Page 123 of A Whisper of Cinders

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

After what felt like the shortest and the longest night at the same time, I stand in the dojo, much earlier than usual. I couldn’t stay in bed any longer and hear or feel or see how Conláed’s heart stopped beating.

Every time I blink, I see him, either falling from the sky or already on the ground, my fire dome around him. So I punch the bag until the pain shifts my focus to my hands.

A familiar scent reaches my nose followed by a wave of heat that I ignore, my brain somehow not connecting the signals that my sentences try to tell.

Conláed appears in front of the bag and I keep punching, hoping his image will disappear again. But when fists wrap around my wrists and pull me flush against a hard chest, I stop.

Conláed. Not just a flicker of my imagination.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

“How…why…” I sigh, stupid mind. “Are you…okay?”

His eyes flicker across my face. They glow that golden red hue, and without thinking twice about it, I reach out my palm and place it against his cheek. “Conláed?”

He blinks and the glow fades slightly. He releases my wrist and places his hand across mine, leaning into my touch. His eyes are closed and he inhales so gently, scared I might withdraw.

After a couple of seconds, he lifts my hand from his face and guides it down towards his heart. The movement is way more sensual than it should be, or maybe it’s because although his eyes don’t glow like they did before, the intensity is still very much there.

His heartbeat pumps strongly underneath my palm, my skin glows faintly, a small electric wave travels up my arm straight to my own heart. “What does this feel like to you?” I look at his chest, see how his large hand makes mine disappear. His beat feels strong, steady. I look up, the beat stumbling for a second only to steady once more. “Tell me, feather.”

“It’s a strong beat,” I say a bit hesitantly.

He snickers and releases my hand, and even though I don’t want to, I let my hand fall too. “Did you know you could do that?”

Make his heart skip a beat? No, I am very surprised by that and I’m sure he would deny it if I’d bring it up. But that’s not what he’s getting at. “I didn’t.”

He takes a step closer, lowering his head until he’s in my personal space. “I knew your powers were different from mine. Yes, you have flames within you, but not in the same way as I do,” he says as he brings his lips next to my ear, the sensation causing shivers to roll down my spine. “Although I am forever grateful, it can be a dangerous power to have.”

I raise my brows, my own heartbeat now picking up its pace. “How come?”

“We all have lost someone dear to us. If word would get out about what you can do…”

Fae who need my help would come looking for me, maybe try to misuse my power even. “But I want to help. If this show of power isn’t a one-time kind of thing, why wouldn’t I offer it to others as well?”

Conláed leans back and takes in my serious face. I am not kidding and he knows it. He frowns and creates some type of shield around us.

“What —”

“We’re not in danger, it’s just so that unwanted ears wouldn’t hear us.”

“Pretty handy.”

“It is. Now, feather, I need you to listen to me very closely. I died.” The words make me stagger back, images flash past me, but he won’t let me. “Stop, we both know it and again, I am grateful you brought me back. It only proves how strong you are, or can become with training. But if Morvith would hear of it and capture you…” His fingers wipe away the curls that rest on my forehead, just like I did when I thought he was dead. “She would suck you dry or do even worse.”

I can’t think of anything worse, but I won’t let my mind go to that place. “I will be fine, Conláed. Besides, I won’t tell anyone.”

He steps back, arrogant expression back on his face, probably remembering who he is again. “Good. Now, I hope you are ready.”

I tilt my head to the side. “Ready? For what?”

“Your battle of course.”

What in the moons is he talking about?