Adara merely shot him a vulgar gesture, but when Vesper and Sawyer joined in on his taunts, a stream of fire shot their way. They all instantly dispersed, busying themselves below deck.
Dominic glared at her, hating that he needed her key so badly. That was the only reason he didn’t use his magic to create agale strong enough to throw her overboard and leave her to the monsters of the Plagued Sea. He hated that she wanted to help him, hated that he hadn’t been healing as quickly as he usually would.
“Fine,” he reluctantly spat.
Adara pulled him upright. The second he was on steady feet, he let go of her arm and shoved her away. He ordered Ace to take the helm and led Adara to the main deck, now unoccupied.
“Sit,” she demanded, pointing to the deck.
“Iwillthrow you overboard,” Dominic growled as he grudgingly sat down, leaning back against the mast.
“What a nice way to repay me after saving your life,” she said sweetly as she sat before him.
Dominic clenched his jaw, teeth grinding together. “You’re the one who put my life at risk in the first place.” Had she not forced him to look the Whisperer in the eyes, he never would have been in danger.
“As if you didn’t do the same to me, sending me in there blindfolded,” Adara replied, voice a bit harder than before.
“It was for your own safety.”
Adara rooted through a pack of medical supplies, setting out needles and bandages and salves. “Thank you,” she said as she leaned closer, pulling up his bloodied tunic. “For protecting me.”
Dominic hissed as the cloth peeled away, pulling at his open wounds.
“Sorry,” she murmured.
He could practically hear the wince in her voice as he pulled his tunic entirely off and tossed it to the side.
“Don’t thank me,” he said, tone lethal but soft. “I didn’t do it for you. I need you alive.”
Adara snorted. “You’re never going to make me fall in love with you if you keep saying things like that.”
She was right, of course, but Dominic couldn’t help the words that flowed freely from his lips. Around Adara, it was hard to think clearly, to be cold and calculating and manipulative. He was too focused on those blazing eyes and that smile like moonlight. Too focused on the thoughts that might be swirling in her mind and trying to read them rather than focusing on his own. Too focused on trying to figure out who she was to him.
Dominic responded, “Would you believe me if I said it was because you’re better than anything this world deserves and I couldn’t live with myself if I let you die?”
“No.”
“Exactly.” He cast his gaze over her shoulder, watching the sun make its way toward the sea, painting the sky orange.
Placing a clean cloth in Dominic’s hand, Adara said, “Wet this.” Taking the cloth from her, he let his magic flow. A steady stream of fresh water dampened the fabric, then he handed it back to her. He shivered beneath its cold touch as she dabbed at his wounds, washing away the blood. He instantly felt better as she cleaned the grime from his torso.
“I need to cauterize the wounds,” she informed him, handing back the cloth.
“Just get it over with,” he huffed, ignoring the aching movement as he cleaned the blood from his face.
Fiery pain shot through his abdomen. The scent of burning flesh permeated the air. Dominic grunted, holding back the yelp of pain through gritted teeth. He tossed the cloth to the floor, glancing where her hand was pressed over his wound.
“A warning,” he panted, breathing deeply through the agonizing pain lancing through him, “would have been nice.”
“You said to get it over with.” She pulled her hand away from his skin, singed together from her power. The sight of his charred flesh made bile rise in his throat.
He swallowed and closed his eyes, resting his head against the mast as he focused on breathing.
“Turn to the side,” she ordered.
He obeyed so she could reach the gashes that stretched from across his side and partially on his back. She maneuvered her way behind him. Fire crackled, then her hand was on him again, scorching hot. He bit his tongue until he tasted blood.
“I’m beginning to think you didn’t want to help me, but only wanted to hear me scream,” Dominic grunted, one hand covering where the Whisperer had slashed the back of his leg, the other balled into a fist at his side.
