I shook my head. Zephyr knew better than to hook up with my friends, and Willow and Mia weren’t into men.
Well, Mia wasn’t…I was pretty sure.
I ran my fingers over Rafe’s tattooed arm, aiming to feel his muscleand instead raising my eyebrows at the jagged texture that met my fingers. Rafe tensed, keeping his eyes on his phone but his fingers stopped typing. He seemed to be holding his breath, waiting on my reaction to what I’d just felt.
I ran my hand down his arm, from his bicep to his wrist, then back up, following the uneven skin the whole way.
Was this why he only had one sleeve tattooed?
My hand trailed under his t-shirt sleeve, onto his shoulder, and then I ran my free hand over his neck.
Rafe was scarred.
There were only a few places of smooth skin on his arm, and none on his neck. The tattoo was placed just perfectly, the details obscuring the worst of the bumpy skin.
The back of my neck began to prickle with unease. Rafe didn’t react, his breathing calm but shallow while I continued to feel him up. This could’ve been hot, if I weren’t so horrified.
“What happened to you?” I whispered. I leaned in close, the dim light obscuring my vision slightly, but I was able to see some of the jagged skin beneath the ink. Whoever had done this work was beyond talented.
I was…in a fire,Rafe replied.In the military. It’s why I got out.
A fire.
Rafe hadbeen in a fire.
I’d sort of known that. Aiden had told me a bit of what he knew, even though it was all speculation. He’d told me Rafe was hurt in action, pulled out of a burning building. The Crown Princess had fucked with everyone’s memories to make sure no one remembered what Rafe’s burnt body looked like.
Rafe’s reaction to Aiden’s affinities made a lot more sense, now. He got nervous anytime Aiden’s arms glowed. He backed up any time Aiden ignited something.
He’d been the one to scream when Landon started the firestorm.
Wyatt had pulled him out of it right as Aiden jumped through the flames to fight at my side.
I ran my fingers down his arm again.
“It was a bad call. The mission was wrong from the start. At some point, Wyatt and I realized no one was behind us, but we went into the building, anyway.”
I squeezed his forearm.
“When we got inside, a door slammed, and the fire started.” He shook his head, his gaze going far away. “There were supposed to be children in there. A Telepath was trying to fuck with us, and it spooked Wyatt. They were so strong, I could only protect Wyatt and myself mentally, not physically.”
I took in a breath to speak, and Rafe squeezed my hand on his arm.
“Wyatt’s mind is more important than my skin, darling. I don’t regret what I did. I would do it over again in a heartbeat.”
I blinked back tears, imagining my two Links trapped in a burning building, the shadows trying to protect them while Wyatt’s sanity slipped away.
“Marion healed what she could, but…well, she’s ancient now, but she was still old then.” Rafe gave me a strained smile.
“Who was responsible?” I whispered.
“My father sent out the order,” Rafe swallowed, then dropped his gaze. “We can’t prove it one way or another.”
An anger like I’d never known washed through me. My spine went rigid, my hands flexed as my affinity seemed to vibrate like the rattle on a rattlesnake.
Aiden’s laugh cut off on the other side of the room, his concern for me immediate when he felt the anger inside me.
“Why is he still alive?” I gritted out.
