“Okay, that’s pretty straightforward. So, demons, witches... anything else I should know about?”
“Oh, there’s plenty,” I say, my voice thick with mock sincerity. I know she catches the flash of my fangs. Surprise flickers across her face, quickly giving way to certainty. Avilyna opens her mouth, interrogation painted all over her, but I cut her off.
“Nope, not tonight. It’s late, we’re both filthy, and my top priority right now is getting you to the Institute in one piece. So, unless you’re planning on sharing a bath with me to speed things up, I suggest we cut this little chat short.”
She pouts, crossing her arms over her chest, clearly not thrilled with the answer. I flash her my most obnoxious grin, fully aware it’ll likely piss her off more, but damn if I don’t enjoy watching that fire flare up. The alternative is to let the shadows creep back into her eyes, and I know that look alltoowell. With that, I turn toward the stairs, ready to get a hot bath. But just before I take the first step, I hear Avilyna.
“Wait...” I stop, already bracing for whatever’s next.
“What now?”
“Can I watch?” My eyebrows shoot up, caught off guard. Her cheeks flush as she rushes to clarify.
“The spell. I meant the spell, can I?” She bites her bottom lip, and my attention zeroes in on the gesture.
“Sure,” I say, distracted.
The rituals are mostlythe same, but this time, I don’t need any herbs, since the water is from Kvirr.
“Cha.” Instantly, the air thickens, heavy with moisture.
“Do you think I can do that too?” Avilyna asks, staring at the hot water, the warm light dancing in the ripples.
“Try.”
“How?”
I shrug, “You just need to visualize the intention behind the spell. Then, find something that connects to it. Something natural, not man-made, that’s the key. After that, you speak theGods’ words.”
“Um… okay,” she says softly, shifting her weight to her left knee as she kneels closer to the bath, glancing down hesitantly.
“Sayfuar. It’ll make the water cold.” She lifts her tanned arm, slow and graceful, fingers spreading as her palm hovers just above the surface. Candlelight plays across her skin, turning it to liquid gold.
“Fuar,”she breathes, the word barely a whisper. A gust of cold air sweeps through the room like a phantom, snuffing out half the candles in a single exhale. Our breath curls in the sudden chill. When I dip my hand into the bath, the water is icy. I glance at her, suspicion creeping into my voice.
“Whoareyou?”
If her dad’s Theo Rey, there’s a good chance she’s a lycan. But I’d have smelled that by now. It's anchored deep in us, part of our being to recognize our own. Maybe her mom’s a witch. Could that be why she hasn’t awakened yet? I haven't noticed any mark that shimmers when she speaks theGods’words. Yet there’s something in the way she moves, soinstinctual. It’s not something you just learn. She’s either hiding something, which makes her dangerous… Or she hasn’t fully awakened yet.
And if that’s the case…
I can tell she’s gonna be a force to reckon with. My eyes narrow, sharper now. Avilyna blinks at me, looking confused.
“What do you mean?”
“Have you ever noticed any marks on your body?” I ask instead.
“Like birthmarks?”
"Kinda, it appears when you’re reborn..." Avilyna either has no clue what I'm talking about, or she's a hell of an actress. The annoyance on her face is unmistakable. The barely-contained frustration is telling me I'm pushing the last bit of patience she’s got. I need to figure out who she is, or more so,whatshe is.
One thing I’ve learned?
Danger’s always closer than you think.
"It's evident you possess an affinity with Kvirr… Not exactly something an average human can do. So, what, your mom’s a witch or something?" I watch her freeze, brow furrowing as my question takes her off guard. Her lips press together tightly before she speaks.
“I don’t know. She and my brother died in a fire when I was 8.” There’s something unreadable in her eyes, haunting. Buried deep inside her, that echoes with my own ghosts.
