Page 20
Story: Shadow and Smite
Zayne nodded. “By placing this on your Brand, I’ll be able to use my shadow magic to draw the Brand’s power from your body. Under my direction, the Brand will consume the flower instead of you. At least, in theory.”
He hadn’t tested it.
Regardless, he squared his shoulders and pinched a few of the flowers between his fingertips. “Are you ready?”
“Under the circumstances, I’m not sure I have a choice.”
“Hold still,” he directed. “I’ll do the rest.”
I braced myself, clutching the edge of his bed, as he dropped to his knees before me. So close, he smelled of cedar and amber, grounded and heavenly.
He pressed the petals to my chest. Like a warm hearth, it soothed the ache of my broken heart. The scent of fallen rain rose from our contact.
“Shade’s Brand, leave and let Ayla be,” he ordered, his voice shifting in the same way he had commanded the Shades. The scent of rain intensified with his words, his magical signature shifting as he spoke. He said it again, his dark eyes growing wide with power as he repeated,“Shade’s Brand, leave and let Ayla be.”
Zayne pressed his hand to me, and I had to stop myself from leaning closer. I was all too eager. Eager for him, his words, or the cure. Maybe all three.
His fingertips grazed my flesh, caressing where my skin feltbad, his touch promising I would be okay.
He leaned closer and made eye contact. He said it a third time, his words shaking me.“Let Ayla be.”
His fingers became hot, injecting heat. It stretched me, pulling wrists and ankles. It woke something in my spine. My back shifted, electricity rushing upward, rising from tailbone to skull. I bucked under its demand.
The rush left me gasping for air. I gasped, rampant with release. My body cooled. My core clenched.
I shivered as the last of the sensation passed.
“Looks like it worked,” Zayne said, drawing his fingers away. The distance between us grew, becoming empty, and I managed a glance at his handiwork.
The Brand was now the size of a freckle. “It’s smaller,” I agreed. Only… I thought he would cure me. Maybe we had delayed the Brand’s expansion, but it remained on my skin.
I wasn’t sure if I should thank Zayne or slap him. Either way, I missed his contact. I leaned closer.
Zayne flushed, pulling away. He pointed to the wardrobe. “Help yourself to my tunics. They’re clean.”
Suddenly my undershirt felt far too small. Our moment much too intimate. We barely knew each other, but he wielded this power over me.
“Thanks.” I lunged for the wardrobe, quickly pulling on a silky black tunic. It pooled around me, hiding me. “Do you think you could try again? Maybe you could make the Brand disappear correctly?”
“In theory…” He glanced away nervously. “But that’s enough for now. My magical reserve is low, and I need to rest. It’ll be fine for now.”
He was making excuses. I could hear it, the rushed tongue of a liar. “You don’t have enough ashflower,” I realized.
“Teyr promised I would have exactly what I needed,” he answered.
Divine gifts were irreplaceable. My heart raced. The tiny Brand seemed to flicker in my frustration.
“So…” I squirmed, realizing what he intended. “You’re making me your guide. To Eleanor.”
“Yes.” He had the decency to stare at the back wall as he answered. “It’s the best way forward.”
“The best way for you!” I raced for the door, but there was nowhere to go. We were on a boat. “You can’t just kidnap me!”
He flinched. “I didn’t mean…”
“Clearly, like your last ‘great idea,’ you haven’t thought this through. Because if I don’twillinglygo with you, it’s kidnapping. Someone is waiting for me at Port Saundyrs. They’ll sound an alarm if I don’t show up.”
“Sound an alarm?” His brow furrowed. “Do you know why the Shades pursued you?”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20 (Reading here)
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102