She wanted to laugh, wanted to cry, did a little of both.
“Now what?Now what!”he demanded.
“Yes, yes.Next steps.”What were they?She’d never gotten this far herself.“Now, you coax it some more.You did so well, getting the heat to come to you.”
“I’m irresistible, what can I say.”
“Well do the same now.Don’t let the heat see the devil in you.It might run away, and I won’t blame it.”
He laughed.“But how do I know what shape?”
“Put the key in the keyhole.”Shaking, she touched the lock on her side of the door.“Here.Help the iron find the shape, fill the hole.”
His smile was wicked and bright.“I’m an expert at filling holes.”
“Oh, do stop.Focus.”
He blinked several times and shook his head, the wicked and wild falling away, leaving only a cold and sober stare.His hands trembled, too, as he stretched long, elegant fingers toward the lock, orange iron held firmly between them.The pin of the key entered the lock up to its shaft, and Sybil held her breath.
The key glowed hotter, yellow now.
“There,” she breathed.“Don’t lose concentration.”
“Then stop distracting me,” he bit out.
“Don’t fight it.Let it go where it wishes.You only want to please it.”
“I’m quite familiar with the concept, but I’ve never seduced a key before.I can’t see the shape it needs to take.How do I know?”
“You’re trying to force it!”
“That’s what Stone does.”
She growled.“Don’t worry about Stone.”
The key darkened to orange.
“You’re losing the heat!”She grasped the bars on either side of the lock.
He slammed his eyes closed, a guttural sound of frustration vibrating in his throat.
The key darkened from orange to red.
“No, no, no,” she whispered.
“Goddamn it.”He pulled the now black key out of the lock.It was no longer a key but a shaft that narrowed to a point on one end like a large needle.
“Try again!”
He held the key up, seemingly unable to look away.“I had it.That was… more than I’ve ever done before.I’ve been at this an entire bloody year, and I’ve never… Not until…” His gaze slid toward her.“Well damn, princess.”
“Try again!Stone could arrive at any moment.”
“I don’t think I can.”He wrapped his arms around him, shivered.All the red that had once pooled in his cheeks had drained away.He was left looking pale and exhausted.If he’d never done that before, he wouldn’t be able to do it again.Not right now.He’d need to rest first.
But his tired face still somehow managed a smile.“Don’t worry.I’ll still rescue you.A thank you for being a better teacher than your betrothed is.”He crowded the door, slipped the key once more into the lock.
“What are you doing?”she asked.
