It was like hugging a frozen corpse.
The world fell out from under me, dropping me into the grave I didn’t want.
A thundering roar gathered in the pavilion.
The walls creaked and the floorboards blackened—lacquer blistered and beams bowed like melting wax. The air flexed as I lost to the inferno that wantedout.
Whisper tucked his tail, baring his fangs at my childhood room as it started to melt and warp and drip.
“Rook.” I clutched her closer, pressing my forehead to her temple,beggingher to help. Why wasn’t it working? Hadn’t her presence always eased me? Even when she was unconscious in Cinderkeep, she’d made a difference.
If I held her tighter, embraced her harder...it would work.
It has to work.
“Rook.” I shook her like a madman as smoke started to spiral from my collar. “Open your eyes.Pleaseopen your eyes.”
Whisper lost his ever-loving mind. Driving his massive head against my shoulder, he shoved me against the pillar, his raspy tongue dragging painfully across my cheek as if he could lick the fire out of me.
“I know,” I choked. “I know.”
I hissed as heat stacked on top of heat—pain compressing into something sharp and furious.
I felt as if I was about toignite.
My lungs no longer wanted air.
My heart no longer pumped blood.
The room recoiled away from me, walls bowing and air turning thick with smoke as the furniture started to smoulder.
I had to go.
I couldn’t stay here.
I’d end up killing Whisper and Rook the moment I took my final breath.
Glancing down at her slack beautiful face, I stiffened as the ice that I’d begged to save me wrapped her in a death shroud instead. Frost jewelled her lashes, her hair dusted white—her skin glittering with perfectly formed snowflakes like blue-white tattoos.
Shaking, I ran my fingertips over her filigree-flaked skin. My hand was hot enough to burn the very foundations of my quarters, yet it didn’t leave a single mark on her. Didn’t melt a single snowflake.
She seized in my arms, her back bowing as a blizzard detonated free. It shot into me like the best kind of breeze, blowing out the agonising fire...just for a second.
I trembled as I shifted her on my lap and groaned as her weight brushed against my hardness that refused to abate.
For one terrible, selfish heartbeat, another black thought came.
If I stayed...if I touched her,tookher...
Could she save me?
If I betrayed her in the worst possible way and slept with her while she was unconscious, could I stay alive long enough to beg for forgiveness?
The idea repulsed me even as it tempted.
Whisper growled, policing me and following my despicable thoughts.
“You know I’d never,” I snapped as cracks shot over the ceiling, sending plaster dust all over us. The light fractured. Shadows tore loose from their corners, crawling toward me.
