“Let’s do it,” I said abruptly. “Run away.When this is all over, when Gayl is out of power and the curse is broken and all is right with the world, let’s go somewhere. Anywhere.”
This time, he did laugh. It was a quiet rumble I felt with a hand pressed into his chest, his eyes lighter than they’d been all night. “We can’trun away, Rose?—”
“Not for forever. Just…to get away from everything. To explore and be around people who don’t know us or our pasts. To betogether.” I sat up and dragged him into a seated position with me, taking both of his hands in mine. The fire snapped low behind me, making Leo’s eyes gleam like coal set ablaze. “You told me that you’ve placed all of yourself in my hands. That I could either crush you or love you.” Slowly, I kissed his palms, a rush of emotion swelling in my chest. “And I choose to love you, Leo.”
I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his, not caring that his sister and friend slept across the cave, not caring that we were on a mysterious island fighting for our lives. In this moment, it was just us. A promise and a choice.
He broke away and cupped my cheek. “You are the last thing I expected, Rose Wolff.” His lips were a breath from mine, the words brushing against my skin like a prayer. “And I love you,” he murmured as his hands moved to grip my waist.
I smiled. “Say it again.”
He dipped his nose down to my neck, placing soft kisses that sent heat trailing through me. “I’ll say it however many times I have to. I love you, little wolf. When we get out of this, I’ll take you wherever you want.”
“Oh, really?” I leaned back and gave him a wicked smirk, which he then captured with his mouth.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he said with a smile.
“Not if I can help it,” I whispered.
67
Rose
Sleep brought with it dreams of being in Leo’s arms. Of his warmth encircling me, embracing me, heating me to my core. The novelty of the step we’d taken was welded into my skin, like molten lava coursing through my veins, almost hot enough to actually burn?—
Something scorching licked at my feet.
I inhaled and immediately coughed. Opening my eyes, I gasped and scrambled to my knees, choking on thick, black smoke.
The cave was on fire.
“Rose! Leo!” Lark cried from across the cavern. Rissa, still in her fox form, tugged at Lark’s gown with her teeth, her red fur standing up straight.
Leo was already on his feet and pulling me with him. I coughed again, doing my best to cover my nose and mouth with the fabric of my sleeves. I could barely see through the smog that enveloped the stone cave, the occasional flash of flames catching my eye. How could this have happened? The fire had been almost extinguished when we fell asleep, and Horace had been on watch?—
“Where’s Horace?” I called in between sputters.
“He must be stuck outside,” Leo said. “Go with Lark and Rissa—I’ll get him.”
“Wait—Leo!” I tried to protest, but he let go of my hand and disappeared into the gray haze. Seconds later, the fire roared, violent red and orange flames bursting to the ceiling. Leo cried out and emerged from the smoke with his arm smoldering.
“The fire is blocking the entrance. We have to go through one of these.” He gestured to the other three tunnels leading from the cave.
“What about Horace?” I asked.
“If he’s on the other side, he can get out the way we came. We’ll find him later. Right now we need tomove.”
As if on cue, the fire at our backs swelled and crackled. With awhoosh, it shot out at our feet, making me yelp and jump backward. Still, it grew, pushing us further and further toward the tunnels.
I tried to cross over to Lark and Rissa, but the flames seemed to be alive, their blazing fingers unfurling and snapping at my arm. They quickly crawled across my path, blocking Leo and me from our friends.
The inferno flared up again, almost catching Rissa’s tail on fire. Lark cast me one final look of terror, my name on her lips before a coughing fit overtook her and the two of them were forced down the closest path right as the fire consumed their side of the cave.
My heart raced with adrenaline and fear and confusion. Eyes watering, I let Leo grasp my hand and drag me into the nearest exit.
“My magic, it—it’s still not working,” I rasped out as we stumbled down the dark path. Shadows flickered ahead of us. I craned my neck to look behind me and found flames following us into our small tunnel.
“This must be the fire portion of the trial,” Leo said, his voice scratchy as he tried to clear his throat. “Normal flames don’t act like this. It’s like it’s leading us to something.”
