by Ashley Meira
“But I find seeing you in a dress fun,” he said. “Hence the invite.”
“It is quite a sight,” a voice said from behind us.
I reached for the knives strapped to my thigh before realizing I had none — this dress was too tight. “Symeon, I hate you.”
“I didn’t pick the dress.”
“You know I only have one dress.”
“You’d have more if you let me take you shopping.”
Adam stepped around so he was standing in front of us. “Do you fight with everyone?”
Huffing, I crossed my arms and said, “Go away.”
“Darling, it’s in bad taste to chase away admirers.”
“Fine, I’ll leave.”
Symeon pulled me back and shook Adam’s hand. “Mr. Pierce.”
“Symeon.” He nodded, taking Symeon’s hand.
I asked Adam, “Why are you here?”
His shoulders shook with barely contained laughter. “This is my brother’s gallery, remember?”
“But why are you here?”
I’d been doing a wonderful job avoiding him these past few days. I called in sick from the Guild to avoid dealing with him professionally. When he came over to our place, Fiona ran interference while I stayed upstairs wrapped in my blankets. She’d been a huge help in my plans to hide from the world, so I couldn’t refuse her when she said she wanted to come here tonight. Well, that and her death threat.
Now he was here. All six feet three inches of his gorgeous self. He wasn’t wearing a tuxedo, but his expensive charcoal suit fit him like a dream. The color complemented his piercing eyes, and the light warmed his skin beautifully. He looked like an angel steeped in sin. Why was I avoiding him again?
“I saw a beautiful woman across the room and couldn’t help myself.”
Ignoring my fluttering heart, I gestured to all the supermodel-esque women milling around. “Go wild.”
“No need,” he said, shaking his head. “I already have the woman I want.”
“You don’t ‘have’ me.”
Symeon scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Get a room, you two. This is obscene — even for me.”
“Nothing is too obscene for you,” I said.
A satisfied smile stretched across his face, and his eyes took on a dreamy quality. “True.”
“Would you like to dance?” Adam asked, unable to keep his eyes off Symeon. He looked perturbed, but I’d long since grown used to the siren’s quirks.
I glared at the death traps strapped to my feet. “Not in these heels.”
“Take them off,” he said like it was obvious.
“You wouldn’t mind me dancing barefoot?”
“Why not?”
I gestured to the crowd again.
“If they complain, I’ll shift and eat them.” The glimmer in his eyes and the wicked curve of his lips told me he wasn’t kidding.
Dancing with Adam — our chests pressed together, his breath on my cheek, hot and wet, storm gray eyes gazing into mine, his lips….
Maybe I needed to stop drinking.
“Unbelievable.” Symeon’s voice brought me back to reality. “She’s actually considering it. I can never get her to dance.”
“I’m not considering it.” I needed to get out of here. “There’s a garden here, right?”
“Mhm,” Adam said, amused grin still on his face. “A small one in the back.”
“Do not follow me,” I warned, backing away from them. Navigating through the sea of people, I swiped a cookie from the dessert table on my way out. A grouchy Pomeranian snapped at me as I passed it, but otherwise I made it outside unscathed.
I let out a low whistle at the garden before me. Finely trimmed shrubs lined the pristine stone fence surrounding the entire garden. Rainbow-colored flowers filled the entire area despite the season, preserved by magic. A giant marble fountain stood in the middle, the water so clear it was almost invisible. Moonlight shone on the flowers, giving them an unearthly glow, and shimmered across the water like tiny diamonds. It was all so amazing, like stepping into a wonderland.
“If this is what they consider small, then I’d love to see what they think is big,” I whispered.
The garden was empty, so I slipped off my heels and stepped onto the soft grass. It tickled my feet as I walked to the fountain. I reached the edge and looked around. Still alone. Keeping the door in my sight, I sat on the inner edge and dipped my toes in the water. Ah, sweet paradise.
