Page 104 of Burn Her They Said
“Malin,” Lars says, eyes flaring.
“What?” Malin gestures to the sorcerer I apparently name when my subconscious is in control of my actions. “It’s the truth.”
Lars and I let out a sigh as Varic rises from the bed, leaving me to contend with the warring urges to throttle them all or to pull Varic beneath me, not caring what anyone thinks.
“Fray, you’re next,” Varic commands.
Deep, dark crescents mark the thin skin beneath Fray’s eyes. Flying me here with the extreme level of fear we experienced would be too much for anyone. Gratitude unfurls in my chest knowing they have all agreed to rest as I pat the bed in invitation.
“Don’t worry. I’ll understand if you don’t feel the same need to use me as a pillow, especially since we spent the entire journey here holding each other so tightly,” Fray says, staring pointedly at Varic, whose ears burn brighter as he scoffs.
All I can do is shake my head now that Fray slowly lowers himself to sit on the mattress. Groans leave him and the bed frame once he leans over to untie the laces on his boots and unceremoniously drops each to the floor. I pivot around to lean back on the actual pillow while he settles under the covers with his eyes falling closed.
“You hate being touched, Fray,” Cirrin says. “You’re just riling Varic up when we need him at his best for Tasch’s safety.” Fray’s shoulders lift, noncommittally.
Without much thought, I reach out with my magic and find he is mostly fatigued and in need of healing, yet the nervous energy bounding through him is one with which I am especially practiced. I siphon his worries to meld with my own, then smile once his breathing evens out. Varic trades places with Cirrin to stand directly next to my side of the bed as his eyes dart from me to Fray and back.
“You just used your magic to help him, didn’t you?” he asks, and I let out a big yawn.
“Tasch,” he tries again, and my chest constricts.
He knows exactly what I did, and I don’t need his reminders to prioritize my health or to conserve my energy, yet my heart throbs painfully in my chest because ignoring his attempt at caregiving hurts, even when it’s for the best.
I startle when the warmth of his fingertips finds the inside of my wrist, which he circles within his palm before telling me, “Just showing you I mean to keep my promise.” Bits and pieces of my worries leave me to remain with him as he uses his influence.
And I don’t dare fight it, since this contact alone is settling my nerves more than all of Cirrin’s magic.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Dragons
“It’s time to wake up, Tasch.” Malin’s voice is soft and soothing as he rubs circles over my shoulder, kneading the tense muscles as he ushers me from sleep. A kind gesture which helps me come out of the strange dream state more gently than startling awake, like usual.
His rich wood scent fills my senses, reminding me of home more than any place I’ve ever lived. “Were you able to sleep?” I ask with a hoarse voice.
“Yes.” He straightens with a smirk. “Though you did not afford me the same honor of waking up with you in my arms the way you did Varic.”
A tired groan vibrates in my throat, and I press my face into my hands, unable to reconcile what must have changed in the last few hours for Malin to tease me this way.
“In fact, Varic was the only one you sought to cuddle in your sleep,” Fray says.
“Why do you think that might be?” Lars asks rhetorically as I send him a playful glare.
“Is it that he’s new and you’re tired of the rest of us?” Cirrin asks with a grin, folding his deep blue fairy tale book in half to slide into his pocket.
I respond with a huff, sitting up to take the glass of water Varic offers, avoiding his eyes as I tip it back and chug faster than necessary, ready to move on to the next task.
“I think she had enough of me on the way here,” Fray says, his lips curving up in one corner. “You know, holding her close to my chest the entire flight.”
“Here,” Varic says, pointedly ignoring Fray while taking the glass from me, the heat of his gaze encouraging my own.
My breath catches at the striking brightness of his eyes beaming back at me in the golden morning light streaming in through the window. The ends of his hair are still damp from bathing, with the fresh set of riding leathers fitting tighter than the uniform he wore the night before.
Every function in my body grinds to a halt with the way his face lights up, staring back with the most luminous smile, though a haunted quality lurks behind his obvious sense of joy and amusement. Heat rises from the center of my chest to my cheeks faster than I’m used to—embarrassed with how enraptured I am with every movement he makes—though I have certainly had worse views upon awakening.
“Thank you,” I manage, as Varic holds out a golden hanger with my riding leathers in one hand and a pair of my boots with wool socks in the other. I release a breath, grateful for the change of clothes so I don’t have to freeze as terribly on the journey back.
I send out my magic as all of my Guards seem far too energized for what a couple of hours of rest should be capable, and minimal weariness or fatigue is recognized by my power. “Have healers been by?” I ask.
