Lavinia starts to move toward us, along with two of the crew members, ready to draw their swords, but I shake my head at them over Arina's shoulder.
“I am so sorry. I thought you were going to fight back.” She almost laughs.
“Accidents happen, right? Don't say sorry. Just heal me.”
“I … I—I can't. I don't have the amount of power it would take. I can barely heal a scratch. Oh gods! You're going to die because I'm an idiot.” She's starting to panic, and I need her to knock it off before I pass out from blood loss.
“Arina!” I grunt. “I'm not going to die. Focus. Take a deep breath and just try. I know you can do this.”
Her face turns pale, and I start to wonder if maybe this will be the way I die. She looks around, likely hoping for someone else to come and get her out of this.
“Look at me,” I say, pulling her attention back. “I'm going to pull the dagger out, and you are going to heal me. I trust you. You will not let me die here. Okay?” It's risky. Pulling the dagger will make me bleed more, but leaving it in allows her too much time to think. I need to get her to act.
She meets my eyes, takes another breath, and nods.
“On the count of three, ready?” I ask. “One, two, three…aghhh.” I can't help the scream as I pull the blade out, but it doesn't faze my healer.
Arina
INSTINCT AND MUSCLE memory take over as I pull his shirt up at the same time he removes the dagger.
His blood is thick and dark, almost black against his bronze skin.
I dig down, shocked how deep and full the well of power within me feels. It's just barely out of reach, beneath a thin layer of glass. I plunge through it, shattering the barrier. Magic, unlike anything I've felt, begins to flow heavy and fast from my hands, glowing a bright white.
I push the light deep into the wound, handling it the same way I would when I was unable to see any light at all back home.
Raiden's voice is encouraging me softly, but the words don't fully register as I focus on stitching his tissue back together and closing the wound. I'm careful to ensure the skin is smooth and unscarred.
When I'm done, tears are streaking down my face, and I'm drenched in sweat. I lay my head against his chest, touching the spot where the wound had been.
“I did it. I can't believe it,” I whisper to myself.
I jump a little when Raiden answers, “You did it. I knew you could.” He kisses me gently on my forehead, and heat shoots through me.
The desire to kiss him, to claim him, is overwhelming. I pull back, searching his face for some fucking clue. But his eyes are closed, and I don't know why, but I can't stop myself from reaching to push my hands into his thick hair.
There is an untethered need to kiss him flowing in me, and I give in.
Before our lips have the chance to touch, his eyes snap open, and he reaches a hand up between us to stop me.
My heart sinks from sheer humiliation.
"Arina," he says softly. "We still have more to discuss, little snake."
Arina
Utterly mortified that the ship full of strangers, not to mention Raiden's fucking fiancée, witnessed our spat and his blatant—but justified—rejection, I run to the only place I know to go.
Lavinia's quarters on the ship is probably not the smartest move, especially after all I've just done, but I don't have many other options.
I've just landed face-first on her mattress when the door opens, and Raiden pushes his way into the room, followed by Lavinia who is carrying a tray of food.
I'm about to yell at them to leave, but then I remember this is her room. Her ship. Her fiancé. I keep my mouth shut and roll over to watch them.
They are both laughing, and neither of them seem upset with me in the slightest. Raiden throws himself into one of the oversized chairs at the foot of the bed, and Lavinia sets the tray on the trunk that sits before him like a makeshift table.
I can't help but stare as he pulls a small green sphere from a stem on the tray and pops it lazily into his mouth. He catches me staring at his lips, and a knowing grin spreads across his face.