I always loved being around water. Maybe I was descended from a water dragon. Then again, I liked soaking in lava, too — though I wasn’t sure if that was more because I got a kick out of doing things other people couldn’t. It was possible I just liked all liquids.
“Shame you can’t pour lava in a bathtub,” I mused aloud, splashing my feet softly.
“Kinky.”
I whipped around and glared at Adam. “I said not to follow me.”
“I thought you were speaking to Symeon.” He gave me an innocent shrug, but the smile on his face was a life sentence. “Sorry for startling you.”
“You didn’t,” I said quickly.
“Sure,” he said dryly. “I can tell by the way your magic is bouncing around. Totally calm.”
Magic replenished itself naturally, so my Fire had been rekindled over the past few days. I wasn’t back at full strength yet, but I was close. “You can’t sense it.”
“Almost no one can. But I always do,” he said. “It’s easier now that it’s replenished — I could barely feel it when I came over these past few days. You know, when you were hiding from me in your room.”
I froze mid-splash. “I wasn’t hiding.”
“Fiona told me.”
“I hope it was worth her life,” I muttered, looking him over. “You look good.”
His grin turned into a smirk.
“Health-wise,” I said quickly.
“Thanks.” He chuckled. “So do you. Now that we have a moment, and you can’t escape me without charging through a room full of people—”
“I can scale the fence.”
“I’d catch you.” His eyes gleamed like when we first met, both playful and predatory. He sat next to me, his back to the fountain. “I want to speak with you.”
I would rather get my ass kicked by Snow again. Shoulders tensed, I waited for him to say something — to call me out on all the things I’d been hiding from him. But he didn’t speak. Silence reigned for a few minutes, the soft rustling of leaves occasionally shattering the moment.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “If you’re worried about payment, don’t. The job was to retrieve the Heart — and technically the Gem, since Snow had both. I failed on both counts. No charge.”
I told Fiona the truth about the Gem when she got home that day, but we couldn’t decide what to tell him. Eventually, we decided to keep it hidden for now. When an idea on what to do hit us, we’d revisit the issue. The Gem was now locked in the little floor safe I had hidden in my closet. That place was a jungle, so the odds of someone finding anything in there without help were slim.
“Damien finally got the translation for the tablet,” he said after another torturous pause. “There was very little to work with, but they got something that roughly translated to ‘stain the mountainous earth with the blood of innocents’ and ‘our lord will rise.’”
“That sounds harmless,” I said. “Good thing I let them get away.”
“I’m sure you tried your best.” He reached for my hands, but I placed them in my lap. It was a good thing we weren’t face-to-face — half of his disappointed expression was bad enough. Another few minutes passed before he spoke again. “So, you want to tell me how you made it from New Zealand to California in less than an hour?”
“Fairy ring.” Fairy rings were groups of fairies that came together to amplify their magic. They didn’t happen very often — fairies didn’t like playing together — but when they did, great things were possible. Like super long distance portals. �
�I was lucky enough to find one when I stumbled out of that mountain.”
“Oliver said you were bleeding out from everywhere when you landed. Must’ve been pretty lucky to find anyone in that condition.”
“Luck is pretty much the reason I’m still alive.” And not rotting in a cell — Council-approved or otherwise.
“You’re lying,” he said simply.
Was I strong enough to hold him down in the fountain until he drowned? “I—”
“But I won’t push,” he continued. “If you answer another question.”
“I don’t respond well to threats.” But I was great at digging my own grave.
The sad look on his face made my Fire shrink down in regret. He scooted closer until our thighs touched and cupped my cheek, pressing our foreheads together. His breath was hot against my skin. He pressed a kiss to my nose, feather-soft. From there, his lips trailed down until they were over mine, the tiniest of space between us. What really got me were his eyes — such a clear, beautiful gray. I could stare into them forever.
“Is this your question?” I breathed. “You don’t usually ask.”
