Page 1 of A Fate in Flames

“Elira.”

I shot up, heart hammering against my ribs.My hands flew to my tangled hair, then to the sheets wrapped around my legs.

Shit.

I scrambled out from under the covers, panic surging through me as I desperately attempted to right myself.The thick-woven blanket scratched against my skin, catching on my ankles as I tried to pull up my trousers.Something was making this seemingly easy task impossible.

I smacked my hand down hard, connecting with something solid.

“Ow!”

A muffled yelp sounded from under the bedding.I grabbed a fistful of fabric and yanked it back, dragging Eli up by his hair.

His tousled head emerged, blue eyes glinting with mischief despite the grimace twisting his features—stretching the small scar above his mouth.

“Get up and get out,” I hissed.

The urgency in my eyes should’ve made him move, but a smile played at the corner of his lips, dimples appearing in his sun-bronzed cheeks.He stretched lazily, like a cat lounging in a patch of sunlight.

“Your mother loves me,” he purred, running a hand through his dark curls.“She won’t care.”

I shoved him hard, toppling him sideways.The last thing I needed was my mother walking in and finding our neighbour’s son, naked and tangled in my sheets.

“I swear to the Heavens, if she finds you, shewillkill you.”I tugged at his arm, trying to haul him out of the bed, but his solid frame barely budged.

“Elira!”

My mother’s voice rang through the air, far too close.

Eli’s amusement vanished.Finally—finally—he moved, snatching up his loose-fitting shirt and billowy trousers and heading straight for the door.

No.Not the door!

I leaned over the side of the bed, grabbing a leather sandal off the floor and launching it with deadly precision.It landed with a sharp slap against his bare shoulder.

He whirled around, eyes wide.

“Why are youalwayshitting me?”he hissed, rubbing his shoulder.

I glared at him, my hands flying toward the arched window.“That way!”

Understanding flashed across his face.He slipped his trousers on, hopping on one leg while bracing to climb over the sill, pulling back the sheer, gold-embroidered curtain.The steady tread of my mother’s feet against the floor grew louder.

With one last glance at Eli’s partially clothed form, I shoved him out with both hands.

A grunt sounded from below, followed by a string of curses.

I clamped a hand over my mouth, fighting the urge to laugh while peering down at him.He was sprawled in the dirt, surrounded by the broken remnants of my mother’s prized ceramic pots, flower petals scattered across his chest.

He scurried away, crouched low behind the garden wall, his shirt still unbuttoned and flapping behind him.

I sank back into bed, exhaling in relief as I adjusted my clothes and smoothed down my hair.

I should’ve never brought him here, but I needed something—anything—to dull the ache.The nightmares that had been haunting me for a week straight left me desperate for a distraction.

He didn’t help.Nothing did.But at least for a few hours, I wasn’t alone with my thoughts.Thankfully he got out in time, though my mother’s roses hadn’t been so lucky.

“Elira, it’s time to wake up,” my mother’s voice drifted into the room, warm as honey.I barely had a moment to compose myself before the wooden door creaked open.