With a kiss.
Dyna recoiled. The distress in her body was so great he wanted to die.
“Upon my word, you have nothing to fear from me.”
“Your word?” Her eyes became sharp as the jewels they resembled. “I have already seen what your word is worth.”
He shut his eyes.
“Zev and the others are standing outside.” She nodded to the wooden door beside him. “If I sense even a hint of your compulsion, they will come in here and finish it.”
It was clear from her tone what she meant by that.
He nodded once.
Dyna watched him another second longer, then she took a staggering step towards him, and another until they were inches apart. “I am only doing this to recover what you stole from me. I will despise every second of it.”
His gaze dropped to her lips. “I know.”
Cassiel inwardly quivered at her nearness, taking in the flecks of gold in her irises and the constellation of freckles on her cheeks. She had changed. Her body was lean muscle and an aura of assurance in how she carried herself. The softness that had once been there was gone.
Rising on her toes, Dyna clutched the front of his coat and pressed her mouth to his. He inhaled sharply at the touch, even if it was hard and cold. Sighing, his lips moved over hers slowly. She was stiff and unresponsive, and he mourned the possibility she may never allow this again. His wings gently pulled her closer, and she finally leaned against him. Her arms snaked around his neck, melting into him as if she couldn’t help herself, or perhaps for support.
She kissed him harder. It was wild and crushing and angry. It startled him because he didn’t know she could kiss like that.
The frayed bond trembled, shaking awake. It rejoiced to be near his mate after so long that he didn’t care. He would take any excuse to touch her ... when it may very well be the last time. The thought made the back of his eyes burn.
Cassiel soul searched, and her bright soul did not greet him as it used to. Its green light was dim, nearly swallowed in the darkness. It almost made him stagger to see the damage he had done. Dyna’s nails dug into him, reminding him of her demand. He searched past her soul, coming upon the door of her shield, barred by steel and fire.
He dared not look at what lay there. Cassiel only searched for what he came to do. And he found it. A colossal wall that contained her magic. The barrier had several cracks across it, as though a giant had beaten against it, eager to break free. There was so much anger in each fracture, she eventually would have gotten through.
Because no matter how scared Dyna was, how helpless, or lost, she had a tenacity that didn’t allow her to give up.
White light flared between their lips as Cassiel tore down the barrier brick by brick. Tendrils of green light danced in the edges of his vision as her Essence broke free like a river tearing through a dam. He felt warmthflood her body, coating her soft skin. He wasn’t sure if it was due to her magic returning or because of him.
How he wished it was because of him.
Once the barrier vanished, Dyna wrenched herself off him, stumbling back, both of them panting. Her eyes were wild as she wiped her lips. Her hands shook, her complexion was horribly pale.
Cassiel felt the world tilt. The strength left his legs, and he almost fell back against the wall. But it wasn’t him.
She made a sound before her eyes rolled, and she crumbled to the ground.
“Dyna!” Seraph fire flared at Cassiel’s hands, and the chains snapped clean off. He gathered her small body in his arms, brushing away the single tear rolling down her temple. She had lost too much blood. This was how far she would go to get her magic back?
He buried his face in her neck, feeling like an absolute waste. “I’m sorry.”
Standing, Cassiel gently laid her on the wooden bench before quickly fetching the knife. He sliced open his forefinger and spread his blood over her shallow wounds. The surface of his skin tingled with each touch as the slashes seamlessly healed. He waited, watching her face as he checked her pulse. Dyna’s complexion gradually returned to normal, and her breathing evened out. With his awakened power, it didn’t take long to heal others anymore.
There was a small cut above her eyebrow, but when he reached for it, Dyna’s glowing eyes snapped open.
A blast of Essence hurled him back with a powerful force. He caught himself before he crashed into the wall.
Green light glowed off Dyna’s skin, illuminating her eyes as her magic charged the air. She rose to her feet. “Never again, Cassiel.”
There were so many declarations behind that statement.
Never to heal her.
