Page 160 of A Dance of Water

The bed dipped as Bastian settled beside her. His coolness made her shiver, but she still leaned into him, feeling cracked open and shattered, desperate for him. The threads were weak inside her, slowly reaching out with lazy distress.

The rain was so loud outside the walls of the castle that it hurt her ears.

From her other side, Az gently took her hand, forcing her fingers to uncurl as he smoothed his rough fingertips over the marks. "Lu," he tsked. "You’re too special to hurt." He was without chains or a muzzle now, and the sound of his voice washed over her.

She hummed, head thunking against his thick arm. She was lying nestled in her bed between him and Bastian—the others were there, she felt them, the way the threads whispered in her soul, broken edges begging to be made whole.

She reached up with a weak hand to skim a finger over her blindfold, angry at her past self for making such a wicked bargain. But the memory of power, all-consuming and… andright… it filled her very marrow with a strength she had no idea she was ever even able to possess. It had felt as easy as breathing to her—until she had overused it. Like a muscle that wasn’t worked often. She just needed to train more, train harder.

Next time, she could be even better.

There will be no next time, pet. Not now.Bastian’s fingers danced over the back of her hand.

No, she projected the thought to him.

She turned her head away from the vampire, searching for Tharen in the darkness of her sightlessness. If Bastian would not help her, she knew the mage would.

"T-Tharen, I want to go again," she breathed.

The tension in the room grew.

It was not Tharen, but the King who responded: "Absolutely not, Luella. You are in no condition to put yourself through that again."

"But I… I can," she implored. "Please. I just need to rest for a bit, but I’m okay." Az grumbled beside her, the sound vibrating through her from how she was pressed so close to him. "I’ll be okay," she hastened to add.

"You almost died," Graves muttered.

She turned her head to him, trying to ignore the twinge in her neck from the small movement. "I was fine until I… used too much power but"—she was breathless, words coming out low and disjointed—"I just need to practice."

"No," Tharen snapped.

Az and Bastian both held her tighter at the anger in the mage’s tone. Her brows furrowed sleepily as she tried to keep track of everything going on.

"What do you mean,no?" she asked. "You won’t h-help me?"

"I meanno, that’s not it," said the Prima. She heard his footsteps, loud on the delicate floors and soft plush rugs thrown about the room. "That’s not it. You almost died because you refuse to give in."

Luella shifted on the plush mattress, the action pressing her closer to Az. "I don’t understand," she all but begged.

She heard the faintest crackle of fire from the lit fireplace; she could still feel the intense flames licking against her skin. The magic of Ignis was not one she liked. Not at all. She wanted to stay far, far away from that part of her power.

"Explain it to her," said Vale. "Before I do something drastic."

"Like what?" Bastian shot back. His voice was a sensuous purr rumbling throughout her.

A loud hiss echoed throughout the room, like fire sizzling on rocks—or the sound of a hissing dragon poised to attack. "Like take her away and burn you all to the ground so you won’t stop me." His voice was garbled, low, and menacing. Luella stilled, terror making her throat close up.

She wished she could see. Blinded, the tension only felt sharper, prickling against her skin like the cool tip of a steel blade.

"Fine," Tharen spat, boots thumping.

Az growled quickly, fingers tightening to the point of pain on her already battered body. She winced, and Bastian soothed her with a low, "Stop squirming, pet." To the demon, he said, "You’re hurting her."

Az’s fingers loosened only slightly. The growls didn’t relent.

Icy tendrils wrapped around her, crisp air and frigid malice. She shrank back against the pillows.

"Not so fast, Princess," Tharen taunted. And then he grabbed her arms roughly and tugged her away from Bastian and Az. The demon growled; Bastian placated him, tone hard even though he was trying to play peacemaker.

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