“Are you alright? Can you speak?” he asks, smoothing the wet strands of hair back from my face. I nod in confusion, glancing between him and Jace. Their handsome faces are covered in ash. Jace’s clothes are tattered and singed as he stands before me, arms crossed.
“What just happened? Did I blackout?” I croak and launch into a coughing fit. Zadyn stabilizes me, keeping me from falling back into the frigid water. Jace shakes his head in disbelief, kneeling before me on the floor. I hear loud, hurried voices outside the bathroom door.
“You set the room on fire,” Jace says. “When I turned my knife on Zadyn, you erupted into flames.”
“What do you mean?” I glance between them. “How—how did?—”
“Your magic,” Jace says, some distant cousin of pride twinkling in his golden eyes. I bolt from the room, broken glass cutting into my bare feet with every careless step until I stand before the busted door frame leading to Zadyn’s room.
It is completely unrecognizable. Every surface is covered in black ash and glowing embers. Young Sir Warryn stands among the rabble, hands outstretched as a frosty chill spreads throughout the singed space, taming what’s left of my destruction. The auburn-haired twins, Mal and Max, supervise from the side. Mal notices my presence and slides a curious glance my way. I can tell it’s him by the cold, unflinching stare and hard-set mouth.
“Oh my god,” I gasp, clutching my towel. “I—I did that?”
“Congratulations, witch,” Jace says from behind me. “You earned that personal day.”
I turn slowly and fix my gaze on him, fighting the impulse to throw my arms around him. To kiss him stupid.
Instead, I walk toward him, each step determined, as I bring my fist across his face with all the strength I can manage. To my shock, it takes him to the ground.
My punch actually knocked him off his feet.
He laughs, the sound light and amused. He stares up at me, golden eyes perplexed but dancing.
“Amazing,” he whispers. “Your strength.”
“What thefuckis wrong with you?” I screech. “First you attack me, then you try to kill Zadyn?!”
“Oh, calm down. I wouldn’t have actually hurt him. It was for show. I was pushing you.”
“You don’t use people as bait! It’s barbaric,” I hiss.
“It worked, didn’t it?” He gets to his feet, unfazed by my assault. “You should be thanking me. You needed a shove to access your magic. And look, you burnt that room to a crisp.”
“You are a manipulator,” I spit. “Not to mention, your brilliant plan could have easily backfired. I had no idea what was happening to me. I was completely out of control. I could have burned you both alive.” I glance at Zadyn.
“But you didn’t,” Jace amends. “And now we know your magic is triggered by strong emotion. What did you feel?”
“I wanted to kill you,” I admit, recalling the overpowering emotions. “I felt rage. Pain. Fear…fear of loss.” My eyes land on Zadyn’s, and his answering look is filled with grim understanding.
“Now we have something to work with.” Jace looks between us. He turns to a wide-eyed servant by the door. “Send for Gnorr. Tell no one what you saw.” The young fae female nods and disappears into the hall.
“You should sit down,” Zadyn says. “There’s glass everywhere.”
“My feet are already destroyed.” The initial shock has worn off, and I wince with every step I take toward the bed. The glass shards embedded in my arms, legs, and back make themselves known with blossoming pain.
“Is someone going to explain to me what in the seventh hell just happened?” A low-tenored female voice makes me turn my head. Standing behind us, her beautiful face looking baffled, is Clemence. Wrapped in nothing but a bed sheet. Ash decorates her tangled golden hair.
I knit my eyebrows together. When did she sneak in? Oh, god. If she saw what I did, my cover is blown.
“What are you doing here?” My voice lashes out more harshly than I intend.
“We were asleep when you two burst through the door like a pair of wildcats. Seconds later, the room was on fire.” Her green eyes narrow as her gaze skips between the three of us.
“Cece,” Zadyn starts, “I’ll explain everything, but you have to promise to keep what you saw a secret.”
“Half the castle staff heard the noises and came running. The entire wing reeks of smoke.” She gestures to the hall, then fixes her suspicious eyes on me.
“Please,” Zadyn beseeches her. She rolls her eyes but gives a relenting nod. I glance slowly from her to Zadyn as the realization sinks in. He stares back at me, searching for my reaction.
