Page 64 of A Song of Air
“What’s so funny?”
Before he could answer, Malika was dropping to her knees at their side, gently prying Bryson’s hands away from the wound. “I’ll take it from here, Bryce,” she whispered gently.
Bryson fell back on her haunches, trying to steady her breathing as she watched Malika cup her hands above the wound.
“Malika, what are you—”
Bryson barely spared a glance at Malika’s sister, who had come to hover. Bryson bit her tongue, fighting the urge to snap at the Fae Elemental and tell her that Malika didn’t like people hovering while she worked. She held it back. It wasn’t her place to come between them, even if the more jealous and bitter part of her wanted to.
Malika shushed her sister and light emanated from her hands, swallowing Ev’s wound.
“Malika! Don’t!” The ice Elemental reached for her sister, gripping her shoulder and yanking her backwards.
It was too late. Her magic had already fallen over Ev’s wound, knitting his flesh back together. Malika’s healing magic took its price as soon as it worked. It consumed her own energy. So when Iona pulled her, Malika didn’t have the energy to move her limbs or respond. She fell back, hitting her head against the ground and pulling deep breaths into her chest.
Bryson pushed to her feet, standing in between Malika and her sister. Her magic lashed out, shoving Iona away from her friend. “What the hell is your problem?” she demanded.
“It’s fine, Bryson.” Malika sat up, her movements slow and aching. “She didn’t mean it.”
“You shouldn’t be healing anyone,” Iona gritted out, ignoring Bryson completely and walking around her to help Malika to a stand. “You know how it takes a lot out of you.”
Malika and Bryson scoffed simultaneously, and it earned Bryson a blurry glare from Iona. She pretended not to notice as she bent to grip Ev’s outreached hand, pulling him to a stand. He avoided looking at her gaze just as much as she avoided looking at Iona’s.
“All due respect, big sister, you can’t tell me what I can or can’t do with my own magic.”
“I see you haven’t changed at all. Still being irresponsible with your magic and your health.”
Malika scoffed. “You’re one to talk.”
Their voices began to clatter in an argument that Bryson eventually tuned out. She turned to Ev, willing his gaze to fall on her.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
His nostrils flared, his eyes finally drawing in her direction, flashing briefly before settling on a spot over her shoulder. His anger became so much more perceptible when he looked back at her. “And you care?”
He didn’t say anything else as he stormed away in the direction of the wagon, sheathing his blade as he went.
Bryson sighed with exasperation, turning to the spot Ev had been staring at only to find Weylyn standing there. Unmoving. She couldn’t see his eyes clearly, but she knew he was staring at her.
And then, his voice resonated in her mind.
“What a weak, foolish human, to take his anger out on you for his own failures.”
“Get out of my head.”She squeezed her eyes shut against the mental assault.
In response, she felt phantom claws glide sensually down her back.“I would never treat you in such a way.”
“Get out!”She slammed her hands against her ears, but his voice only persisted. Lowering. And she felt him inside her brain, his body circling hers like a predator sizing up his prey.
“I would cherish you.”That voice whispered in her ear, closer than before. Almost like he was standing right behind her, his breath fanning across her skin.
“Stop it.”Her voice had grown weak.
“I would worship you.”His hands glided along her thighs, rising higher with gentle strokes to her hip.
She wanted to jerk away from the seduction, but something kept her firmly in place. Her own legs, the power of a bond she didn’t want, or something else entirely. Bryson wasn’t even sure.
And when Weylyn’s palm cupped between her legs, she wanted to double over at the pleasure that zapped through every inch.
