“I don’t think you need a manual for going out on a date, as adorable as that might sound.”

“Funny thing, I never thought anyone would associate the word ‘adorable’ with someone like me.” He chuckled. My stomach tied itself up in knots, as if part of me was yearning for more. I did understand that there were steps we needed to go through before we’d get to that. He’d gone to the trouble of studying human culture, just to make me feel comfortable, to create a familiar situation for me. Only, he’d gotten something wrong. I’d never been on a date before. I had no idea how to act in this scenario.

“I do appreciate you reading about this,” I said. “It’s thoughtful and respectful.”

“But I’m getting something wrong, aren’t I?”

I stopped and gawked at him. “What do you mean?”

He turned around in front of me, his height making my head tilt back in order to maintain eye contact. “I’m told it’s supposed to be an opportunity for us to get to know each other better, yet I’m speechless, and so are you. I assume it’s my fault, since you know more about human culture and dates than I do.”

I sighed deeply. “I don’t,” I said, shaking my head. His brow furrowed with confusion. “I’ve never dated anyone before. I’m as new to this as you.”

He scoffed, putting his hands on his hips. Judging by the look on his face, he was slightly irritated. As if wondering what came next, then, since we were both awfully new and inexperienced at this. I was positive that cultural papers and guides wouldn’t be able to make this any easier between us, because we were supernaturals caught in a war against the very elements of nature—any kind of dating was complicated between us. On top of that, our lack of romantic experience was a considerable wrench in itself.

“I don’t like this,” he said. “At least before, I could talk to you. I don’t like the silence.”

I didn’t mind it, but the insecurity that came with it was finally rearing its ugly head. This had the potential to go sideways, and the thought of going into tomorrow with any kind of animosity or the sense of a lost opportunity kicked me into sudden motion.

“We need to get past the uncomfortable part,” I said, my gaze fixed on him with newfound courage. This was ridiculous. I couldn’t let myself be overwhelmed by a new situation. I’d stared death in the friggin’ face—how had I managed to get tangled in the awkwardness of a first date?

“How do we do that?” he asked.

Raphael was even hotter with this social ignorance. I wasn’t sure I’d find this kind of purity in anyone else. It made him into a beacon of sorts, in the back of my head—the dashing Perfect with eyes of different colors, a gorgeous body and noble character, a pair of pristine wings and a brilliant mind, yet a literal virgin.

I pushed my heels up and wrapped my arms around his neck. Without another word, I kissed him, ever so softly. This was the uncomfortable thought—not the kiss itself, but the moments leading up to it, the many thoughts that anticipated it and that were responsible for the silence he loathed. It was time for me to step up. The first kiss had been surprisingly easy. The second, however, had taken a lot more work and courage…

His heart thundered, clapping in my ears like a savage tropical storm. My whole being was enhanced, filled with energy I hadn’t experienced before. It came from the physical contact, as his arms coiled around my waist and tightened, pulling me close against him. My breath became ragged as he deepened the kiss, reacting to me in ways I’d only imagined.

We fit together like two puzzle pieces, perfectly cut out for one another. I was molded against him like a second skin, taking it all in as I explored the myriad of sensations from his kiss. One of his hands moved up my back, fingers tracing my spine until they found my nape, and I shuddered in his embrace. His hand made its way higher, to the back of my head, pulling me even closer—for a second, I worried I might dissolve into him and vanish forever.

Panting, he paused to look at me, his gaze darkening. The drumming of his heart continued its parade, the reverberations rippling through my ribcage, echoing everything he felt toward me in the simplest and most honest of rhythms. This moment was pure poetry, the kind that could easily bring me to tears, and I didn’t want it to stop.

“This was the uncomfortable part?” he asked, as if I’d insulted him.

I smiled softly. “No. Working up the courage to do it was.”

“Ah. Yes. Good point,” he replied and kissed me again.

Unlike before, there was a thread of tenderness intertwined with the movement of his lips against mine. We melted into one another, trying to breathe while we pressed forward with this relationship—that it was some kind of relationship, I knew for a fact. Whatever this was between Raphael and me… it ran deep, and it was serious. Powerful enough to make me want to move mountains and crush entire worlds, just so I’d never leave his side.

What a peculiar creature he was. Bursting with curiosity and self-confidence, yet so sweetly ignorant in the affairs of love. I’d always thought I’d be with someone more experienced in the matter—once I got out more, anyway—but that seemed like such a distant idea, now. Ludicrous, even, since I’d clearly been programmed by the universe to be with Raphael. We belonged together, as weird and as mismatched as we were. The Vampire Nerd and the Perfect.

“I like this part,” he whispered, his forehead pressed against mine, his lips moving against mine. “Can we find a way to just stop time and do more of this?”

