Page 71 of The Ashborn

Ruva huffed and pulled away. As Kienna climbed, the wolf appeared in her eyeline, sitting near the shore as she watched the moon. Kienna’s arm squeezed in pain, but she pushed through it. As expected, Danek didn’t appear to struggle. His fingers hooked the planks with ease. He’d flex them from time to time, but he took each pull in stride, eventually picking up speed. Kienna followed slowly, watching as he jumped from each plank, but the blue glow didn’t return to his body. Kienna knew she’d have to go through with her plan. True magical strength needed emotional pressure. Deep down, they all knew this. Danek was far too muted from the attack. If he wanted his power back, he needed this.

Fuck it. She missed the adrenaline anyway.

Danek reached the top, a giant smile plastered on his face. She almost felt bad for what she was about to do. Almost.

“Hoist yourself up, slowpoke,” he said, holding his hands out.

Kienna studied them, the gray fading even more from his tips. Her eyes went to meet his. Ruva shone in her mind, begging her to be smart for once. She prepared herself to piss off the wolf. It was for Danek after all.

“How are your hands?” she asked.

Danek glanced at them. “They still hurt, but I’ll be okay.”

“Good,” Kienna said, her eyes crinkling as she paused. She inhaled deeply to slow her heart, then she smiled and said, “I’m sorry.” Without warning, Kienna kicked herself off the ship. Danek’s hand reached out to grab her. He wouldn’t be fast enough this time. He’d have to spark his hands. She made sure of it.

Time slowed as Kienna fell, wondering if it would be to a bone-crumbling demise for placing her trust in someone whose magic broke from shadows…or he’d grab her.

Their eyes met, hers nearly too calm compared to the wide confusion Danek’s held. But they were gold now.

They used to be green, she thought.

She almost missed the surge of blue illuminating the night. A strong breeze dipped beneath her, catching her inches from the ground.

Her heart screamed. As Danek lifted her into the air and back onto the safety of the ship, Kienna was laughing.

“Have you fucking lost your mind? Why would you do that?” Danek turned toward the inside of the ship, squeezing his hands into his hair. When he turned back to her, she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face.

“Do it again,” she said.

“You have lost your mind!”

Kienna grinned from ear to ear. She’d apologize for giving him a heart attack later.

She jumped off, diving headfirst into the air and toward the ground. Again, Danek caught her and brought her back. Kienna released another melodious laugh.

“Do you have a death⁠—”

She jumped.

Danek caught her.

Every time.

Ruva expressed her extreme distaste for the whole thing, her whines deafening. You’re being reckless, thinking of no one but yourself! Ruva was wrong. Kienna thought of Danek. They may have been living too deeply in their fear, but Danek needed this. What else would have sparked his emotional response?

“Kienna,” Danek begged, grasping her hand before she jumped again. “I’m losing energy.”

She let her heart return to her chest and panted. Jumping over the edge was like her own training session. It almost made her wish she had wind abilities, so she could do it herself and fly. She cocked a brow as the corner of her mouth twitched. “How’s your magic?”

“It’s fine,” he scowled. “I can’t say the same for my chest.”

Kienna stepped forward, placing her hand on his chest. His pulse greeted her with a flutter, his skin twitching beneath his shirt. It could have been the adrenaline from falling, but Kienna heard his heart in her ears. She steadied her breath and flicked her gaze to his jaw. Stubble grew, dark and coarse, shadowing his skin with the promise of a beard. Danek’s shoulders loosened. His hand floated up to meet hers, tracing his finger to her arm, then to her shoulder. He stopped at the bridge of her jaw, under her ear. Kienna tilted her chin to him.

Danek leaned in. Kienna had never kissed a man before. She’d thought about it only once, and now that she saw Danek’s lips moving toward her, she thought about it more than once in mere seconds. She pressed her body closer to his.

His lips barely brushed against hers while her breath deepened against his. She would have pushed the full weight of her mouth to him right there, but Ruva’s voice jolted her back. Connak’s coming.

Kienna stepped back and cleared her throat.