Contents
13. Thirteen
Overview
Trapped in Gil’s office, Amara and Ezra endure sweltering heat that sparks teasing, vulnerability, and a near-kiss. Ezra admits attraction yet stays guarded, pulling back just before Gil arrives and frees them. The moment deepens their tension while restoring order as Ezra returns to duty and Amara is escorted away.
Summary
While trapped in Gil’s office after the vox attack, Amara fails to focus on reading, shaken by Ezra’s fearsome rescue and power. The room grows oppressively hot; Ezra, unaffected, removes his shirt, provoking Amara’s flustered attraction and defensive banter.
Their teasing turns candid. Ezra calls Amara beautiful but insists he is still angry she risked herself. When Amara apologizes, Ezra’s tone softens; he admits that if she had been hurt, he does not know what he would have done—partly because of the curse, but also for “other reasons.”
Ezra crawls closer, their tension cresting into a near-kiss, before he abruptly retreats, masking vulnerability with composure and his book.
Gil opens the door, surprised to find them. Ezra, now composed and shirtless, departs to resume his duties, asking Gil to escort Amara back to her room, leaving their unresolved attraction simmering.
Who Appears
- AmaraNarrator; shaken after the attack, flustered by Ezra; shares charged banter and a near-kiss.
- King Ezra KincaidFae king; calm in the heat, teasing yet vulnerable; admits attraction, then pulls back and resumes duty.
- GilCourtier whose office shelters them; arrives and escorts Amara after interrupting the near-kiss.