Page 24

The fire spell worked like the flip of a switch, the end of the braid igniting with a burst of flames. A big one. I really needed to work more on my intention. I was lucky the whole stick didn’t incinerate and burn me in the process.

I blew it out, needing only the smoke from the sage.

“Parum nir alte tunak.” I invoked the spell, concentrating on my desire to protect my castle, and waved the smoking sage up and down in front of me.

Then I moved two steps to the right and repeated the words. On and on I went, slowly making my way around the castle, two steps at a time.

I hadn’t anticipated how exhausting it would be. This was powerful magic and wielding it like this for hours on end drained me. By the time I’d made it a dozen yards or so, dizziness gripped me, and I stumbled forward, bracing myself against the wall until it passed.

“I think that’s enough for now,” I told myself, resting my forehead against the cool stone. Then I pushed the end of the braid into the wall, dragging it slightly to stop the smoking.

I needed water, food, and to sit for a while. But I needed some way to mark my place, so I’d know where to continue when I was ready to start again. Angling my foot, I dug the heel of my boot into the ground, carving out a line that I’d be able to recognize.

“Aliya, there you are.”

I gasped at the unexpected voice and shoved the sage braid into the pocket of my skirt before turning to face Tannin as he approached.

Out here, in the light of day, he looked so handsome. The sun’s rays caught in his brown hair, making it look lighter and softer, and brought a rosy tint to his boyish cheeks.

“What are you doing all the way over here?” he asked, his charming smile on full display as his eyes dragged down my body.

“Oh, I just wanted some air,” I said as casually as I could. “I like to walk around the castle sometimes, especially this time of year.”

His gaze caught on my chest, where my breasts were pushed up and heaved over the thin fabric that barely covered them. From the look on his face, I’d made the right choice.

“That’s—er—you look...beautiful,” he stammered, his stupefaction making him even more adorable.

I clasped my hands behind my back to push my chest further forward and fluttered my lashes coquettishly. “Thank you.”

His throat bobbed, and he finally managed to rip his gaze from my chest to look me in the eye. “Uh, would you like some company while you stroll?”

I gave him a coy smile. “I would like that very much.”

I took a step toward him, and my head began to spin again. My body crumpled forward in a moment of dizziness, and Tannin caught me.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked, concern lacing his voice as he held me firmly against him.

His hands on my arms sent fire dancing over my skin, and his chest beneath my palms was so hard, so strong. I wanted to bury myself in his embrace and never emerge again.

I looked up at him, our faces only inches apart. “Yeah, I think I might have had too much sun. I feel a little...”

My eyelids fluttered, and my head drooped against his chest as my knees buckled.

“Okay, let’s get you inside,” he said, squeezing my arms to keep me up.

He slid one arm around my back, scooping it around my waist, and braced my upper arm with his other hand, then slowly ushered me toward the kitchen entrance.

“Can you walk?” he asked softly.

“I think so,” I murmured. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s come over me.”

Other than the fact that I wielded a lot of draining magic as part of a convoluted scheme to exorcise you from the castle...

“That’s okay. We’ll get you some water.”

He escorted me through the garden and into the kitchen, then guided me to a stool at the island and helped me climb onto it.

“There. You just sit.” He rushed to the faucet and filled a glass with water, then brought it back to me.