“Good....” Wulfram whispered, although he didn’t look like he believed it. Dani stared at him, an odd ache filling her heart. What the hell? She barely knew the guy, why was she feeling so- so sappy about a stupid spell?

She looked away from him, up at the gently swirling symbols and patterns that made of the spell that linked them together. She knew very little about magic, but she knew that each person had a color unique to them. Around here, most were variations of brown and amber, but they could be nearly any color, and usually they matched their eyes. After all, the eyes were the window to the soul, and magic came from the soul. That was what the old woman had said at least. As she watched, a blue line braided itself together with amber, forming a thicker strand that linked the two odd ovals together. “What’s it doing anyways? Wulfram said something about if one of us hurt the other, then we’d feel it too.”

If these people expected her to call him Prince or his Highness they were out of their damn minds.

The male mage, he must be Archmage Balariz, looked up from his notes, blinking. “I suppose that could be part of the spell, I’m not quite sure what all it’s doing yet. It is linking you two however, and the link appears to be growing stronger. Look here, where the colors are braiding together?”

He pointed to the braid Dani had noticed forming, and then to another that was forming on the other side. “It’s drawing magic from both of you to reinforce aspects of the spell. But I’m not quite sure what those aspects do yet.”

“Have either of you been feeling any different lately?” The young woman asked, peering at them with curious green eyes. “Perhaps you’ve noticed a change in your magic or appearance?”

Wulfram looked at Dani, his face revealing nothing. But she couldn’t help but get a sense of unease about him, maybe even embarrassment? What did he have to be embarrassed about? “I don’t think I’ve noticed anything, unless dressing all lady-like counts.”

Archmage Balariz chuckled, turning back to his notes. “No, I don’t believe it does. Your Highness, have you noticed anything?”

Wulfram sat silently for a moment, long enough that Archmage Balariz looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Your Highness?” He prompted again.

“I have noticed something, yes. An... echo of emotions, originating through the bracelet.” He spoke calmly, sitting painfully straight in his chair. She could almost feel the tension in his shoulders, the reluctance of the admission. Why would he feel so awkward about admitting that? Was he that afraid of having emotions?

Wait.

An echo of emotions? She narrowed her eyes slightly. An echo of emotions, coming through the bracelet. “What kind of emotions?”

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Wulfram met her eyes, almost apologetic. “I believe they are an echo of your emotions. But they are faint, I have to concentrate to feel them.”

“Fascinating! And Lady Daniella, do you feel echoes of emotion through the bracelet as well?” Balariz turned his gaze on Dani, hesitating when he saw the glare she was directing at Wulfram.

“Can’t say as I do.” She nearly growled the words out. But even as she said it she was doubting it, she directed her attention to the bracelet, trying to feel anything through it.

For a moment she just felt awkward and a little bit silly. She could feel the metal of the bracelet smooth against her skin, warmed by her own body heat.

But then she realized that the awkward feeling wasn’t just coming from her, it was coming through the bracelet from.... Her eyes moved back to Wulfram. He met her gaze apologetically, his voice soft as he spoke. “I was worried what you would think if you knew.”

“What I would think?” She stood up, the diagram wavering as she pulled her hand from beneath the crystal, leaving just the single weird oval above it. “What the hell did you think I would think? Yer spyin’ on me through the damn thing!”

Wait, did that mean he knew how she felt when he had his shirt off in the shop the other day? Or how she felt when he stood so close she could feel his body heat? A blush rose in her cheeks, and she looked to the Archmage. “Take the damn things off!”

“That- that is what we’re trying to do. Please sit back down so I can continue to take notes of the spells.” Archmage Balariz said, taking an automatic step back from her.

“Take it off now!” Her heart pounded, and she tried to wiggle her fingers beneath the bracelet again. But it was still so tight against her skin it might as well be a part of her.

“Daniella, Dani! Please calm down.” Wulfram stood as well, reaching out to grasp her by the shoulders.

“Calm down? Yer spyin’ on me! An’ yer- oh yer such an asshole!” She clenched her fists, glaring up at him with tears in her eyes. She knew she’d never be a good poker player, she blushed too damn easily and wasn’t a great liar, but someone reading her emotions through body language was one thing. Actually listening in on her emotions? That was another thing entirely. Did that mean she couldn’t even try to lie to him?

“Dani, I’m not spying on you. No more than you’re spying on me. It’s just part of what the bracelet does.” His voice was calm and reasonable in the face of her anger.

But she didn’t want to be reasonable. She wanted someone to channel her anger at, and he already stirred up a heat inside her that she had trouble ignoring. It was better to assume that heat was anger than anything else. If it was anything else it would just be further proof of how damn stupid she was. “Ya knew damn well what that stupid crown could do, didn’t ya? Assurances you said. So I would lead ya ri-”

Wulfram’s eyes widened slightly, and she felt a jolt of alarm that wasn’t her own. Then his lips were on hers, hot and insistent as they cut off her sentence. Embarrassed, Archmage Balariz turned aside, gently nudging May to do the same.

“I- ah, I believe we need to get some supplies, right May?” He said tactfully.

Dani barely heard him. She gripped Wulfram’s shirt as she found herself returning the kiss, lost in the moment. It just felt so- so right.

The door to the room closed as May and Balariz made themselves scarce, and Wulfram’s strong arms slid around her, one hand curling in her hair as he pulled her close.

It was crazy, and foolish, and part of her mind kept demanding to know what the hell she was doing. But she didn’t want this embrace to end.