“What?”
“Your life. You hated it.” I speak from some raw place—not logic, just feeling—as I sense the turmoil she’s trying to bury. My eyes narrow, drawn to the tangled storm of emotions blazing in our bond.
Her lip trembles, her silver eyes spilling mercury. “What do you know?” She jabs a finger at my chest, her voice quivering between fury and hurt. “You’re just a dumb bore. You don’t know shit about me!”
“I hate you, Dracoth, you—big, fucking—bastard!” she yells, and in that moment, I feel it—a surge through our bond. Her silver flame ignites, crashing into my crimson one like a storm meeting a wildfire.
Together, they mingle and dance in their fury, hatred, and bitter disappointment. Princesa gasps, her eyes glowing with swirling hues of silver and crimson. But it’s the glow from the scorched band across her chest that seizes my attention—molten lava, cutting through her leathers and furs like the boiling magma that runs through my veins.
“Your chest—” My words are torn from my lips as a savage, unseen force smashes me into the icy wall behind. Agony sears through me like the biting cold as I struggle to understand.
Her power...
My fists pound against the shimmering silver barrier, but it holds. The translucent wall crackles with energy, pulsing with her hatred. I meet her gaze, seeing the glint in her churning eyes, the smirk curling her plump lips.
“What’s the matter, big boy?” she mocks, her tone dripping with sadism. “Don’t like it when someone bullies you?” She raises her hand and the silver barrier presses in tighter. The wall of ice behind me creaks as my armor groans, pushing into my molten flesh.
“Remember when you locked us in that cell? When you chained me like a fucking dog?” Her voice sharpens, spitting venom. Yet I barely register her words as the blood roars in my ears, my lungs screaming for air.
My muscles bulge, tendons taut like arcweave beams as I push back against her crushing power. The ice behind me begins to fracture, crumbling under the pressure, creating enough space to breathe a single lungful of crisp air before she smirks again.
“Not so fast,” she taunts, waving her hand. Another barrier slams into me from behind, clamping into the first one. A grunt tears from my strained throat.
I feel her elation—her joy at my suffering through the bond, a twisted reflection for her broken soul.
“If you say sorry, I might let you go...” Her smile twists into something darker. “Maybe.”
I will die before I bow again, feeling only the reddest fury coursing through my veins. Arawnoth blazes within my soul. His presence flares, urging me to incinerate her, to sear her soft flesh to ash.I could... My hands blaze with fire. Yet I emit only the faintest flames, hovering them close to her skin, just enough to be painful.
“What in Arawnoth’s name—” Princesa flinches in pain, her eyes darting to the ring of flames encasing her like bars of molten fire. “Stop this, Dracoth, or I swear I’ll pop your stupid, boring head.” She sneers.
I feel the pain I’m causing her reflected at me through the bond. The twisted irony only fuels my manic laughter. I intensify the flames, watching with pleasure as sweat beads down her pale face.
“Show me the depths of your resolve, Princesa,” I hiss, the words seething through the pressure crushing my chest.
“My name’s not fucking Princesa!” she screeches, waving her trembling hands, the crushing force tightening around me. My armor groans, protesting against my molten skin. “You bastard!”
My eyes bulge as I flex my muscles, fighting for any nanometer of space to breathe. Yet she suffers under her own torments, falling to one knee, panting heavily.
“You think you know suffering?” I rasp, stoking the embers that surround her higher, savoring the searing pain being reflected to me. “It’s what birthed my great people. It fuels me. Unlike you weak, pathetichumans.” I spit the last word like a curse. “I saved you from your life of misery. It was I who taught you pain, who gave you power!”
“Shut up!” Her eyes snap to mine, wet with tears that soon evaporate before my furious heat. “I... I...” Her words trail offas her eyes roll back, and in an instant, the crushing forces surrounding me blink out of existence.
I extinguish my numerous flames and rush to catch her before she hits the harsh, dripping ice. She feels impossibly light and soft in my arms, belying the unending storm of chaos and trouble she exudes.
I project my molten powers into the fire pit, flames roaring to life in the frozen cavern, casting a warm glow over the crystalline walls. The heat is a welcome change to this land of burning frost. I tuck Princesa beneath the furs, brushing a strand of golden hair from her clammy face.
What am I to do with this maddening female?
Chapter 40
Alexandra
Change
Idriftintoadreamstate, my body bathed in the warmth of endless flames, like sinking into a scalding bath after a day caked in sweat and grime.
I love it!
