Mathieu (White Flame Trilogy) - By Paula Flumerfelt Page 0,35

the two pieces this way and that. “It looks like you popped a stitch. Not a problem; I’ll ask Narrie to fix it.” Mathieu smiled encouragingly at her.

“Thank you!” Avian wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, kissing his cheek sweetly.

Ask her now… Nikola brushed against him, not at all offended that he had been dropped on the floor in favor in Avian’s dress.

If Mathieu’s mind eye could have rolled, it would have. Fine, gimme a second. “Avian…could I ask a favor?”

“Eh?” She looked up from pulling on her pants.

Mathieu set the gown aside. “…Could Nikola come with us? To the gathering, I mean. She really would like to go…”

The young woman tilted her head and considered. “Ehhh, why not? We’re already going to stand out and Nikola will give us a mysterious air.”

Then I’m coming, too. Tesla sat up from his position on Avian’s pillow, stretching languidly.

“Oh, no you’re not. Avian said Nikola, not you.”

Avian grinned and jumped onto the bed, cuddling and squishing Tesla in a playful manner. “Of course Tesla can come; he’s my friend.” She nuzzled him and laughed as he gave a half-hearted hiss. “Good kitty! Now.” She sat up, holding the Shadowrider captive against her chest., “Let’s go over the plan. We’ll go down to the Grand Hall at 7:30, just late enough to be fashionable, socialize until eight or so when dinner is called, dine with everyone, dance after dinner, then conclude with cocktails and more socializing. I’m hoping to meet Elise…” She kissed Tesla’s head and let him go, watching as he curled back up.

“I really don’t want to do this.” Mathieu said as he sat beside Avian and lay back, closing his eyes. “This isn’t my thing. Grr.”

“Too bad, you already agreed.” She lay back too and turned her face to his, grinning. “You’ll enjoy it, getting to peacock around and look cute. I’ll even let you talk to people. Maybe.” Giggling, she snuggled against him, laying her head on his shoulder. “Hey Matt…”

“Hm?”

“You know you’re my best friend right…?”

He cracked an eye open and smiled at her. “You’re my best friend too, Avian.” Mathieu pressed his forehead to hers. Curled up together, Avian fell asleep.

He didn’t know how or when, but Avian had become his best friend. They had tried to keep a wall of professionalism between them, but with their personalities, it hadn’t lasted. In fact, the first time he’d gotten up early and found her changing, it’d gone away. Mainly because she started throwing anything within reach, including undergarments. The whole thing had ended when he threw them back and she slipped on a bra that had already hit the ground. He’d caught her and they landed in a pile of panties. They laughed until neither could breathe and a companionable bond had started between them. And now, after the better part of a month together, they had become relatively inseparable even in their down time.

Smiling, Mathieu pet the young lady’s hair and slid out from under her, going to the window where a book she’d been reading the previous night laid discarded. He flipped it closed before setting it aside. Looking out the window, he realized how late it’d become during his little ponderings.

The garden below him was aglow that night. Tiger lilies and bearded irises were freckled with dew, reflecting the moonlight into the air in graceful arcs. Small lights were set intermittently along the paths that wove through the garden.

Mathieu returned to Avian and covered her with a blanket, set her glasses aside, and returned to his room once she was tucked in. The book that he’d taken from the orphanage was laying on the bedside table, open to one of the many blank pages. Night after night he’d stared at the blank pages, flipping through them. Forward, back. Back, forward. Nothing about the book ever changed except that sometimes it felt like it weighed a million pounds, especially when his mind started to wander.

Giving it a spiteful look for its emptiness, he prepared for bed.

~*~

The next morning, the suns rose bright and early. Mathieu rose with them. Looking at the ceiling, he kicked the blankets off, toes curling. This day was different from the others he’d been through. Avian’s lessons had been canceled for the gathering and he had been given the day off until that night. This suited him well because he wanted a chance to go see Grandpa. He seemed to have an extensive knowledge of things that weren’t…normal, if