Her hand was still so damn cold, but color was slowly seeping back into her skin. “Come on, Rum,” I mumbled. “You can’t die on me just yet. We’ve got years of fighting left in us.”
She turned her head one way, then the other, as if in response to my comment.
I stiffened, waiting for her to wake up and give me hell.
But her eyes remained shut. Then she mumbled incoherently, her words barely audible.
“Rummy?” I moved closer, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Rummy, it’s me.”
“Jes,” she croaked. “Don’t let it take over, Jes. Don’t let the darkness drown me.”
Chapter 13
Rummy
Jessiah laughed, tossing his bronze hair back. His shoulders rose and fell with the movements. I was staring.
He was so damn beautiful, and he didn’t even see it.
He never saw it.
Watching him laugh with Huntyr warmed my chest in an odd way. Huntyr had been my only friend for so, so long. But recently…
Something was changing. I was changing. And goddess above, the thought alone made my heart soar in my chest. The last thing I wanted to do was fuck it all up.
I fucked everything up. I always did. Everything I touched went up in flames around me.
And Jessiah’s smile? His light? I refused to take that from him.
“You two are ridiculous!” I chimed in, hiding my smile. “You’re lucky those wings are as big as your egos. Both of you.”
Huntyr smirked, but Jessiah turned to me with an eyebrow raised. “You just wait until you can summon your own wings,” he joked. “I can’t wait to see the wingspan fit for the great Rummy from Midgrave.”
I rolled my eyes. “Not all of us aspire to fly through the air like we’re suicidal! My feet work just fine, thank you!”
Huntyr said nothing. She knew I was… well, sensitive about the topic of flying.
The few other fae that lived in Scarlata had at least tried to summon their own wings. Fae with strong magic could do it, it was in our blood, after all.
But there was nothing special about me. Nothing magical. I was a dirty damn fae forced to come to this kingdom for my own survival.
And that’s what I’d stay. I had no interest in becoming anyone else.
Jessiah was pushy, though. He couldn’t grasp the idea that not having magical powers could be enjoyable.
“I can teach you, you know,” he said. “I’m a great teacher. Ask Huntyr.”
I shook my head, hand on my hip as the wind blew my hair in my face. “I’m sure you’re great at just about everything you do, Jessiah. I’m not doubting your teaching capabilities.”
“What is it then?” He stepped forward, slowly closing the gap between us. “What are you afraid of?”
My chest tightened.Nothing, I wanted to say, but my throat closed up.
Everything.
Since that night… No, I would never use magic again. Not after what I’d experienced. My magic wasn’t like everyone else’s.Iwasn’t like everyone else. I was dark and twisted. Cursed. And my magic would only bring death.
“Rummy.”
