Page 71 of A Dance With Fire
“Eyes on me,” he growled low. Low enough that she could pick up the words, but they were oblivious to the human.
She hitched in a breath and understanding flashed through her golden-brown depths.
“He’s taking me to the emperor!” Shula shouted, her voice firm. “He’s not going to hurt me!”
“Shut up!” he hissed, jerking her back. In doing so, he sliced at her skin and she whimpered.
Ryker knew then that if the emperor wanted her, this human wasn’t going to kill her. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t hurt her to get what he wanted, to save his own ass and get the both of them out of there.
Ryker didn’t have any powers to save her, and Clay… He was staring at Ryker as if waiting for direction.
“We need him,” Ryker whispered so only Clay could hear.
It was a command to stand down. Ryker’s rule didn’t supersede Clay’s, and yet Clay listened and took a step back.
“Why does the emperor want her?” Clay demanded.
The human scoffed. “Wouldn’tyoulike to know? Now fuck off. I’m taking her or she loses body parts.”
Shula tried leaning away from the blade, but he held her too tightly. “No!” she screamed. Despite everything, she fought. Her legs kicked out, flailing as hard as her weakened body would allow her. “Let go of me, you bastard!”
But he was already pulling her away. Back further and further until he reached the line of trees.
The air behind the human shimmered and another step back had him ramming straight into Uric’s chest.
The human barely had time to react. Uric was already wrapping his forearm around the human’s throat and Julius appeared next to him, yanking at his arm to pull the sword away. With a single squeeze, Julius broke the human’s wrist.
His cries rang out through the camp, and the minute his hold on the Fire Dancer loosened, her bare feet hit the ground in a wobbly sprint and Ryker was running, meeting her half way. Not once did her gaze stray from his as she collided against his chest. Like he was her protection. Like she somehow felt safe near him.
He couldn’t fathom it, and the move shocked him. His fingers grabbed her chin and tilted her head up.
“Orna…” Her voice trembled.
“I know.”
Tears swelled in her eyes, and Ryker pressed his palm to her chest. Her clothes were mere scraps, hanging on by simple, charred threads and she didn’t even realize it. He laid his palm against her collarbones, his skin smearing the blood from her wound.
“Do not move, Fire Dancer,” he barked.
And he let his magic heal her.
* * *
A warm tinglespread through Shula’s neck, and the stinging pain and lethargy that had pulled at her whole body suddenly was gone.
Having his hand pressed to her skin spread heat through her that had nothing to do with his magic. Like a key falling into its corresponding lock, their eyes held. For a single second, everything faded away, including the pain.
A moment later it was gone as Ryker jerked away with a growl and stared down at her with such anger and hatred burning in his eyes. As if this had all been her fault. It was a look she was already growing accustomed to, but she still couldn’t fathom how his expression could change so instantaneously.
With the spell broken, she turned away from him and all the sorrow came rushing back. Her legs gave out from beneath her, and she dropped to her knees next to Orna’s body.
All the heartbreak came crashing back into her body. The impact had her gasping as sobs wracked through her. Her ash-and-blood covered hand trembled as she reached out to cup her friend’s cold face.
“I’m sorry, Orna…”
A strangled sound escaped her lips, and the tears fell down her cheeks. It had been so long she felt since she last cried, and they spilled freely now. Her sorrow and heartbreak trailed down her cheeks, and at her knees lay the evidence of the emperor’s cruelty and fear.
Death and blood.
