A light in the flame

The curl of his lips returned as he lifted his gaze to mine. “And yet it feels as if we’re still locked in battle.” He eased his fingers from my hair and raised his thumb to my cheek, touching the skin beneath the scratch and then my throat, just below the healing bite.

Nyktos stayed there for several moments and then pulled back. He watched me as he kicked off his boots, as if he expected me to bolt. But I hadn’t lied when I’d said that I was done fighting for the night. The exhaustion had returned once more, but this time, it was warm instead of brittle. I stayed where he’d left me, watching him as he stepped back and turned to the side. My gaze dipped, and I saw the hard line of his arousal, clear against his breeches. A pleasant ache settled in my breasts and lower when he pulled his tunic off. The swirls of ink along his sides and back were a blur in the dim light as he walked around the side of the bed, to his wardrobe. He opened a door and then reached down to his breeches. My lips parted as he undid them, revealing the hard curve of his ass. I didn’t look away as I’d done at the lake. I soaked in the golden-bronze flesh and the dusting of dark hair on his legs.

His body was…it was indecent.

Nyktos pulled on a pair of loose, black pants like the ones Nektas had manifested. He turned back to the bed and freed his hair from the knot at his neck. As the strands fell against his shoulders, I couldn’t help but think how intimate this felt.

The lights in the wall went out as he approached the bed, plunging the room into darkness.

“That was me,” he said upon my gasp.

It took my eyes a moment to adjust. He was at the side of his bed. “More magic?”

“Yes.”

The bed dipped under his weight, and I…I was still where he’d left me. In the darkness, he came to me. He folded his arm over my waist, and I didn’t resist—mainly out of shock—as he tugged me back and then down, bringing a blanket over my legs. My head hit a pillow, and then the bed shifted more as he settled behind me.

His arm was still draped over my waist, but no other parts of our bodies touched, even though there couldn’t be more than an inch or so of space separating us. My eyes were wide and fixed on the darkness. Several moments passed. “I didn’t think you meant within arm’s reach in the literal sense.”

“I did.” His cool breath touched my shoulder, sending a faint shiver through me.

The weight of his arm was…it was too grounding. Too everything. “I don’t think I can sleep like this.”

“If I can, you can.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Just close your eyes and try, Sera.”

Gods, when he said my name like that—like it was a solemn vow—it always left me rattled and thrown. I closed my eyes, hearing only the sound of my heart and his deep, steady breaths, and focused on those breaths until I… I did the impossible and fell asleep. I didn’t know how much time passed before I was jarred awake.

Something…something had happened.

I stared into the darkness, quickly becoming aware of how tightly Nyktos held me. He had his arm clamped down on my waist, and the slip was an inconsequential barrier against the cold press of his flesh to my back. His chest rose and fell sharply, and his breath came in rapid, short bursts against the curve of my neck and shoulder.

Was he dreaming?

I tried to turn my head to look back at him, but his arm clenched, drawing me deeper against the curve of his body. “Nyktos?” I whispered.

There was no answer.

Concern rose. I reached down, touching the tense, corded muscle of his arm.

A tremor ran through his entire body. “Promise me,” he rasped. “Promise me you’ll never go after Kolis again.”

My heart stuttered as I sucked in a shallow breath.

“Promise me, Sera. Never again.”

I squeezed my eyes shut against the sudden dampness gathering in them and spoke two words I shouldn’t. “I promise.”

Chapter 8

Nyktos was gone when I woke, but my last words to him lingered.

Promise me.

I shouldn’t have made that promise. Rolling onto my back, I turned my head. My gaze flicked from the nightstand and the small wooden box on it to where my dagger lay on the pillow beside mine. Drawing in a deep breath, I exhaled slowly and picked up the dagger. I spotted my robe at the foot of the bed. Nyktos must’ve retrieved it.

That new crack in my chest throbbed as I rose.

The stone was cool under my feet as I walked through the dimly lit passageway and entered my chambers. I stood beneath the glass chandelier for several moments, trying to get my thoughts in order. I’d failed last night. So, what was I going to do now?

There was no answer. Only the arrival of Baines and fresh water, followed by Orphine. Her apology to Nyktos the night before still scalded my skin with shame.

“Once you’re ready, I’m to escort you to Nyktos,” Orphine a

“I won’t.” I expected some sort of caustic remark from her, but all she did was nod before stepping out into the hall.

I turned back to the bathing chamber. At least what I’d said to Orphine wasn’t a lie. I wouldn’t try to escape right now. But I would have to try again. And that made the new crack in my chest feel even more unsteady, as if it were at risk of deepening and spreading.

I rubbed at the center of my chest, stopping my thoughts before they revisited the mess of emotions that had caused the fissure. Nyktos was waiting, and I might as well get what would likely be an epic bitchfest over with.

Shoving my hair back from my face, I frowned at the gritty texture. I withdrew my fingers and glanced down. A thin layer of ash coated my hands that had only ever wielded power that healed and brought life. But I had hurt Nyktos.

That kind of power killed.

Could the embers really be that strong? Were they giving me godlike abilities even now? It wasn’t implausible when I thought about it. After all, the embers had always given me powers.

I just didn’t want to…hurt anyone. Not on purpose.

I swallowed thickly, forcing myself to get a move on. I went into the bathing chamber and grabbed a clean washcloth. I placed a towel beside the tub and knelt. I tugged off the slip and already missed the faint trace of citrus that clung to the material. Keeping an eye on the entryway, I quickly washed myself and then dunked my head in the tub, vigorously scrubbing at my hair. It had taken an ungodly amount of time to work out all the tangles after, but it was nearly dry by the time I went to the wardrobe.

There weren’t many options left when it came to attire: a few sweaters, a pair of thick, black leggings, and three gowns. I chose a sweater and some leggings and then joined Orphine in the hall.

The draken was silent as she led me to the palace’s first floor, a book once again tucked under her arm. The only sound was that of our boots rapping off the stone floors.

“I’m sorry about Davina,” I said, not knowing if she had been close to the draken or not. When I got no response, I glanced over at her. “And I’m…I’m also sorry for making you feel like you failed at your duty. It wasn’t your fault, and it’s not like you expected me to climb down from the balcony.”

Orphine arched a brow, but that was it. Pressing my lips together, I looked away as guilt settled heavily in my chest. I imagined that her dislike of me had grown to rampant hatred, and I couldn’t exactly blame—

“You’re right,” she said. “I didn’t expect you to scale the palace walls. I doubt many would, but I do appreciate the apology…and what you intended to do.”

My head swung to her as we reached the stairs. “You do?”