“You’re... good?”
“Fine,” she muttered, trying—and failing—not to notice how solid his chest felt pressed against her. “Thank you for helping me.”
He exhaled a low laugh. “I didn't have much of a choice.”
They descended slowly, much slower, she realized, than how he’d soared up to her. But his words nagged at her. “Was I... did I hurt you?”
He adjusted her in his grip before answering. “It’ll take more than that to hurt me. But if you’re set on using this loophole you’ve found, you should know that every time you pull from theDraoth Cara, you’re not just pulling from me—you’re burning through your own reserves too. It’s reckless, and it’ll kill you if you don’t learn how to control it.”
Shame crept in, settling deep in her chest. She’d known, in theory, that it wasn’t safe after what happened with the ritual. But the temptation, it had been too much.
“Can you teach me?” Her eyes met his, searching for something she wasn’t sure he’d give. “Teach me to cast without hurting us?”
He raised a brow. “As I said before, I don’t think I have much of a choice.”
“I won’t do it again. Not without your instruction.”
At that, his gaze flickered with something soft, something she couldn't quite place. “All right, Hallowed. I’ll teach you.”
They landed and Elara tried to steady her trembling legs—willed her spine to straighten. His grip tightened briefly, but then, as if catching himself, he quickly let go, and stepped back.
Silence fell between them, awkward and heavy. He looked like he was wrestling with something, his brow furrowed in thought. Elara shifted on her feet, the tension thick enough to choke on.
“Don’t worry,” she said with a dry smile. “I won’t tell anyone about your heroic catch.”
That seemed to ease something in him. He shifted, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the moment. “I’d appreciate that. Can’t have word getting out—I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”
“Wouldn’t want anyone to know you’re capable of being decent.”
He gave her a mock solemn nod. “Gods forbid.”
Another silence, this one not quite as thick, and Elara glanced around at the mess she'd made. “I’m sorry about your library. I’ll clean it up.”
Without missing a beat, he snapped his fingers. Vines erupted from the floor, methodically setting everything back in place.
Elara’s eyes widened. “Okay, that’s?—”
“Unnecessary,” he cut in smoothly, lips twitching. “But I am curious... how exactly did you manage to cast without a spell?”
Her mouth went dry. "Luck?"
He arched a brow, clearly unimpressed. “Luck,” he repeated, drawing the word out as though it left a bad taste in his mouth. “So, just to clarify—pure, random chance is what caused that.”He gestured to the lingering mess the vines were still sorting through.
Elara shrugged a shoulder. “Yup.”
He gave her a long, incredulous look, then glanced back at the disaster. “Maybe next time, you could try your 'luck' outside—somewhere far away from my home. Especially if the next bit of it involves more accidental fire.”
“Accidental?” Elara scoffed. “Please. If I wanted to set something on fire, you’d be the first to know.”
“Oh, I’ve no doubt.” His smirk deepened, that arrogant glint flashing in his eyes. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the soft rustling of vines tidying up around them the only sound. Elara resisted the urge to fidget.
“Well, if you don’t need my help...”
She spun on her heel and made for the door.
“I take it you didn’t sleep.”
She stopped mid-stride, her whole body stiffening as she turned back around. “Do you know that because we didn’t meet in the dreamspace?”
