“Did you undress me?” I asked slowly, dumbly. Raf shifted and I felt his hard abdominal muscles press against me. It sent a wave of warmth down my spine as I realized…Was he naked too?
I gasped, trying to scramble away from him to no avail. It was like trying to run straight after being spun in circles. My mind was dull, while my body felt woozy… clumsy. I flopped in his lap, creating friction, making things so much worse, as the crest of my cheeks burned.
I stared at the dusting of dark, curly hair on his chest, beyond mortified, as I fought a terrible impulse to run my fingers through it.
What was wrong with me?What would Galen think if he saw us like this? My heart drummed wildly as I waited for an explanation, shooting an accusatory glare at Raf.
“You were hypothermic. Skin to skin is the fastest way to warm someone. Don’t worry, I didn’t see anything—I was too busy trying to save your life,” he said irritably. He didn’t even look apologetic.
I envisioned him tearing away my frost-coated clothing and felt hot blood surge down my limbs. What was theoppositeof hypothermic? Because I was pretty sure I was now in the process of overheating.
“I almost burnt out?” I asked, gripping his biceps determinedly as I steadied myself, trying to push out of his arms. He didn’t bother assisting as I rocked awkwardly, attempting to propel myself as far away from him as possible.
“Youdidburn out. You’re lucky to be alive. I didn’t know I was dealing with someone as stubborn and stupid as me. Luckily, you’re a healer and your body fought back. Not everyone would’ve survived the stunt you pulled.”
I almost bit out a snide remark, but instead I sank back into him, defeated and exhausted. “I got swept up in the magic. It channeled my feelings into something tangible. I have so much moreangerinside of me than I realized… It was such a rush. I-I couldn’t stop.”
He sighed. “It has happened to all of us. Magic can possess us if we aren’t careful. I’m sorry it happened during our first lesson together, but itwasan important lesson to learn. You can’t let your emotions fuel your magic. It’s why Louis has you meditating and strength training. Youmustbe stronger, in bodyandmind. Each element heightens different emotions—feeds off them.
“My shadows try to convince me that I need no one. They'd pull me into the darkness forever if I let them. And if earth magic had its way, it would root its way into my body and absorb the life right from me. It’s the cost of magic. You can’t ever become complacent.”
“I’m sorry for losing control—for scaring you.”
He brought his hand towards my hair as if to stroke it, hesitated, then placed it back down. “I hope you’ll consider still training with me. I promise to take better care of you next time.”
I responded by launching out of his arms and tumbling onto the carpeted floor. I felt more liquid than solid, but managed to pull myself into a sitting position next to him. We sat side by side, facing the fireplace on a thick, patterned rug. I stared at it as I pulled the blankets tightly around myself, avoiding eye contact.
Raf stood up, tossing a blanket around his bare shoulders as he clinked around his small kitchen. After some time, he handed me a steaming cup of tea, sweetened with a generous dollop of honey. Averting my eyes, I stared at my drink as if my life depended on it. I blew on it, letting the scalding liquid slide down my cracked throat, trying desperately to think of anything besides the imposing half-naked male sitting beside me.
After a few sips, I responded, “I want to keep training with you.” I paused, finding the next words difficult. “But you should know, Galen and I are spending time together… and he treats me well. So you don’t need to protect me from him. Weallneed to work together if we’re to take down the Elders.”
“Understood,” he said gruffly. “I’ll try to stay out of the way. Maybe find a place more private than the library next time.” His thorny tone pricked me, drawing blood, like the black rose he’d given me not long ago.
“He can’t know aboutthis.”I waved my hands to emphasize the unfamiliar room we were in—the lack of clothing.
“If he treats you so well, then why do you feel the need to hidethisfrom him?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Because you attacked himdaysago and everyone has their limits.” We stared each other down in an apparent battle of wills. “Where are we,Rafael?”
He cringed before saying, “We’re at the Siren Inn… A brothel.”
I stood up in horror, trying to steady myself. “Howdareyou bring me here!”
If Ophelia found out about this—the scandal it would cause. I took a deep breath… I was in Nymera. Things were different here.
He jumped up to support me, his hands on my waist. “Let me explain, I have an apartment here—”
I cut him off. “You’re such a frequent customer that you haveyour own apartment!” I blanched. Pig. Rakishpig.
He chuckled, rubbing the nape of his neck. “I don’t sleep with the women here—they’re like family to me. Do you really think I need topayfor sex?” He gave me a dubious look that caused my pulse to race. “I live here because the women who work here were friends with my mother. The humans that knew her are gone, but the Fae workers remain. They took me in so often in my youth, I eventually leased a room. It’s a retreat from the castle. The workers pass useful information to me… whispers they hear from their clients. Like I told you before, one of them tipped me off about the Elders—a personal guard got too drunk with one of them and divulged information.”
“The intimacy of pillow talk extends toprostitutes?”
“Of course. They’re not that different than you and I; they were just born into different circumstances. Most of the people working here are intelligent, kind, and willing to risk their lives to fight for what’s right. I owe themmylife more than once over. Clashes with the Queen, with Galen—I’d be dead if I hadn’t had a place to escape to.”
“I see.” I chewed my lip.
He’d needed a hideout from Galen? How far back did their rivalry go? “How is your mother connected to the brothel?” I asked.
