Page 124 of A Fate in Flames

“As you wish…” He paused, drawing it out while holding my eyes captive.“Elira.”

My name rolled off his tongue like dark honey.

A tremor shot through me, goosebumps rising on my skin.A small, barely audible gasp escaped me before I could trap it behind my teeth.

He pulled away at last and leaned against the railing, one ankle crossed casually over the other, like he hadn’t just unravelled me with a single word.

“What isheto you?”His eyes cut toward the pit.I followed his line of sight to where Theo stood, hands braced against his knees, watching the fight with rapt attention and completely oblivious to the dangerous game playing out above.

There was no use in lying anymore.

“They are my friends,” I admitted.“Nothing more.”

Satisfaction pulsed from him in waves, all but humming around me.“Good.”

He straightened, shifting his attention back to me with renewed intensity.“Walk with me.”

I crossed my arms over my chest defensively.“No, thank you.”

Dalkhan didn’t even bother to look at me as he walked away.

“It wasn’t a request.”

Damn him.

My feet were already moving before my mind could object.So much for staying away from him.

The hallways twisted like ancient veins through the mountain’s heart, carved deep into the unyielding rock.Torches lined the walls, their flames struggling against the oppressive darkness that swallowed every morsel of light.With each step deeper, the air grew heavier.Thicker.Not from the descent itself, but from the man whose shadow engulfed mine.

His silence was as deliberate as his steps.

Each time my skin accidently brushed against his, heat seared though me, leaving behind ghostly imprints of his touch.

I had no idea where he was taking me, and he seemed determined to keep it that way.

“Where exactly are we going?”I asked, frowning.

No response.Not even a glance.

I dug my nails into my palms.“Is ignoring me some kind of new game for you?”

The corner of his mouth twitched—barely noticeable in the dim light—but he kept walking.

The passage narrowed, the ceiling dropping so low I had to double over, hands scraping against the rough walls as I navigated the jagged overhang.Dalkhan ducked smoothly beneath it, never missing a step.It was as though the mountain itself bent to accommodate him rather than the other way around.

For a breathless moment, the walls pressed in from all sides, scraping my shoulders before we emerged through a narrow gap.

Rushing water drowned out the hammering of my heart.I straightened, blinking as my eyes adjusted.

The cavern had opened into a breathtaking oasis hidden within the mountain.A massive waterfall cascaded down from a wide break above, its mist catching the sunlight, scattering it into shimmering ribbons of gold.The water below was impossibly clear, the surface rippling with the soft glint of diamonds where the light touched.The air was cooler, carrying the scent of damp rock and wild herbs that somehow managed to grow in the crevices along the walls.

I dropped my head back, closing my eyes as the sunlight warmed my face.“How does this even exist?”I murmured.

Instead of answering, he stepped forward.His fingers worked at his boots, tugging them off before wading into the water.His muscles flexed as he moved, golden-brown skin slick with remnants of fire.He wore nothing but loose pants, the fabric darkening as he moved deeper, moulding to the sharp cut of his hips.

I remained rooted at the edge.

His head turned, eyes capturing mine over his shoulder.“Afraid?”