“Burn through it?” Zayn asked, and I smiled to myself as he looked so adorably curious, and it was cutting through his anger and hostility toward Vaxan.
“I can protect myself for a time while you stabilize your power,” Vaxan told him, and then Zayn and I both watched in awe as scales materialized on the hand that Vaxan held up toward Zayn with his glowing power.
Zayn, entranced, snapped his right palm up and called his pink flame.
“Closer,” Vaxan said, as he held steady.
Zayn’s gaze was intense as it locked on his.
Then he closed the distance until his flame touched Vaxan’s power.
A deep groan escaped Zayn.
Vaxan hissed and I winced as I saw Zayn’s fire flaming wilder and burning across Vaxan’s scales, threatening to penetrate the protective layer. It was already making char marks as it was.
“We are working together, not against one another,” Vaxan reminded him. “You are not my prey, despite you trying to demonstrate that you wish me to be yours.”
“I don’t,” Zayn muttered. “I don’t think about hunting or pursuing you at all.”
“If that’s how you wish to play it, so be it.”
Zayn grunted. “Shut up. Just shut the fuck up.”
I went to intervene, but in the next moment, Zayn’s flame calmed.
Substantially.
It was no longer attacking Vaxan’s hand. Instead, it was gliding alongwithVaxan’s magic.
“Yes,” I breathed. “You’re doing it!”
A huge smile spread over Zayn’s face. “I am. It’s happening.” He pursed his lips as he eyed Vaxan. “Withyou,though, which puts a bit of a downer on it.”
Vaxan’s lips quirked. “As I said, if you wish to play it that way.”
As Zayn glared at him, Vaxan urged me closer. “He’s ready now. Fashion your animation.”
“Thanks,” I told him. “And… I also meant to thank you for what you did at the party, helping me out the way you did.”
“You are most welcome.” He eased his palm back, just as he guided mine forward and I called my glacial magic, a mutual groan escaping me and Zayn as our magic glided together again. “Give it two minutes for stabilization on his part, then return to your elemental Chill Blast.”
Before I could respond with more than just a nod, he was gone, and back over talking with Christalyn, just as the professor arrived over there to evaluate their work.Whoa.They’d made a gorgeous gold and yellowy-green tree together with intricate branches and tiny birds flying around it.
“Want to make an animated waterfall made of fire and ice?” Zayn asked me, all enthusiastic and confident now.
I grinned. “Sounds awesome. Let’s do it,hellion.”
“Brace yourself,icicle.”
7
~Evira~
“Wow,” Zayn breathed, taking in my dorm room. “I’ve got a couple of friends here who have these giant suites, but it’s still always a surprise when I step into one. The size difference, a whole seating area, even the décor being fancier.” His gaze flicked to mine. “So, what’s the deal with this? How’d you end up with it?”
“It’s not because I’m Crown Heir,” I basically snapped.
He held up his hands. “Message received. I never suggested that.”
