arms. “And that’s how you hold a little mermaid.”

Liriya had never been carried in her life before—other than when her parents carried her when she was little, which she didn’t remember—and she hadn’t realized the big deal about it until now.

The proximity, the feel of her side-body pressed against his made her heart thunder fiercely against her chest as though it wanted to break out of the ribcage. And the way he was looking at her didn’t help the situation. Therefore, to escape the tension hanging in the air between them, she decided to play fair.

“I am not little.” She narrowed her eyes at him, faux-serious.

“Mhm?” Luke hummed in a questioning tone and began descending the stairs. “How old are you?”

“Eighteen.” Liriya’s arms tightened around his neck, though careful not to choke him.

“Youarelittle.” He laughed and she felt the rumble of his chest against her side. The warmth exuding from him enveloped her like a familiar hug and his hot breath brushed her neck, sending goosebumps all over her skin.

Liriya forced a snort, ignoring all the crazy reactions of her body against his touch and closeness. “Oh really, how old areyouthen?”

“Twenty-three.”

“Ha, you are old.”

“I’m offended, my lady,” Luke countered sarcastically, with a light gasp. “I called youlittleand you’re calling meold?”

“I thought it was fair.” She shot him a smirk.

“A fair little mermaid,” he mused, that crooked grin returning.

Oh no, that particular smile was a dangerous blow to her heart now. Judging by the way it galloped, like the mad horse she saw in the market a few days ago, Liriya genuinely worried for her poor heart’s health.

“You are not going to drop thelittle mermaid, are you?”

“Absolutely not. She’d break her precious ribs if I did.”