Page 69 of The Last Guardian

Yet, it never burned.

I let out a laugh, gazing up at Zaidkiel, and I realized I had gotten closer to him, feeling not only the warmth from the flames, but the warmth from his body too.

Hells. I withdrew immediately. The sensation of his power going away from me left me panting, and I had never felt so cold.

Zaidkiel’s gaze fell on the flames still on his hand, a frown creasing his brow.

I whispered, “What is this?”

Zaidkiel’s throat bobbed. “Every species possesses a unique kind of power. Evarim have our own, which we call⁠—”

“Obsidian,” I interrupted him, recalling the lessons with Arystan.

“You’re a smart-ass, aren’t you?” Zaidkiel chuckled; his green eyes twinkled. “It’s like a shadow, yet distinct. Colder. Darker.”

“But your power isn’t just a shadow,” I realized aloud.

My skin still felt the tickling warmth of the flames. I gazed up at Zaidkiel, who smirked at my remark and nodded with his half-amused gaze.

He chuckled. “Yes, mine is different. a combination of fire and shadow. We call it blackfire.”

Not sunfire, nor obsidian, but something else entirely.

“Because you are Evarim and Surani?” I pointed out, biting my lips again.

Zaidkiel tensed, his eyebrows meeting each other at my remark. “Nefeli talks too much,” he muttered under his breath, “but yes, because of my Surani heritage. Obsidian is cold, like ice, but mine, mine is scorching hot. It ignites.”

“And—” Searching for my words, I stared at him, and finally said, “Is it stronger than sunfire and obsidian?”

Zaidkiel’s eyes glinted with amusement again. “Yes.”

The commander walked through battles like smoke, leaving only silence and ash behind.

That was the whispered tale about him, and it was true. He was perhaps one of the scariest men on Erath, and I had to be initiated by him.

Great. I should be afraid, and yet—I wasn’t. Why?

I cleared my throat, averting my eyes, trying to change the shift between us. “How did you learn to initiate? What was your training?”

Zaidkiel arched a brow. “I am willingly giving you answers that can help you. But some don’t concern you at all.” A warning.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “I should have known your kindness came with an expiration date.”

Zaidkiel’s eyes glinted. “Don’t mistake my patience for any affection because I explain things to you. You’re lucky I’m feeling generous today.”

“That’s your way of being generous, really?” I raise my eyebrow.

A low chuckle coursed through his chest, his throat, as his eyes darkened. The green took on another shade. A warmer one.

Hotter.

“I can be very generous, Princess,” Zaidkiel purred. ”Just depends on what you’re asking for.”

And there it is.

Stars! A blush rose on my cheeks. I rolled my eyes. “Well, I thought you had your personality switch at last.” I crossed my arms.

“Apparently, you have a talent for making it switch back.” Zaidkiel arched a brow, a playful grin on his face. “Plus, it’s quite amusing to see you blush. I wonder what other kinds of red your skin can make when you⁠—”