“But I always give you a chance to pull away.” His free hand trailed down my arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. A fingertip traced across my knuckles before he slid his palm over my thigh, leaving a burning heat wherever he touched. His pinky was over my brand, but it wasn’t until he passed my knee and fiddled with the hem of my dress that I started to worry.
I grabbed his hand. “Nice try. I haven’t had that much to drink.”
He chuckled. The hand on my cheek slid into my hair, tilting my head to the side. His nose caressed my neck as he nuzzled into me, leaving feather-soft kisses against my skin. I bit back a moan, blood seeping from my lips. Why did I stop his hand again? Why do I ever stop him?
My hands gripped his shoulders, feeling the hard muscle under my fingertips. I dipped my head, kissing his jaw. He turned, and our lips brushed together once more. I was so distracted, I didn’t even notice him push my skirt up.
When the night air hit my brand, my eyes shot open. I shoved him away, but he didn’t budge an inch. His hand covered my brand, thumb stroking the edge. My breaths drowned out the pounding of my heart. Fear froze me. How did he know? Was he really working for that man? Had this all been an act?
I leaned farther into the fountain, ready to empty my stomach. Adam pulled me back against his chest, shushing me gently.
“I’m not a child,” I growled. Despite my words, I was clutching his jacket for dear life, hoping he would be my savior instead of executioner. The fighter in me was pissed at my cowardice, but the teenage girl who woke up scared and alone in that cell was hoping for a hero.
He kissed my hair and spoke in a soft voice. “My healer arrived shortly after you left Oliver’s place. Fiona was so exhausted she couldn’t keep up her glamour.”
I raised my head. “Did your healer—”
“Seth has been with me a long time — he won’t tell anyone. But when I saw the brand, I thought you might have one too.”
“Could’ve asked,” I muttered.
“And gotten another lie?” he said, causing me to flinch. His free hand found mine, and he entwined our fingers together. I forced myself not to notice how perfect the fit was. “Where’d you get it?”
I shrugged, the stiffness almost cracking my bones. “Didn’t you know? Branding is in now.”
“That’s an old brand,” he said, frowning. “Damn it, Sophia. Someone fucking burned that into your skin when you were young. Why the hell won’t you let me help you?”
I checked the doorway to make sure his raised voice hadn’t drawn attention. I’d never heard Adam so upset, even counting our time at the temple.
“Why do you even care?” I said softly.
“You need to stop asking me that,” he growled. “This is beyond paranoid—”
“I’m not—”
“Cut the crap,” he said firmly before his shoulders sagged. Releasing my hand, he pulled me into another hug. His magic enveloped me, the pine-fresh scent bringing me some peace. “Who did this to you, Sophia? Who hurt you?”
Maybe it was the way he held me and whispered in my ear. Or maybe it was the sincerity brimming in his clear gray eyes. Or he just finally broke me. Whatever the reason, I couldn’t fight the urge anymore. Tears flooded my eyes as I sagged against his body and told him everything — how I woke up in that cell and found Fiona, how we escaped, how we survived on our own…. Mostly.
I didn’t tell him I was Fireborn. That felt like giving up a piece I could never get back. Telling him about my blank childhood and terrifying past was hard enough — I wasn’t ready for that leap of faith.
“Okay?” I said when it was over. “That’s it. So stop pushing and forcing—”
“Okay.” He shushed me and stroked my hair. For such a big guy, he was insanely gentle. Which made him even more attractive, damn it. “It’s okay. You’re safe here.”
“I know.” But I squeezed him tighter anyway.
“No wonder you were so freaked out. Hearing my brother could shift into a dragon, and I could shift into a phoenix….” He chuckled, the sound hollow. “You must’ve been terrified. Thank you for trusting me.”
“Tell anyone, and I’ll kick your ass.”
“I promise. Will you kick my ass anyway?”
“No, but I’ll push you into this fountain.”
“Aw,” he gripped my chin. “No smile?”
“No,” I said, turning away to hide the smile currently forming.
