Page 42 of Voices in the Stars (The Lost Witch #1)

“I can still learn something to defend myself. Everything in this world tried to kill me on our way here,” I argued back, hoping he wouldn’t see through my words.

“Why not ask me? I’ve got more training than he does.” There was a faint hurt running through his eyes with his question.

“You would’ve said yes?” I questioned him before the start of a plan formed as I talked. “Plus, there was something else I was hoping you could help me with.”

His brow raised as he waited for me to continue.

“I need to learn how to control whatever this is inside me.” I started having a hard time keeping his eye contact as I asked for help.

“Everyone seems to think I can do all these great things, yet I can’t control any of it.

I’m a danger to everyone around me. Being in a wood house is just a disaster in the making.

” My laugh was humorless as I stared at the ground.

Atlas was silent. I squeezed my eyes shut as I waited for his rejection. He barely wanted to talk about his own issues; I doubted he wanted to help me with my own. A warm hand pulled my head up, so I was looking at him now. His thumb traced along my jaw.

“You aren’t dangerous. You’re the flame that’s going to light the way for Feycrest’s new future,” he whispered before leaning in for a gentle kiss. “With me by your side. Of course I’ll help.” His words were a soft murmur against my lips.

“Thank you,” I mumbled before leaning up to kiss him once more.

My eyes closed as our lips danced together.

I felt his groan as I ran my hands up his chest. Everything started heating up as I pulled him closer, wrapping my arms around the back of his neck.

I couldn’t remember there being any windows on this side of the house.

Though, at this moment, I wasn’t sure I cared if we were giving someone a show.

“Wait,” Atlas mumbled, separating us. His eyes were almost black as he stared down at me.

I groaned in disappointment, though it didn’t last long.

Atlas spun me, so my back was pressed against his front, both of us facing away from the house, making me doubt the lack of windows.

His hands started their slow travel along my arms, goosebumps rising in his wake.

Fingers intertwined with mine the same moment lips started trailing along the side of my neck.

A soft gasp escaped me as I leaned my head against his chest. A chuckle left Atlas; I felt his lips turn into a smile.

I shivered as his fangs dragged across my skin.

“Yes,” he breathed, pressing a kiss to the side of my neck. “We have to make you a full witch.”

Atlas shuddered behind me as I wrapped my arms across his.

The sweet moment was only temporary as I felt his hardness pressing against me as he shifted impossibly closer.

His breath hitched as I rubbed myself against him.

His hips jerked forward, chasing me with a groan. My arms fell to my sides as he moved.

They moved up to hold my breasts, his thumbs tracing across my nipples.

A sigh left me as I sagged against him, fully following my words as I trusted him to keep me standing.

My breath hitched as his hands quickly moved again now, tracing up my bare legs.

My dress slid up my body as his hands made their way toward my center.

A moan slipped out as I felt his fingers caress me.

His one hand moved to grab my thigh as the other kept playing with me.

My eyes closed as I felt a finger slide in me.

Our groans sounded out together as he started thrusting his finger.

My legs spread apart as a second quickly joined the first.

“Try to pay attention, Cece.” Atlas chuckled as his fingers picked up speed.

My hands reached down, grabbing his arms as I felt myself getting swept away by the feelings. I was swiftly climbing to the edge. I had lost focus on what we were doing until I felt it.

A slight pull of energy from somewhere deep inside me.

Then the coal in my chest kicked into life, turning into a small burning ember as it kept pulling energy from the hidden well inside me.

My brows furrowed as different parts of my body fought for my attention.

I ignored the burning in my chest in favor of the pleasure floating through me.

My nails dug into Atlas’ arms, whimpers escaping my lips as he slowed down.

He chuckled, kissing along my shoulder before pulling away with a moan as he pressed back against me. Then we were moving again.

His grip on my thigh tightened as he rubbed against my ass, miming the movements from our night in the inn. I cursed at the sky, wanting nothing more than for him to throw me onto the grass and take me again.

“Please,” I whimpered, desperately moving against him. I felt myself quickly climbing again before it was just as quickly ripped away from me.

There was a new itch that had nothing to do with the man between my legs. It was enough to pull me out of the moment with Atlas. I wiggled my fingers, pulling them from where they had been resting on his arms.

“Show me, little witch. Let me see how you burn for me,” Atlas mumbled against the top of my head.

My brows furrowed at his words. I already felt like I was on fire.

Sweat had broken out across my forehead.

This was something else though. The ember inside me had long turned into a raging inferno.

Something wasn’t right. I clenched my hands, trying to make the annoying feeling go away.

All I wanted was to focus on Atlas’ movements.

I could still feel the faint pleasure coursing through me, but it was no longer the focus.

Not when there was a fiery snake running through my body.

“Cece?” Atlas questioned, his hands pulling out from underneath my dress.

I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing would come out. My eyes opened as he moved in front of me. Fear twisted his features as he looked over me. I raised my hands to comfort him.

Instead, I felt the snake strike, twisted around my throat, preventing my scream as flames came shooting out of my hands.

Atlas cursed as he fell back, shielding his face as they went charging toward him.

Tears sizzled against my cheeks as I was stuck watching as the flames encircled us, twisting up into the sky.

“Cece, make it stop.” Atlas frantically glanced around us, cursing as sparks spit out toward him. He scrambled back up to his feet, reaching out to me only to rip his hands away with another curse.

There were holes burned into his new shirt.

My mouth still hung open as I tried to say anything other than the choked gasps that were forcing their way out.

I was helpless to watch as they got closer.

I tried to focus on what I felt right when the fire came to life just moments before.

I imagined that feeling stopping, all of this going with it.

There was a small sputter inside me before the fire roared back to life.

I tried to stay calm and try again, but this time, nothing happened in response.

I was going to burn Atlas alive, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Except for forcing myself to burn out again. I healed myself once before; I was sure I could do it again. So what if I spent another several days asleep? I just had to try to avoid killing him in this process. I looked up at Atlas, hoping he could see the apology in my eyes.

He must have understood some of it as he moved back as far as the fire would let him.

A quick nod from him was all I needed as I focused on fueling that little kick of power I felt.

A scream finally tore through me as everything intensified.

The fire ripped through my body until the only thing I could feel was its heat.

Sweat was pouring off me. I could faintly hear Atlas yelling, but I closed my eyes, knowing if I focused on him, I would lose the little control I had over the flames.

I fed the fire every bit on energy I had inside me.

Even with my eyes closed, I could feel the world starting to spin around me.

I took a steadying breath as I kept pushing myself until it finally started flickering out before it was gone.

One moment, all I could feel was the intense heat, and the next, everything was gone.

I opened my eyes, a smile tugging up the corners of my lips as I saw all the flames had vanished.

Atlas was looking at me, mouth moving with words I couldn’t hear.

I opened my mouth to tell him this, but I was falling before I had the chance.

Arms wrapped around me before I had the chance to hit the ground.

“What the hell did you do?” Atlas yelled into my ear as he picked me up, carrying me toward the house.

“I did it,” I slurred, pride filling my chest. I didn’t kill either one of us. It was the small victories that counted right now.

“Whatever that was, was not an accomplishment,” Leon argued as Atlas walked us into the house.

I just gave Leon a wobbly smile, head bobbing as Atlas carried me. His words did nothing to dampen the good spirits I was in. No one died, and I managed to stop it before the house burned down. It was certainly an accomplishment in my books.