With a small smile, Yuki turned and disappeared over the ledge.
45
Rui
A light breeze came through the windows in the infirmary, and the blue flames flickered toward Zizi. But he didn’t move, didn’t even flinch. He wasn’t afraid of her fire.
Wasn’t afraid ofher.
“Does it hurt? Is it burning you?” Zizi asked, still holding her hands away from her body.
Rui shook her head. The flames on her hands were small, a little warm, almost tickling her fingers. “They’re... different this time. It felt like it came from a place of anger on the highway, like a scream in my head. Right now, they’re just... here.”
“This doesn’t make any sense.” Zizi looked confused, but also relieved. “Maybe it’s a sign you’re adapting to them.”
Somehow it didn’t feel that way. Rui shivered, a raw catch in her voice. “What’s wrong with me?”
With no regard for himself, Zizi wrapped her up—fire and all—in his arms.
Rui struggled, but he held firm. “It’s okay, the flames don’t hurt me either, remember?” he assured.
She softened, allowing him to hold her. The steady beat of his heart centered her, and slowly she felt the thing inside her subside.
When she pulled away, the blue flames were gone.
Zizi helped her with her clothes, wrapping his own sweater around her like a scarf. “I’m taking you to your room,” he said, scooping her up in his arms before she could protest. “Grab that, will you?”
She snagged his tank top, but when she reached for his Exorcist coat, he shook his head.
“Leave it.”
“It’s freezing outside.”
“The cold doesn’t bother me much.”
Pressed against his bare chest, Rui directed him to the dormitories, trying not to feel mortified as he carried her across campus. It was late, but several cadets were still around, and they gawked at the half-dressed boy swaggering down the hallways of Xingshan Academy with its star cadet in his arms and a shit-eating grin on his face.
She was never going to live this down.
With the door to her room firmly shut, Zizi settled her onto the bed. His nose was pink, and his skin looked as chilly as she felt. As he pulled on his tank top, Rui stared at the sprawling tattoo of wings on his back. They moved as his muscles tensed.
“Ash said there’s a room for me on campus, but no one bothered to tell me where.” Zizi shrugged. “I’ll stay the night to make sure you’re okay; I’ll be outside your door.”
“If you’re staying, you’re staying in the room.” It would be against the Academy rules, but Rui had already broken so many tonight, she didn’t care anymore. “Ash would be upset if he knew his prized healer was sleeping out in the cold. I don’t want to be responsible for that.”
“Lan Xi does take care of his people,” Zizi admitted with a frown, reluctant to praise the man who’d maneuvered his way into recruiting the mage for the Guild. “We should have a hot shower to warm up.” When Rui stared, Zizi added, “Separately. Get your mind out of the gutter, Rooroo.”
“I wasn’t—” she started to say, then shut her mouth. Zizi grinned as she felt her cheeks burn.
“You can go first,” he said with a gracious gesture.
Rui kicked his shin and he yelped. “I hate you so much,” she said fondly.
“You must be feeling better to kick so hard,” he said, rubbing his leg.
She almost laughed. She wasn’t better. They both knew that.
“I’m too tired. I’ll save the hot shower for morning.” She could barely get under the covers by herself.
