“Music to my ears,” MJ purred.
Alexei stretched his wings wide, dripping onto MJ’s back. “I seriously think you need help.”
MJ turned, stepping into Alexei’s chest and squeezing his cheeks. “At least I’m not scared.”
He jabbed her in the stomach, forcing her back. “Some would say that’s a problem.”
“Or a strength.”
Alexei let out a derisive laugh. “Well, if you’re so strong, you can carry Oliver then.”
“Carry Oliver, carry the team, save your asses—sounds about right,” MJ said with a smug smile. “Oh, don’t pout, Lex. Or I’m going to have to go get your binky.”
Oliver released my hand, and strong arms scooped me up, startling me.
“What are you doing?” I snapped at Ronen.
“You said to go. I only listened.” His wings flapped, spraying droplets of water as we rose into the sky. “Trust me. They’ll be bickering for hours if we let them.”
Below us, Oliver clung to Alexei as he pushed off the ground after MJ. His neck muscles tensed, and his wet wings slapped with each pump, struggling against the air.
“Is Alexei okay…” The tendons in Ronen’s neck were just as taunt, and we flew lower than usual. “It’s your wings.”
“They’ll dry soon.”
“How soon?” I hid my face in Ronen’s chest, trying to shield myself from the painful heat. We needed to gain altitude before we reached the Hellfire.
As if sensing my distress, Ronen flapped harder. He hissed with each movement until the air thinned and the heat lessened by a couple degrees. But his face, neck, and any exposed skin were flushed pink.
My Infernus whispered a tune I hadn’t touched since Elora. The haunting melody sent itches scurrying along my arms, begging me to use its power. I ignored it. How could it possibly help our situation?
Peeling off a glove, I tapped into the Glaciation Circle and coated my hand in ice. I touched his cheek. “Are you okay?”
He pressed into my palm. “Better now.”
He captured me—not just with the quiet longing in his gaze, but with the warmth of his words. I felt cherished, like I was the relief he’d been yearning for his entire life and had finally found. But how could just two words do that? How could one look make me feel steadier, stronger, and more than I ever had? My heart thundered, full and fierce, fueled by his attention alone. His scent, warm and spicy, filled my lungs, allowing me to breathe deeply again. And his arms around me? They felt like home.
Truly. Completely.
What was this pull that happened every time we touched or met each other’s eyes? Was it just my growing feelings for him?
“Good,” I whispered.
My ice continued to melt, dripping down his lips, down his neck, sliding over the swirls of his tattoos. It eased his tight tendons, pulling out a sigh. I bit my lip, following the glistening trail back up to his mouth. What would they feel like, pressing mine to his? Would it be soft and gentle? Or ferocious and claiming? If just touching him made me feel this alive, his lips would be a drug I’d never quit.
“Don’t.” His breath mingled with mine—his word brushing my skin in a tempting caress. I hadn’t even realized I’d leaned in. “Or I won’t stop, and your prince will have to pry you from my arms.”
I dropped my hand and turned forward. Ronen made me forget about Aspen so easily. We were risking our lives for him. How was it possible he slipped my mind? My feelings for both of them were a tangled mess I had no clue how to unravel.
“Is Rune okay down there?”
She was. But I needed to think about anything else.
“This is where she was created. She’s immune to Hellfire.”
The beastie zoomed through the purple and black flames at a speed that kept up with us.
“We’re almost there.”
