Page 53 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

I regret it immediately. The camp is awake now, allthe men moving around, laughing, calling to each other. The noise is loud but their blood wakes my magic and it rushes to meet it.

Grabbing my temples, I stumble back, a large oak tree keeping me from falling down.

Tay grabs my shoulder. “Breathe, Maximillia.Breathe. Let it pass.” It’s the same advice his mother used to give me.Ignore it. Don’t give in.

But neither of them understood my magic. It’s not something to ignore, it’s not something to control with fear. It doesn’t pass. I have to force it into submission or be lost to its ways. Only I can make it listen and right now, I’m too tired to try.

Cracking open one eye, I see Tay’s determined face. He’s always sure he knows best, thinks his mother knew all. And maybe she did, but in this? She didn’t.

“I need a minute.”

“Max--”

“Just to gather myself. And bathe.” I wave a hand over my clothes. “A quick bath and everything will be fine.”

Some silence, alone, without physical activity could help me build my mental shield and prepare for the onslaught before me.

“We shouldn’t be alone?—”

“I’ll be right there.” I point to the small path. “Where we trained. There’s a creek I can use.”

Tay sighs, unsure. “Fine. Ten minutes. Any longer and I’m coming to get you.”

Chapter 19

Max

Fleeing back into the woods, I find the spot easily and strip, skin rubbed raw from training. Sitting on to a smooth rock, the water comes up to my mid-chest and I hunker forward, wrapping my arms around my legs, head hanging low.

Gods, I exhale, enjoying the quiet, my magic receding. The water feels good, clean and fresh, but it’s the blessed silence that feels perfect.

No thumping blood. No hissing magic. No terror to control it or risk everyone’s death.

Tay could never understand. His magic is wonderful—good. Mine is far from that. Glancing down to my legs, various burn marks and scars dotting over my flesh, I can see why everyone would think me despicable.

Relaxing, I dipped my head back, letting the water tug my long tresses away.

“Do you always ignore commands?”

Slapping wet hands around my chest, I jerk upright, thick black hair tugging down my back with the rushing current.

The heir, in a simple black tunic and half undone pants stares at me, sword hanging limply at his side. He looks casual, forbidden and my eyes dart away before I let him see how much I like looking.

He’s a threat but Gods, my body doesn’t get that.

“Go away, heir,” I mutter, curving to hide further into the water. “This is inappropriate.”

He snorts. “What’s inappropriate is your inability to listen to a damned thing I say. ForBel’ssake, you’re a sitting duck waiting to be eaten out in these waters. I thought I made it abundantly clear. No one goes anywhere alone.”

“And what, you thought you’d be my plus-one?”

The rustling of fabric causes me to tense. “If that’s what it takes to make sure you’re safe.”

Every single muscle in my body freezes as I hear him enter the water, his body heat scalding my back. My fingers trace my scar, digits trembling as he leans so close, I feel his breath kiss my cheek.

“Do you want me to leave?”

No. “Yes.”