Page 176 of A Fate in Flames

Golden light spilled from her like sunshine, painting both our faces in warm amber.

“Wha—” The words died in my mouth, choked off by wonder and something deeper.I reached out a trembling hand and ran the tip of my index finger along the tiny woman’s arm.

She didn’t burn—instead, warmth raced up my finger and spread through my entire hand like the most exquisite caress.Soothing tingles cascaded up my arm, reaching straight into my chest to wrap around my heart.

She spun with fluid grace to face me, one miniature hand lifted in greeting.

“She’s beautiful,” I whispered.“Who is she?”

His eyes never left mine.“It’s you, little flame.”

Emotion swelled so fast and fierce it threatened to drown me.

“Dalkhan—”

“Mesmerised?”

He cocked his head to the side, and the tiny flame version of me curled into his palm like she was coming home.Like his hands were the only place in the world where she belonged.She pressed her small face against his thumb, her fiery hair spilling through his fingers.

I couldn’t speak.Couldn’t think past the roar of blood in my ears.I was beyond mesmerised—I was completely ruined.

I surged forward, crashing my lips against his.

He groaned against my mouth, his tongue sweeping in to claim mine.Butterflies with wings of fire ignited in my stomach.His free hand cradled the back of my head, holding me exactly where he wanted me as he kissed me like he was drowning, and I was oxygen.

He pulled back just enough to press his lips to the tip of my nose, his exhale harsh and ragged against my skin.“I need to leave.”

“What?”Confusion and loss warred in my chest.My eyes drifted back to the tiny woman in his palm who had slowly begun to dissolve.

Her perfect form broke apart into sparks that danced away on the wind like the fireflies we’d watched earlier, each one a glowing memory dissolving into the night.

“I’m—”

“Needed.”I finished for him.

I didn’t want to leave.I wanted to stay with him.Wrapped in moonlight and magic, pretending the rest of the world didn’t exist.

He stood and reached down, his hand swallowing mine as he pulled me to my feet.“Believe me little flame.”He drew me against his chest.“There’s no place I’d rather be than here with you.”

Before I could blink, the world lurched sideways.Shadows consumed us, swallowing all light and sound.I squeezed my eyes shut, my stomach dropping into freefall, and when I opened them again, we were standing outside my door in the suffocating corridors of his palace.

“Tomorrow.”His thumb traced the line of my jaw one last time before he vanished in a rush of smoke and flame.

I pushed open my door on unsteady legs and stumbled inside but froze mid-step.

Gone was the jagged wall that made me feel trapped, and in its place stood an open balcony carved from ancient stone.Intricate patterns were woven into the pillars, allowing the moon’s silver light to pour in.

I nearly tripped over my own feet in my rush to reach it, my hands gripping the railing as I peered over the edge.

I don’t know how long I stood there, drinking in the vast expanse of his realm, before exhaustion finally dragged at my limbs.I made my way back inside, not bothering to change or bathe.I was too drained to do anything but collapse onto my bed.

The last thing I thought of before sleep claimed me was Dalkhan’s smile, and the way the tiny flame woman had curled into his palm like she was coming home.

LikeIwas coming home.

“STOP!PLEASE!DALKHAN!”

The sharp crack of Theo’s palm striking my cheek ripped through darkness like lightning splitting stone.My body convulsed, muscles seizing as the invisible chains around my limbs shattered.