* * *
Nora and Agler emerged back into Helicon sometime later. Agler had this sort of stubble thing going on, which looked really sexy, but had kind of given Nora’s face rug burn. She rubbed her chin gently, wondering if it was red. She felt giddy, returning home after making out with Agler. She liked the way he smelled. It was a sort of woodsy, earthy smell, so different from Owen, who always smelled like soap. She liked the way he touched her, because he had big hands, but his fingertips were always so hesitant, like he thought she was fragile or precious, and it made her feel so special and adored to be in his arms. And she liked holding hands with him, which they were doing right at that moment, their fingers entwined as the woods outside the tweens and rebels enclave shimmered and solidified in front of them.
As soon as they were completely back, and they could feel the ground under their feet, they took off into the woods, heading back for their enclave.
“Should we go to Phoebe tonight?” Agler asked. “Or do you think she’s probably out of it from celebrating?”
“I don’t know,” said Nora. “I think first I want to see if Dirk’s theory was right. I want to try to do something creative.”
“I thought you were doing some pretty creative things with your lips back there.”
Nora elbowed him.
“What? Was that crass? Should I not say things like that?”
“Well, maybe not so loud,” said Nora.
“Right, because all of the trees will hear me,” said Agler. He stopped walking, and because Nora’s hand was attached to his, she had to stop walking too. He threw his head back and yelled, “I kissed Nora Sparrow!”
“Agler!” Nora snatched her hand away from him. But she was grinning.
“I’m going to do it again,” said Agler, cupping her face with his hands and pressing his lips against hers.
She giggled into his mouth, running her fingers over his dreadlocks. And then the giggling stopped, and she was engulfed by him. His lips, his tongue, his hands. She felt breezy and happy.
So it was all the more jarring when Agler was ripped away from her. She heard him cry out in surprise, and her eyes snapped open just in time to see Owen slamming Agler’s body up against a tree trunk.
“Owen, stop,” said Nora.
Owen turned burning eyes on her for a second. “Shut up,” he growled. Then his attention went back to Agler. He was staring into Agler’s eyes and muttering something under his breath. Nora couldn’t make out the words.
Abruptly, Owen let Agler go.
Agler staggered away from the tree. His gaze swept over Owen and Nora, but his expression was blank. He shook himself and then started walking away.
“Agler?” said Nora.
“Good night, Nora,” said Agler in a wooden voice. He kept walking.
Nora turned on Owen. “What did you do to him?”
Owen slapped her. “How dare you let him kiss you, you little slut?”
She stumbled away from him, her hand on her cheek. It stung. He’d hit her? Owen had never... Tears in her eyes, she gaped at him. “What happened to you?”
Owen glowered, smiling. “Nothing happened, Nora. I’ve always been this way. You’re the one who’s different. You’re the one who’s spreading yourself all over Helicon.”
“I’m...?” Nora advanced on him. “You screwed a fucking fairy while we were dating. I kissed a boy six months after we broke up.”
“Careful, Nora, you might make me even angrier than I already am,” said Owen. He grasped her by the shoulders, and leaned close, whispering to her. “You’re mine, do you understand that? Mine. And if anything or anyone is in the way of me and you, I will make sure they get out of the way, however I have to do it. I don’t care who gets hurt.”
Nora recoiled from him, disgusted and terrified. “What did you do to Agler?”
“He was in the way,” said Owen. He released her.
She wasn’t ready for it, and she lost her balance, sprawling on her backside.
“Come back to me, Nora,” said Owen. “And everything will be okay again.”
She shook her head.
Owen shrugged. “You’ll change your mind. You’ll have to.”
Dancing Days Page 49
