Page 19 of A Blaze of Fire
“It’s my job, Lady Violet,” Rosemary argued innocently.
I shook my head. “No. Take that out of your job description right now. I refuse to let you risk your life like that. Got it?”
Rosemary thought about it for a moment and then nodded. “Okay.”
“Good.” I pointed to the unconscious Unseelie lying on the ground. “Now I guess we should go back to my room before these guys wake up.”
Rosemary giggled. “Good idea.”
10
VIOLET
The next day, I didn’t see Alec. I hadn’t seen him since the blow-up at the dining hall with Sage and I was starting to worry. He couldn’t bethatupset … right? Unfortunately, I didn’t have much time to dwell on it because my training was scheduled to start that morning and luck was not on my side. First up was Kazimir, whom I’d been told to meet in the courtyard after breakfast.
I barely managed to do more than nibble a piece of bread to soothe my racing nerves. Just thinking about coming face-to-face with my sperm donor and actually spending time with him made my stomach think about planning a revolt. And this time, Alec wouldn’t be there to be our mediator.
Rosemary and Rook escorted me to a courtyard located in the center of the castle in an area I hadn’t visited yet. When we arrived, Kazimir was already there waiting for me. Rosemary and Rook stayed behind at a safe distance where they could watch from the balcony.
When I approached, there was no warmth in his demeanor. He was frigid and cold. Instead of being a fire elemental, he should’ve been an ice elemental.Sheesh.
He glanced at his watch and snapped, “You’re two minutes late.”
“Well, you only saidafter breakfast; I didn’t think there was a specific time,” I replied lamely, coming to a stop before him.
“In the Unseelie Court, there’s always a specific time, and time is always of the essence. So let’s not waste it.” He started to pace in a circle around me, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. “Have you been able to produce fire yet?”
I shook my head. “No.”
His voice slithered, “That means you’re weak.”
“What?” I whirled on him. “I’m not weak!”
“Yet you’ve had the anklet off for over a week and still … nothing,” he taunted. “If you can’t produce anything, youknowwhat the King will do,” he insinuated as he continued his infuriating circle around me.
My heart raced. I knew what he was implying. If I didn’t show improvement, it was lights out for me. The King would have me killed, and no doubt the man before me would be the one to do it.
“I wonder how he’ll kill you,” Kazimir whispered in my ear, his minty breath stirring the hair that fanned my face. “The King has a tendency to behead, but with you, I think he’ll do something a little more special.”
“Stop!” I yelled, shoving him away and closing my eyes.
A beat of silence, then, “Well … that didn’t take very long,” Kazimir noted dryly.
I opened my eyes and saw him staring at me … particularly my hand. I looked down and noticed with a start that a small flame flickered out of the tip of my pointer finger. I held my hand up in front of my face and gaped at it with my mouth wide open.
“Is … is this me or you?”
“That isyourfire … As minuscule as it may be, it’s something.” He shrugged.
“How?” I looked at Kazimir, disbelieving.
“Emotion,” he answered simply.
I frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“The easiest way to jump start someone’s magic is to get them riled up. It was pretty easy to do, even without knowing your weaknesses.”
The fire extinguished when I realized what he said. It was exactly what Alec had warned me about.
