Page 200 of Burn Her They Said
We meet each other halfway and stare into each other’s eyes until it feels as if we are the only two living beings in this clearing. A palpable energy courses between our bodies while my chest fills with the need to relieve him of all he’s been forced to endure for me. And it takes every bit of restraint to keep my arms fixed by my sides, with the tingling urge to grab hold of him only growing stronger.
The creases in the corners of his eyes relax the longer our breaths mingle in the sliver of air between our chests.
“Are you okay?” he asks, raising his hand to light off sparks along my skin as he strokes featherlight lines on the underside of my wrist.
“You already asked.” I stare down at the hand he raises, then holds between us. “Are you?” My heart constricts as the pain he feels is written within every line across his forehead.
His eyes betray what he’s trying to hide—the vast ocean of emotions beneath the tears welling within them. This unfettered connection between us feels different with the way he looks at me now—like I am the most precious being, and he’s terrified that I might disappear should he take his eyes off me.
“What do you need, Varic? What can I do to reassure you?”
“You do not need to reassure me, mei waella.”
A small smile tugs on the corners of my lips while my fingertips trail mindlessly up his forearm. “I want to.”
His expression softens as he glances down to where I trace him, allowing my fingers to climb higher until I graze the swell of his bicep, then over to the center of his chest. I stare up at him with meaning as I press my hand to both hold and shield his heart all at once.
“I will.” My promise. My oath. My vow to him. “I want to take care of you, Varic.”
His eyes drift closed now that my touch allows him to pause his watch, and he leans closer to press his chest into my hold. Giving in to his need for pressure and comfort. Me.
“I know, mei meida.” His voice is tender as he covers my hand over his chest with his own.
He tips his head forward, and my heart flutters with anticipation of when his skin might touch my own, conjuring that heady feeling brought on by this particular expression of affection.
But the connection is forfeit as we snap our heads back in alarm when the acrid scent of smoke and a thickening gray haze flow over us, apparently carried by the wind from the site of the blast.
A collection of voices clamor, then shout a warning in my mind?—
“Hide.”
Chapter Sixty-Eight
Pace
“We need to move,” Malin warns.
Lars nods to Varic, and my blood runs cold as my speed Guard holds his hands out in question, and I nod in assent, though I do not wish to be parted from any of them again.
The amber shield expands to cover Lars and me as his strong arms encircle my body, leaving just enough time for me to snag Varic’s eyes and yell, “Hurry!”
Varic gives me one last glance in assurance before gesturing to the rest of my Guards to run after us.
Lars holds me close as everything blurs and the force of his power twists my stomach. We come to an abrupt halt and stall as the knob won’t turn to allow us entrance into the castle.
My pulse slows until a familiar purple mist rises, infiltrating the keyhole until the lock clicks. Lars tightens his grip with the arm bracing me to his chest and twists the knob before speeding us down the hallway. A heart-sinking feeling infiltrates my being as I try to look over his shoulder when the amber shield dissipates, having lost Varic somewhere behind us.
Lars stops before a random door and tries the handle, then spins us inside when it opens. He sets me down to close the door behind us, and I wait for my eyes to adjust and ensure we did not just wander into a room containing other beings.
Moonlight filters in through the large square window and highlights the outline of the same set of furniture found in my guest suite—begging the question of why this room was left unlocked when my own required a key to enter.
And why, if the others followed directly behind us, have they yet to find us with Malin using his power to detect where we went? I release a breath and ask, “Do we know anything about who set off the explosion?”
“I sped everyone from the stage to the clearing, where we didn’t encounter anyone until you and the Prince arrived, so we haven’t had the ability to learn anything.” Lars pries his mask from his face, leaving a subtle indentation from the hem running across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose.
“Did you see where they took the Emperor?” I fold my arms over my chest and back up to lean against the mattress.
Lars’ broad shoulders rise and drop just as quickly as he turns around without facing me, appearing to be lost in a trance as he paces along some line only he seems to be capable of seeing. He squares his shoulders and furrows his brow, proving this movement isn’t enough to calm his fears, as the rest of my Guards take far longer to find us than I would have expected. Yet I do not dare imbue him without his agreement, and he is sure to reject any offer I make.