I giggled, my cheeks incandescent, my heart thriving on such sweet and honest words. “Or we could just kick the Hermessi’s asses six ways from Sunday and get back to this, as soon as we’re done saving the world.”

He grinned, hands cupping my face now. I bit my lower lip, wondering about the course of events and decisions that had led to this point. We were both transfixed and open to so much more, with such little time left for just the two of us. “Sounds like a decent plan,” he said. “Can I show you something?”

I nodded. In an instant, with the enthusiasm of a kid about to go down the world’s craziest water slide, he hugged me tight. His wings exploded behind him, and he took flight. I yelped as my field of vision shifted, with Raphael at the center. I held on tight, my fingers digging into his firm muscles, as he flew low above the shore.

The breeze brushed past us, and I took deep, salty breaths to soothe my rampaging heart. Ocean was below me. The sky was above. Between them, Raphael and I shot through the air as if searching for the end of time and space.

The thrill was forever embedded in my soul and in what would soon become my fondest memory. I found myself laughing, watching him torn between watching me and looking ahead—the latter quite necessary so we wouldn’t crash into something.

As the minutes passed in flight, I began to relax a little, lowering one hand just so my fingers could touch the cool ocean water. I heard the splashing sound they made, and I felt the liquid caressing my fingertips like velvet.

Soon enough, I brought one arm up and wrapped it around his neck, while the other stayed tight around his waist. He had me, though. I knew he wouldn’t drop me. I was his most precious cargo, and I could see that in his eyes.

Without even realizing it, I cradled my face in the warm space between his shoulder and his neck, where smooth muscles converged beneath his porcelain skin. It felt so nice, I couldn’t stop myself from kissing it, timid in my endeavor. His breath got cut off, a reaction I understood he had no control over. We crashed into the water, suddenly shocked and befuddled.

My temperature dropped as I swam back to the surface, my head piercing through with a loud gasp.

“I’m so sorry!” Raphael croaked, a couple of yards away from me.

He was quick to reach me and take me in his arms once more, while I laughed like a maniac. He frowned slightly, and that just made me laugh even harder. After a moment, a smile stretched his lips just from watching me, while I relished this flicker in time for as long as I could. I’d distracted him with my kiss. He’d taken the dive because of me, and knowing that I’d had such an effect on him made me feel drunk with a new kind of power.

He gripped my hips firmly, likely realizing what was going through my head. It was enough to reduce me to silence, my body reacting to him like a blazing, controlled fire. I was helpless in his arms, yearning for more of everything that made him who he was.

“At least it’s a memorable first date,” he added, his voice low and raspy, his attention captured by my lips.

“May there be many more ahead,” I whispered, and he kissed me.

This time was different, as well. The intensity was mind-numbing, his hunger impossible to sate. But I gave him everything I had, and he showered me with tenderness and passion, his tongue and hands exploring away like seasoned travelers—while his heart continued to give him away.

We were new at this, yes. But we were fast learners, too. And there was one thing that could no longer be doubted. This thing between us… it had already grown to gigantic proportions. The only way was up from here, and I was more than ready for the ride. Losing myself in his kiss, I welcomed the madness and the danger that lay ahead. I was unbeatable and indestructible in a way that no other sentient being was.

My heart was coated in Raphael, and that would outlive all of us.

Harper

Neraka was colder than ever, a sign that its Fire Hermessi—my friend, my ally, Ramin—was gone. There was a general feeling of fear and discomfort hanging in the air, clogging up our lungs and threatening to throw all the kingdoms into disarray.

Zane had sent the message out to the entire planet. They knew that they wouldn’t be without fire for too long. But it didn’t make a single Nerakian feel any better, because they understood who was coming to replace Ramin. His treacherous son, Ledar. They’d been told about him and his newfound devotion to Brendel. Nobody wanted him here, but what could they do?

Grief weighed me down, even as I lay in bed, lovingly lounging in Caspian’s arms. I’d cried for hours over Ramin, thinking that it was only a matter of time before the remaining flickers of fire would go out, and Neraka would begin its gradual freeze until Ledar’s arrival. With Ledar came hostility, as well. The feeling that this world had been overtaken by evil Hermessi, servants of Brendel and supporters of the ritual that would soon wipe everyone out. I sympathized with every single Nerakian who had protested, and I felt terrible for them.

They couldn’t even migrate to another planet to get away from such awfulness. Every other world was in similar danger, for most of the Hermessi had been convinced that completing the ritual was the only way forward. The madness they displayed was appalling.

I exhaled sharply, my eyes stinging from another round of tears. Caspian had been staying close to me, unwilling to let me out of his sight. Not that I could blame him, after my last adventure. I’d missed him like crazy, too, so my presence in his arms made all the sense in the world.

“What is it?” he asked, his chin pressing gently on the top of my head.

“Just thoughts.”

“About Ramin?”

“Mm-hm.”