I shivered as I left the warmth of the fire and made for my tent, only to find Roan already curled beneath the thick blankets, offering me a warm smile as he spread his arms.
“What’re you doing?” I hissed, quickly getting inside and tugging down the flap before anyone could see.
“Body heat.” His whisper was smug, his smile even more so as he motioned for me to join him. With a sigh I conceded, the warmth too tempting. His shift would be after Rena’s regardless and though she liked to tease us, I knew she’d keep it a secret if she caught him in my tent.
“You’re getting too bold,” I chastised, even as I snuggled into the warmth he offered, smiling as his arms circled me in a tight embrace. The content sigh he let out had my heart clenching as I glanced up. His eyes were closed, giving every opportunity for my eyes to trace the high planes of his cheeks, the soft shape his lips made—nearly a smile—when he was relaxed.
“I couldn’t resist,” he murmured back. “I loathe this quest and being around others all day when I want you all to myself.”
My eyes squinted, a quiet laugh slipping from my lips. “I never would have guessed it when first meeting you, Roan Delmar, but you can be incredibly possessive.”
One of his eyes peeked open, glancing at me with disbelief. “What did you think of me?”
I hummed thoughtfully. “That you were incredibly rude and arrogant. Sinfully handsome, but an absolute ass.”
He smirked. “Sinfully handsome, hm?”
“Oh hush,” I huffed as my smile widened. “I also thought that you absolutely despised me.”
His brow rose, the expression shifting to something more serious as he released his hold on me and rose to an elbow. “I never despised you, Syra.” He gave me a rueful smile. “If anything I was angry with myself. I was tormented by the thought of you from the moment you held that dagger to my throat in the tavern. You plagued my mind, my desires, my every want in a way that no one ever has. I tried to resist you, but it seemed the harder I tried the more I found myself looking for every excuse to catch even a glimpse of you.”
I wanted to return my own declarations. A part of me relished in his affections, the words soothing the rage and hurt buried deep in my heart. Another part though, somewhere deeper and darker within me refused it, shying away from howsurehe seemed. It terrified me and I hated myself for it. So instead, where words failed me, I lifted a hand, gently placing it to his cheek as my thumb traced over the little scar beneath his green eye.
“How did you get this scar?”
His eyes clouded for a second as though his mind was taking him back to a time he didn’t wish to remember. “The day my father died.”
My thumb froze its tracing as he gave a gentle, sad smile. One of reassurance as his hand laid over mine, his own calloused finger brushing against the silver skin of his scar. “The night my father was dragged from our home, I fought against the guards that seized him. One of them struck me with the back of his hand, decorated in rings of gold. It split my skin and I’ve had the scar ever since.”
I didn’t have words to comfort him,I’m sorrysimply wasn’t enough. I always hated when people said it to me after they learned of my parents death. It felt cold. An automatic response that one felt obligated to express. Instead, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to the scar. A gentle kiss, meant to convey the emotion I couldn’t quite put words to.
He tutted quietly, humor attempting to mask the thickness in his voice. “If I’d known sad stories were the trick to your affections I’d have begun sharing my traumas ages ago.”
I grinned, hiding my face in the crook of his neck as his hand came up to lightly stroke my hair.
“Sleep now, little menace.” He murmured, lips pressing to my head. “Our watch shifts will come sooner than we think.”
“Goodnight, Roan.” I felt his smile against my hair.
“Goodnight, Syra.”
Chapter Thirty Eight
The world was one of flame. Tortuously hot as smoke marred the air and burned my eyes. It choked me as I fought to force breath into my lungs. It was all I could see, the reds and oranges of a blazing fire. Darkness curved around me as shadows crawled over my skin and shielded my eyes.
“Have you forgotten already?” They asked. The hissing loud and all-encompassing, no longer within my mind as they echoed in the raging landscape all around.
I couldn’t speak. My voice, my screams were stuck in my throat. All I could feel was flame.
“Have you forgotten what happened that night, little shadow?”
And then I was flying, my body felt as though it were being torn in two through time and space. When it stopped, I heaved. My stomach trying to rid the nausea that overwhelmed me as I clung to cold stone. Silver hair cascading over my shoulders—
Silver hair.
I panicked, stumbling, but the shadows held mein place.
“Watch,” they crooned, dark tendrils turning my head. I knewthis alleyway. Panic surged deep in my chest and I tried to shake from their tight grip, to rip myself from their grasp. “Watch! And see. Remember where it is you came from.”
