“Actually, I just learned about it for the first time a couple of days ago. Lia was researching it for a project. Are you guys in the same class?”
“Oh, yeah.” He seems distinctly unenthusiastic, which isn’t exactly a surprise considering how much they seem to dislike each other.
“What class is it for?” I reach for the book. “I kind of want to take it next semester, if I can.”
“Ancient Languages of Magic.” He eases the book away before I can even open it up and slides it into his backpack. “So, what are you looking to find out about dragons?”
“Anything. Everything.” I hold my hands up in an I’m clueless gesture. “This whole magical creatures are real thing is…a lot.”
“Nah. You’ll get used to it in no time.”
“That makes one of us who thinks so.”
He laughs. “Come on. Hit me with your first question.”
“Oh, I haven’t really thought of specific questions. Except…Macy says you have wings. That means you can actually fly?” My mind boggles at the thought.
“Yeah, I can fly.” He grins. “I can do other stuff, too.”
“Like what?” I lean toward him, fascinated.
“Well, jeez, if we’re going to get into all this, I feel like we need some sustenance.” He reaches for his backpack.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“It’s all good, New Girl.” From the backpack’s front pocket he pulls out a half-eaten bag of marshmallows, then holds it out to me. “Want one? They’re my favorite snack.”
“Mine too,” I tell him as I take one. “I mean, usually in Rice Krispies treats, but I’m not complaining.”
I start to pop it in my mouth, but he stops me with a hand on my arm. “Hey, that’s no way to eat a marshmallow.”
“What do you mean?”
He just wiggles his brows. Then tosses the marshmallow up in the air and blows fire straight at it out of his mouth.
I shriek, then cover my mouth, half in shock, half in delight, as the marshmallow turns a perfect golden brown right in midair. Seconds later, Flint closes his mouth, and the treat falls directly into his hand.
He holds it out to me. “Now that’s how you eat a marshmallow.”
“You’re telling me!” I take it from him and pop it in my mouth. “Oh my God, it’s hot!” I say around the gooey goodness.
He gives me a look that says, No shit, Sherlock.
“And it’s perfectly roasted!” I can’t believe how cool this is.
“Course it is. I’ve been doing this a long time.” He holds the bag out to me. “Want another one?”
“Are you kidding? I want them all. All the marshmallows, all the time.”
He grins. “My kind of woman.”
“Can I throw it?” I pick out another one.
“I’d be insulted if you didn’t.”
I giggle as I toss the marshmallow up in the air. And this time I scream only a little as Flint shoots a stream of fire straight at it.
When it’s done, he closes his mouth and the marshmallow falls straight back into my hand. It’s hot—really hot—so I juggle it between my hands for a second, waiting for it to cool down. Then I hold it out to him. “This one’s yours.”
He looks surprised as he glances between the marshmallow and me. Then he says, “Hey, thanks,” and pops it in his mouth.
We roast the rest of the bag, one after the other—sometimes two or three at a time—and Flint cracks jokes during the whole thing. When the marshmallows finally run out, my stomach is killing me—partly because I’ve been laughing so hard and partly because I just ate a shit ton of marshmallows. Either way, it’s a good hurt, unlike so many other things at this place, so I’ll take it.
I’m also thirsty af from all the sugar, and I reach for the water bottle Amka gave me. As I do, I can’t help wondering if she gave it to me because she knew I was going to need it. Is foresight a thing with witches? Just one more thing I need to research.
I start to open the bottle, but Flint snatches it out of my hand before I can even break the seal. “Drinking warm water is such a plebian thing to do,” he teases. Right before he opens his mouth and blows a stream of freezing cold air straight at the water.
Seconds later, he hands me an ice-cold bottle with another waggle of his brows.
“Wow. Just…wow.” I shake my head in excitement. “Is there anything else you can do?”