Page 7 of Fire Kissed
Three weeks ago, these few peaceful hours would have sounded like a vacation.
How did my life come to this?
I lean against the cool wall for a moment and wonder if I have the energy to get in a few more pushups to pass the time.
My aching muscles in my arms say no.
With a heavy sigh, I kick my foot off the wall, but instead of shoving away, I fall the other way.Backward. Hard.The structure supporting my weight sways out, and I don’t even stumble. I hit the ground so roughly, light bursts behind my eyes with a slam of immediate pain.
The cry at the back of my throat is bit back as I try not to make a sound... I mean, aside from the racket of the wall sliding away and me attempting to break a stone flooring with my literal skull.
I lift slightly and look out through an apparent door to the bedroom I was just standing in. My attention drifts over the darkness. The meager amount of light shining from the nightstand lamp in the bedroom doesn’t help at all.
Is this a hidden room? A passageway? Could it lead to Latham or Aric? Could I find them?
In seconds, I’m running for my lamp. My bare feet skim over the cool floor with the speed only a shifter could be capable of. And then the light chases out the dark.
Only to show me four more solid walls.
And one amazing fucking bathroom.
Water washes in from a high ceiling, falling stunningly into a carved well. The pool bubbles warm and inviting steam that kisses across my flesh. Goosebumps rise over my arms in the heat of the intoxicating room. Smooth stones are displayed in a pyramid pile near a flat, granite bed that I wish someone would massage every single part of my body on.
I step farther into the room. The lamp wobbles slightly on the rocky surface of the makeshift bath, but once it stays put, I waste no time crossing my arms and pulling the dress away. The thin material skims over me. When I’m naked and not dressed for someone else’s approval, I suddenly feel free.
Being alone has that effect, I’m finding. There’s no one to show a brave face for. No one to hide my tears from.
They can lock me away, but I’m very much free.
And the blissful, quiet laughter that trembles in my chest as I step foot into the hot, exhilarating water is a beautiful sound I haven’t heard in so long. I’m not even their prisoner in this moment. My happiness and the warmth in my heart is my own. No one in all the realms will ever steal that away from me.
Hot water slides over my calves, my thighs, my hips, and all until I’m so submerged, I have to stop myself from just slipping down into it completely. I don’t know how it has that effect on me. It washes away all the emotions I’ve carried around with me since the day I leapt into this realm. My eyes close at that memory but instead of seeing the tragedy of that day, my thoughts go straight to his smile.
Aric’s russet eyes crease at the corners as his laughter booms over my body in a way that makes me feel alive with his own happiness. The rumbling warmth of Latham’s voice whispers into my mind:
You do belong. Especially with us.
I can see him clearly. My mind keeps tracing the lines of his lips and highlighting the brightness of his eyes. That sweet sentiment is tainted with sorrow now. I should have believed the tragedy that shined in his and Latham’s eyes, despite the calm they always conveyed. But he wasn’t lying. I really am one of them now. A fucking trophy of Hell to be used however Hela sees fit.
Dampness streaks down my cheeks before I even realize the tears are there.
Don’t.
My eyes flash open. The flickering light shows the same four walls. Nothing more. No one else. But I could have sworn I heard...
A shiver flits down my shoulders, a knowing sensation that I can’t explain. I carefully sink lower to ease my nerves. I can’t close my eyes to fully enjoy the bath anymore. My body’s now tense with a strange sensation of not being alone.
You’re not.
A gasp tears from my throat. Water flings around me as I spin fully to search the densely dark corners of the bathroom. But the warm, honey voice isn’t there.
“Calm down, Rhys,” I mumble to myself. “A few days in Hell would have anyone going crazy. It’s okay. We’ll get a demon therapist or something to sort this out. It’ll be fine.”
You’re not crazy, Love. Not even a little.
The way he says my name slams stunning memories through my mind. And Latham’s beautifully tormented smile fills every single one of them.
“Latham...” I hesitantly say his name in the shadowy room. The drilling of my heart is no longer a fearful beat but a hopeful pulse of need that wakes my wolf inside me ever so slightly.
