Page 15

Chapter 15

Kaya

C yrus releases a torrent of crackling fire, then partially shifts back to his more human-looking form. His wings remain very large and his eyes are still reptilian.

“What in the fuck is going on here?” he spits out.

Devin straightens even though he’s gone a bit green in the face. “It’s none of your business, monster.” The merchant reaches forward and yanks me toward him.

A flash of gold and green blinds me momentarily, and Devin yelps.

A wall of flame now separates the wool merchant from me. Cyrus’s fire isn’t hot against my skin, even though it’s so close that it should be burning me. Instead, its warmth is comforting.

“Are you all right, Kaya?” Cyrus’s voice is booming and shaking the very ground.

I swallow and take a step away from the wall of flame and get closer to Cyrus. “I am fine.”

Black smoke pours from Cyrus’s nostrils and ears. His taloned hands are curled like he’s ready to rip Devin’s throat out.

“Eh,” I say softly. I set my hand carefully on Cyrus’s arm. The scales that cover his forearm and hand in this half-shifted form are hot to the touch, but I maintain contact. “I’m okay. Let’s breathe together, okay?”

His dragon gaze snaps from Devin to my face. He eyes my body like he’s looking for damage.

“I’m fine. Breathe,” I say.

“This is madness,” Devin says. “I’m getting out of here.”

Cyrus’s wall of fire spreads and surrounds Devin. “Apologize to her or die twice.”

“Twice?” Devin says mockingly, even though he is sweating and darting nervous glances at the magical fire. “Don’t think that’s possible, dragon.” He says the word like a curse.

“Won’t stop me from trying, asshole. Fire first, then I shred you into pieces she can dance on.”

My heartbeat triples its pace. Warmth pools low in my belly. I can’t deny that Cyrus defending me like this is incredibly attractive.

“Cyrus, that’s not necessary.” He’s never used his fire like this. I wonder if he’s had this type of control over it all this time. But he isn’t in control of himself at the moment and all the magic in the world can’t bring back a dead man. “We don’t want the paperwork involved with murder, Cyrus. Really. Let’s go to the bakery. We’ll have a nice chat.”

“I’m not going anywhere until this pathetic excuse of a person grovels on his fucking knees.” The wall of fire cracks loudly and Devin jumps.

“Fine. Insanity…” the merchant mutters. He goes to his knees and looks at Cyrus. “I’m sorry for kissing your female, monster.”

A dark laugh comes from Cyrus and the fire creeps closer to Devin. “Keep on being a dick. Please. I am fine with the trouble murder brings. I will savor every consequence. Now, look at her. Not me.”

Devin sets his steely gaze on me. “I’m sorry,” he says through gritted teeth.

“Beg for her forgiveness.”

“She probably permanently injured my stones, dragon, so I don’t think I will.”

Cyrus says nothing, but his wings are trembling in his rage and the fire crawls closer to Devin.

The wool merchant jerks back, going greener. I can’t quite see how close he is to the flames because only his shoulders and face are visible above Cyrus’s wall of fire.

“I’m sorry, Kaya. Please, please forgive me,” Devin says quickly.

There’s not a trace of snark in his tone now, and the scent of burning clothing and hair rises into the night air.

“I don’t forgive you,” I say, likely enjoying this far more than I should be.

A purr comes from Cyrus, and he looks at me with approval shining in his eyes.

“But that’s enough,” I say. “Cyrus, stop it now.”

Blinking, Cyrus shakes out his wings. They return to their usual size, and the additional scales on his skin fade until they are invisible.

The merchant is patting the back of his head and one leg of his trousers. He gets up, watching Cyrus, then takes off at a run down the road.

I take Cyrus’s hands in mine. I’m shaking as much as he is.

“I …” My heart beats in my ears, and the feel of his hands on mine is so very different from how Devin’s felt. “Thank you.”

He reaches up and cups my face with one hand. “Kaya.”

The tension between us is as hot as his fire magic. I’m about to explode or disappear into smoke.

We crash into one another, and there is nothing friendly about our kiss. I bite his lip, and he growls and pulls me closer. All of the years of pining over Cyrus, all that time locking away my feelings for him, it’s all coming at me in waves of heat. His firewall is back, and it surrounds us, but my mind has no time to process that. His tongue slides over mine and my body melts like hot butter on fresh bread. I press myself into him, feeling the hard and wonderful angles and lines of his body. His hands are in my hair and his mouth finds my jawline.

“Kaya. Kaya.”

In turns, he whispers my name and licks his way over my skin. I feel like I’ve been struck by some powerful potion. My body is all sensation. Logic is nowhere to be found and everything feels amazing. I am safe with Cyrus. I know him as well as I know myself. His fire intensifies those comforting but also passionate feelings, and I kiss him again on the mouth.