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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?”