Page 15 of Poison Sun

A cinder.

A witch that can’t use fire magic.

“No,” I say quickly, offended by the accusation.

At the same time, relief floods through me.

He doesn’t know I’m a blood witch.

Technically, he doesn’t know for sure that I’m a witch at all. Because he’s yet to see me use fire magic.

Well, at least there’s an easy solution to that.

Without a word, I stand and move toward the center of the room. Best to not risk burning the book. As I do, I keep my gaze locked on his, excited for the challenge.

Time to show him what I’m made of.

I gather my magic, and the air between my hands and the floor shimmers, heat distorting the space. Then, a spark ignites. Not a simple flame, but a swirling vortex of fire that rises like a serpent from a charmer’s basket. It twists and dances, casting flickering shadows across the walls, illuminating our faces with its warm glow as he gazes upon it in awe.

“This is only a fraction of what I can do.” I keep my voice steady as I control the fiery display, expanding it into the shape of a snake. A cobra ready to attack.

The fire reflects in his eyes, making them appear as if they, too, are glowing with wild energy.

Finally, I close my hands into fists, and the fire implodes into a shower of sparks that disappear before they can touch anything else in the room.

“As you can see,” I say proudly. “I’m no cinder.”

Blaze leans back in his chair, his earlier confidence replaced by admiration. “I stand corrected,” he says. “Your magic is just as fiery as your charming personality.”

I narrow my eyes at him, unsure if he’s being sarcastic or not. I assume he is. I’m a lot of things, but “charming” isn’t one I’ve ever heard before.

Tension hums between us, pulling me closer.

In this moment of shared magic and vulnerability, it would be so easy to tell him the truth of what I am.

But I’ve lived in the shadows for too long, guarding not just my secrets, but those of my sisters. I’m not about to change that just because an insanely attractive guy with eyes that feel like they’re burning into my soul is looking at me in a way no one ever has before.

I don’t have to share my secret simply because he shared his with me.

Plus, I’m still processing the fact that there are blood witches in the world other than me and my sisters.

Why have I never seen this in my visions? How have Blaze and his family remained hidden for so long? What more can they do that he’s not showing me?

So many questions… and there’s only one place I know of in this moment where I can find answers.

“Enough about me,” I say, keeping my tone light. “We have a book to read. And, from what I’ve seen of it so far, it’s going to be quite the dense one.”

“I wouldn’t know,” he says simply. “I’ve never read it.”

It takes me a few seconds to process that one.

“You’ve never read it?” I repeat. “Why not?”

It’s not a question—it’s an accusation.

How can someone have all this knowledge at their fingertips and not bother learning it? How can he not care?

He shrugs, a shadow casting itself over his features, and I worry I’ve closed off the connection between us.

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