Page 32 of When Storms Ruin

“You scared me. I thought I was alone.” My voice broke the silence, but not the tension.

“Not my intention, I apologize.” Nik leaned against the kitchen peninsula, a lock of blond hair falling across his forehead.

“You’re awfully quiet…” I turned towards him fully, gripping the counter behind me.

“Shadow magic, remember?” He smirked as a shadow curled around his raised hand, slinking down his arm before disappearing under the sleeve of his shirt.

I thought that seeing the shadows would bring on the same terror I had experienced when Donika had tortured me, when she had killed all those innocent people. Instead, I felt a warmth bloom in my chest that I couldn’t explain.

Maybe not all shadow magic was inherently dark.

“Is there any wine in this Godforsaken place?” I asked, glancing around the kitchen and trying not to meet his gaze.

“Diana Barnes…I amshocked.” He raised an eyebrow at me, a smile in his eyes. “Is that what you were down here rummaging for?”

“I’m not Diana Barnes. Not anymore…” I trailed off, avoiding his gaze.

“Well then, Ms.Kotova, let me make a deal with you. I will procure the wine you seek…if you’ll eat dinner with me.”

I hesitated, gripping the counter behind me tightly enough that my knuckles turned white. It was only dinner…what was the harm in that, right?

As if reading my thoughts, Nik cleared his throat before he spoke.

“It’s just dinner—I’m not asking you to marry me. Have dinner with me, wine included. You can’t very well drink on an empty stomach,” he pointed out.

I met his gaze, and there was a challenge in his eyes.

I could do dinner. It wasjustdinner. Besides, he was right. I hadn’t eaten…and Isaac’s training session had left me famished.

I bit my lip. I never said no to a challenge.

“Deal.”

He stood, coming around the counter to search through the cabinet under the sink. He glanced up at me, his arms resting on his knees as he knelt, and I hadn’t realized how close we were until his gaze locked with mine.

“Do you know how to start a fire?” he asked, eyes locked on mine.

“Do you?” I asked, internally cursing myself for how petty I sounded.

“You know I do.” His eyes smoldered, and I glanced away quickly, regretting opening my mouth in the first place.

“Of course I do,” I replied, moving towards the fireplace in the living room.

“Not with magic,” he called over his shoulder. I could hear bottles clinking together as he moved them around. “This place is only warded for location spells, not storm magic. If you use any storm magic outside the meadow, they might be able to track you.”

“Then no, I don’t know how to start a fire.” I crossed my arms over my chest and pouted, despite my back facing towards him.

He laughed softly, and I could feel the sound crawling over my skin, leaving sparks in its wake. I hated that he still had that effect on me. That I knew exactly where he was, even without turning around. He placed a glass jug on the counter and came around me, kneeling before the grate to start the fire with his own magic.

“I can cook,” I offered, the flames quickly licking against the wood in the fireplace.

The fire cast the room in a warm orange glow, and the heat was pleasant against my tingling skin.

“I know you can, but I want to cook for you,” he replied, rising to his feet.

He was so close I could see the reflection of the flames flickering in his eyes, and despite my body telling me the exact opposite, I took a step back.

“You know how to cook?” I asked. It was my turn to raise an eyebrow.

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