“They can’t report anything. You burned them to ash.”
“One of them.” His gaze snaps back to mine. “There was another. Watching from the ridge. He escaped before I could reach him.”
Shit.
“So they know I’m here.” I process this. “They know I’m a Fire-Bringer. And they know you’re protecting me.”
“Yes.”
“Which means leaving won’t actually help, will it?” I cross my arms. “If they know what I am, they’ll find me wherever I go. At least here, I have you. And apparently, your warrior brothers.”
Something complicated moves across his face. “That’s?—”
“Logical? Reasonable? A valid point that you can’t argue with?”
“Infuriating.” The word comes out on a growl. “You’re infuriating.”
“Right back at you, Guardian King.” I match his glare with one of my own. “You’re controlling, overbearing, and you have the communication skills of a brick wall. But you saved my life today, so I’m willing to overlook some of your personality defects if you’re willing to treat me like an adult capable of making her own decisions.”
We stand there. Glaring. Breathing hard. The air between us feels charged, electric, like the moment before a lightning strike.
“You’re impossible.” His voice is rough.
“You’re insufferable.”
“Reckless.”
“Controlling.”
“Stubborn.”
“Arrogant!”
I spin away from him. Need to move. Need to put distance between us before I do something stupid like close the gap instead of widening it.
I make it two steps before his hand closes around my wrist.
Heat.
It shoots up my arm—not the ambient warmth of his skin, but something deeper. Electric. It races through my veins, straight to my core, igniting nerve endings I didn’t know I had.
I gasp. He inhales sharply. Neither of us moves.
My heartbeat thunders in my ears. My skin tingles where his fingers wrap around my wrist—five points of blazing contact that feel like brands. When I turn to face him, his expression has changed. The anger is still there, but underneath it... something raw. Something hungry.
His pupils have dilated. His breathing is uneven. That glow is back behind his irises, and this time it doesn’t fade.
We’re standing so close. When did we get this close? I can feel his breath on my face. Can count the individual flecks of light in his eyes. Can see his pulse jumping in his throat.
Kiss him,something whispers in my head.Close the distance. Find out if he tastes as good as he smells.
“What—” My voice comes out hoarse. I clear my throat. “What was that?”
“Nothing.” His voice is rough. Strained. As if he’s fighting something. “Forget it.”
But his hand is still on my wrist. His thumb brushes across my pulse point, and another wave of heat rolls through me, pooling low in my belly.
“Didn’t feel like nothing.” I should step back. Should put distance between us. Should do literally anything except stand here drowning in his heat and his scent and the impossible electricity arcing between our skin.