He kissed my cheek and pulled me back against him. I really needed to stop him from doing that. Eventually. His hand drifted back to my thigh, tracing over the brand. “Who would do this to you?”
“Did you miss the part of my story where I said I didn’t know?”
“It’s possible. The moonlight makes you look even more beautiful than usual. Have you tried tracking your kidnapper?” he asked before I could recover from his previous comment.
“I have. Nothing happened. He’s blocked from me.”
“Do you think he’s looking for you two?”
“Don’t know. Maybe at first. Not sure about now.”
“Do you think—”
“You’ve got a really bad habit of asking questions I can’t answer.”
His questions needled at my insecurities. Fear overtook me. I stepped out of the fountain and headed toward the door. This was too much. I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to. All I wanted was to go back to last week when Adam and I were strangers. Ignorance really was bliss.
He pulled me back. “Stop running.”
“I stopped running years ago!” I hissed. “I learned how to survive on my own — the hard way. I swore I would never be a victim again, and I haven’t been—”
“What about your magic?”
“What?” I stuttered.
“You’ve learned to survive, but you have no control over your magic. I understand you’re scared. You think someone will recognize your magic and turn you in, right?”
The air left my lungs. “What?”
“Turn you in to the man who took you.”
“Oh.” That was a good excuse — a very good excuse. Shit. Why didn’t I think of that? I’d been so scared of Adam and the Council that it hadn’t crossed my mind. “Yes.”
“But you need to learn. If his magic is even a fraction of the magic I sensed on that mountain, you’re in trouble. Hell, I’d have trouble. Your sword isn’t going to help you against a mage as powerful as him.”
“Helped against Snow,” I said to the grass.
“Snow is Fireborn — he may not be. And it would still be better to know as much as you can before a confrontation with this guy. You may not be looking for him, but he could find you. You need to be ready.”
“Adam—”
“And not just for him. Fiona told me your arm still hurts. Imagine how much easier it would be if you could get rid of all golems with a tornado.”
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“Not really looking to fight more golems.”
He sighed. “You know I’m right.”
I always did. And he always was. But right now, it wasn’t my kidnapper I was worried about — or sword-proof monsters. It was him. Maybe he wasn’t working with that man, but there was still a chance he could figure out my other secret. That would damn us all.
“I’m flattered you’re more scared of me than the man who kept you in a cell for talking back to him.”
“I didn’t say that out loud.” I stepped back. Shit shit shit. “I didn’t—”
“No.” He stepped forward and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “But your magic is flipping out the way it usually does when you’re freaking out about me.”
“There is no way in hell I have a rhythm specifically for you.” He had a point about me needing to learn more about my magic.
He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “We could find our own rhythm.”
I glared. “Do you really want to teach me how to set people on fire?”
“Why not?” His grin was even more beautiful under moonlight. “It’s fun.”
“Adam!” Damien stormed into the garden, his face twisted into the most serious expression I’d ever seen. The black designer suit he had on was still perfectly pressed, so I assumed we weren’t under attack. What was going on?
Adam’s magic flared. “What is it?”
“Remember the inscription on the tablet? And what you told me about the Pyrenees?”
“Of course.”
“You need to see this.”
We followed him inside and into a backroom — his office, if the large desk covered in paperwork was any indication. He grabbed his laptop and turned it toward us.
“Hey, is everything okay?” Fiona asked, closing the door behind us. “You all look freaked.”
Damien pointed to his laptop. “Just watch.”
A news report was playing, the headline read: Mount Mullonga Destroyed. Graphic images of villages being buried under heavy rubble were shown. People were running for their lives to escape the flood of dirt and rock. Afterimages of blood-soaked earth, soft brown turned dark red, filled the screen at the end as the reporter announced over four thousand people had been killed.
“That’s awful.” Fiona squeezed my hand, her eyes widening. “New Zealand…. And didn’t Cyrus say tons of people would die? I thought it was crazy bad guy talk, but now that this has happened—”