Mathieu (White Flame Trilogy) - By Paula Flumerfelt Page 0,76

too disappeared.

Mathieu stood there, dumbfound. He had no idea what the hell Darcia was talking about, and he felt like he’d been blindsided. To him, it seemed a lot more likely that Solomon would snap him in half like a twig for being annoying than he would hurt Solomon in some way. Huffing, he chalked it up to just not knowing Darcia well enough to understand what the man was getting at. Looking at the glass shards that littered the floor, he wondered idly if the mirrors could be fixed.

Picking up a piece that had flown across the room and was now at his feet, he stood and turned it over in his hand.

Warm breath fanned over Mathieu’s shoulder. “You should be careful. Glass tends to cut quickly.”

Mathieu let the shard fall to the ground, where it clattered in the ensuing silence. “Let me ask you something.” He said, turning to the blond.

“Alright.”

“You and I…You seemed like you hated me yesterday and found me repulsive, in fact you were pretty pissed that we have to share a room, yet now you’re treating me just like one of the others. I don’t get it.”

Sighing, Solomon folded his arms over his chest. “Actually, it’s simple.” The blond chuckled.

Mathieu’s eyebrows furrowed and he tilted his head. He didn’t quite understand what the man meant. Something he did realize, however, was that after having spent some time with one another, and maybe it being just the two of them helped, but Solomon actually seemed to be a bit relaxed and open now. “What do you mean?” Mathieu questioned.

“Haven’t you ever met someone who just rubs you the wrong way because of how they behave? I don’t like sadness or people who let it control them. I thought you were going to let Avian’s death take over and consume you, and I wanted no part of it if you were just going to wallow.” Solomon’s eyes met Mathieu’s holding his gaze. “But this morning…you smiled, and that was enough for me.”

Mathieu blinked and a shiver ran through him. “Let’s go home.”

Chapter

Ten

Solomon’s fingers twined into Mathieu’s and pulled him closer. “Sorry,” Solomon said, “but this many jumps so quickly makes me weak. I can’t move as large of an area as normal.”

“It’s okay. How can I help?” Mathieu asked, looking up at him.

Solomon pulled Mathieu’s arms around his waist and held him close. “Now put your feet between mine. Just like that. Thanks. This makes it like only moving myself. Try to relax, okay?”

Closing his eyes, Mathieu relaxed against the other and let the darkness lap around his ankle, forcing him tighter to the blond. This time, ‘jumping’ felt different, faster and smoother. He wondered if it was because Solomon was only trying to move one person instead of multiple. In a mere moment, they went from the training facility to standing in the glass kitchen, looking between a rather irate Kiev and a piss-and-vinegar Josette.

“And I’m telling you, you have to cook.” Josette was staring the taller girl down, small flames flicking at the tips of her hair.

“I just cooked last night! This is crap! Solomon! Tell this wench that it’s not my night to cook!” Kiev shrieked, a finger pointed at Josette.

Solomon sighed and released Mathieu, looking between them. “Quit yelling, both of you. Tell me what’s going on?”

Josette flicked long black curls over her shoulder. “Elric isn’t feeling good and I don’t want to cook. That means it’s up to her, what with so many gone.”

Not one to watch people bicker, Mathieu stepped forward. “I’ll cook. I don’t mind, and I’m pretty good, too.” He smiled between Josette and Kiev.

Kiev made a sound suspiciously like an ‘awe’ and batter her lashes. “I can help. I just hate cooking alone.”

Josette just sneered at him. “How kind of you. Don’t expect a thanks. Pull your weight around here, stupid.” She stalked out of the room and the cute blonde woman, Adele, latched onto her arm. Adele giggled and waved at them over Josette’s shoulder, going into a different room.

“Wow. She’s scary.” Mathieu said, adjusting his shirt self-consciously.

“Josette is a bitch. Adele is the only balance to her that exists in the known universe and luckily, she rarely goes anywhere without her healer. But don’t mind her! What do you want to cook?” Kiev looked at him with big eyes, hands on her hips. “We can make anything you’d like!”

Mathieu rubbed his chin, thinking. “How about we make some stew? It’s warm and makes quite a