Page 80 of The Study of Fire
“Yes. And we should leave Ixia before the Commander figures it out. What are you planning?”
She tried to look innocent. “Me? You’re the one with the plan.”
“And the adviser uniform you had Dilana size for you? You weren’t thinking of sneaking off to Sitia without me, were you?”
She wilted. “Did she tell you?”
“I had ripped a hole in my favorite pants. When I dropped them off, she asked me to deliver your uniform and gifted me with a leer. I would guess the staff is already betting how soon one of them will spot us together.” He sighed. “If only intelligence information worked through my corps as efficiently as gossip flowed through the staff, then my problems would be minimal.”
Unable to stand being apart for another second, Valek stood. He strode over to Yelena. He leaned on her chair’s arms, bringing his face inches from hers. “I’ll ask you again. Your plans include me, correct?”
She slumped deeper into her chair.
“Yelena?” His voice held a warning.
“You said you had never encountered this situation before. It’s an unknown. I don’t want to risk…”
“What?”
“Risk losing you. With your immunity, I can’t heal you!”
“I’m willing to take the chance.”
“But I’m not willing to let you.”
“Sorry, love, that’s not your decision. It’s mine.”
She grumbled. “Okay, I promise not to go to Sitia without you.”
“Thank you.” Valek brushed his lips against her cheek. His blood hummed with desire.
“What about your plan?” she asked.
“This is my plan.” He moved closer and kissed her.
She wrapped her arms around him and started to yank his shirt off.
He pulled away in surprise. “In the war room, love? What if someone comes in?”
She stood and removed his shirt. “Then they’ll have a good story to tell.”
“Good?” He pretended to be offended.
“Prove me wrong.”
Fire raced through his veins.Challenge accepted, love.
* * *
They ended up underneath the war room’s conference table, wrapped in each other’s arms. Valek wished they could stay in the bubble of bliss forever. But like all bubbles, it burst. They discussed the events in Sitia.
“I could hardly move within the Citadel,” Valek said. “The air was so thick with magic, I felt like I swam in syrup.”
“But you weren’t detected.”
“Not really,” he explained about his near miss. “After that, it was only a matter of time. With that many warpers, my presence would have eventually caused a noticeable dead zone.”
Yelena was quiet for a long while, then she asked, “Do you know who their victims are?”
