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“What?” I growl.

“You looked so scared,” he says, wheezing between laughs. “It was awesome!”

“Iwasscared. The whole place could have gone up in flames.”

“But it didn’t,” he says. “You stopped it. That was amazing!”

I blink at him. “It was a total disaster.”

He shakes his head. “It was a win.” Then, quieter, “You’re too hard on yourself. Zayne says so. You’re the best sister ever.”

I stare at him. He’s growing up so fast, way too mature for his eight years. I can’t believe he just saw me nearly burn down a stable and still thinks I’m amazing.

God help me.

But maybe…maybe he’s not wrong.

I smile, just a little. “Okay. Next time, we practiceoutside.Preferably near a large body of water.”

He laughs again, and the sound sticks with me as I head out of the stable. Just for a moment, I feel…not broken. Not doomed.

Just a girl. With magic. And a fire problem.

Outside, Khaosti is leaning against the wall, arms crossed. Waiting for me. He raises an eyebrow. “That was—”

“Freaking awesome,” I finish for him.

His lips twitch. “Obviously.”

He falls into step beside me as I head back. Playtime’s over. I’ve played hooky long enough. Hecate will be waiting.

And yep, there she is. Still at the table, right where I left her.

I dread another day of navel gazing, but I suppose I should just stop moaning and get on with it. “Okay,” I say to Hecate, “where do you want to perform today’s torture?”

I know, I’m a whiny bitch, but I can’t seem to help it. I’ll do better tomorrow.

Hecate shakes her head. “Go. Have a day off. I could certainly do with one. Go explore the city.”

“Really?” I feel a smile breaking out and I realize how much I’d dreaded spending another day failing abjectly. I jump to my feet before she changes her mind.

“And you,” Hecate says, and I realize she’s talking to Khaos, “You make sure she stays out of trouble. And don’t go outside the wards.”

We both watch as she leaves the room. “I bet she’s sneaking off to spend the day in bed with Therion.”

Khaos frowns.

“They’re having a thing,” I tell him. “And Zayne and Winter. Just everyone seems to be having sex except me and you.” I think of something and eye him suspiciously. “I presume you’re not having sex. Unless you met some cute nurse in the healing center and have been sneaking off…”

“No.”

Khaos was never very chatty but since his incarceration, he’s become almost mute. I guess he needs time to get over it. Only problem is, time’s the one thing I suspect I don’t have. I study him for a moment. That full passionate mouth—I remember the feel of it all over my body. Heat runs through me and there’s an ache between my legs. I shift in my chair and find those hooded amber eyes watching my every move. And I yearn to reach out, to touch him, to break through that icy reserve, but guess what holds me back? More fucking fear. Fear of rejection. Because last time I kissed him—on the Mirador—he’d backed off pretty fast. Maybe he hated making love with me. Maybe he doesn’t want a repeat performance.

God, but I’m a mess.

I jump to my feet. “Let’s go explore.” Without waiting for him to answer—he is unlikely to have an opinion on my suggestion—I grab a couple of rolls off the table, just in case, and head for the door. I hesitate. “Do I need a sword?”

He shakes his head. I suppose he’s right. I have my own personal wolfy bodyguard. And as expected, I feel the tingle of magic in the air and then Khaosti is gone, and Fury has taken his place. I suspect it’s a sort of self-protection thing. Because—and this might be just wishful thinking on my part—I also suspect he wants me just as much, or even more, than I want him. I don’t know why he’s so scared of giving in. It’s something we should have a conversation about but as it’s almost impossible to get more than a single word out of him, I guess that isn’t happening anytime soon.