Page 3 of Fire Kissed
He shoves off hard from the smooth flooring, and the sound of his bed rattling above me is the final sentiment between us. It’s the sweet goodnight between enemies.
I don’t know how, but the pale lighting of the room dims slowly. It’s another gift of magic Hela’s given her favorite pet, it seems. Total darkness slides across the room, making it seem colder. The nights are worse, I think.
The memories of every terrible moment in my life carousels through my mind on an endless ride. I can still see the look in Bea’s eyes when she realized I’d taken her mate. I can hear my mother’s sobs as the King did unspeakable things that first night. I can feel my heart break over and over for Aric and Latham.
My knees bend, and I hug them hard to my chest, the anger within me melting down into an ocean of regret. My wolf whines at the back of my mind. She’s made me stronger being kept away. I can feel it. But all the strength in the world doesn’t change the disgusting life I’m now living.
“They’ll test you,” a warm, rumbling voice says so quietly, it startles me to realize it’s Torben’s. “King Mordon and Queen Hela have nothing better to do but torment us—”
“Us?” I cut out on a gasp of laughter. “You aresotoxic.”
“What does that even mean?”
A smile bubbles up in the mess of outrage and bitterness.
“It means you’re an asshole,” I say flatly.
“I know I am! Stop using creative words for it!” I can’t help the smirk as I close my eyes slowly and try to focus on how cruel he truly is. Then he continues. “And absolutely nothing will change who you are, Rhys,” he says so gently, it sends a shiver racing across my flesh. “I won’t let it.”
I flop back against the hard floor, but to my surprise, a mound of soft pillows and a thick warm blanket meet my back tonight. My fingers slide over the inviting, makeshift bed someone has seemingly snuck into my prison sometime today...
With both hands, I pull the cover all the way up to my chin, and still I glare daggers at the bed above me. He’s confusing. Cruel one moment and kind the next.
“Toxic,” I whisper once more into the darkness.
“I know,” he whispers right back.
The Good Guy
Rhys
I’m keptin the dark long after the day seems to begin. The magical blackness still surrounds me. It’s like the night, but it doesn’t feel as authentic. Torben’s magic is different than shifters I know. It’s the god in him.
But clearly Hela has blessed her favorite warrior lover with more powerful magic.
I scoff at that.
“As if creating some shade is much of a power. Hela throws shade all day, and it’s honestly just more petty than anything. Petty, petty magic.”
The scraping of the big door closing behind Torben’s heavy boots is still fresh in my mind. I bite at my lips as I consider the confusing man.
“Asshole,” I whisper to myself, chatting to no one as I’ve started to do more and more lately.
He’ll come back for me. When the gala begins, so does the show, and Hela wouldn’t dare forget to bring out the main entertainment.
A deep sigh shifts from my lungs, but the truth is, I’m not just lying around waiting and crying.
Sharp tension lines my back as my arms flex and my hair wafts over the cold stone floor. Sweat clings to my forehead, but I force myself to finish the repetition. On the one hundredth push-up, I heave another breath and roll to my back, tangling in the soft blankets and pillows.
The wolf inside me nearly purrs. She feels closer when I push my limits, when I show my strength. She’s always been nearer when my emotions show. This constant press for strength brings her out as much as my emotions though. She’s wild, but she can’t be free here. So I’ll reach out to her any way I can.
If I get the chance to unleash her, I want us both to be ready.
Light illuminates without a single flicker. It shines pale ivory colors across the room with a sudden swiftness that only hellish magic is capable of. I wipe my brow quickly before flinging one leg over the other and bringing my hands behind my head as if I was just day dreaming with my head in the clouds.
Not a single, tragic worry here. Absolutely nothing to see here.
Black boots storm closer, and my heart kicks up despite my careless features.
