Page 34 of Commanding Flame and Shield
She smelled like honey, sage, cinnamon, and summer—somehow, she emitted the scent of sunshine. I hadn’t even realized that was a fragrance until her now-loose curls pressed against my face, an all-encompassing warmth that radiated down into my heart. Breathing her in, I did my best to ignore the stirring her scent elicited from my body—the images it brought to my mind.
I’d wrapped her in a little blanket cocoon, avoiding her skin despite the pestering drive to do the opposite. Once the blanket was safely between us, I would softly stroke her arms when she stirred, and she would quickly settle back into sleep, breathing steady, deepening with her rest. As though my touch—my presence—soothed her. When Alvara tucked her knees up and curled into me, the fabric shifted, wrapping tightly around her chest and accentuating the slight swells of her breasts as she sighed sleepily. I jammed my eyes closed, smacking my head against the wall behind us before glaring at the ceiling.Great. Now I’m jealous of a fucking blanket.A wave of guilt washed an icy reminder down my spine.She almostdied, asshole. You're here because she’s hurt, for Christ's sake. You have a fiancé likely in a manic tailspin, and you’re pining after your new superior. Lock it the fuck up.
Alvara let out another breathy little sigh as she shifted, and I forced myself to think of absolutely anything else. It had to be well into the morning, and Lord only knew what we’d be facing tomorrow. With that reality in mind, I slowly released every bit of air from my lungs, closing my eyes and leaning into the wall, ignoring the pinch in my shoulder, courtesy of supporting her lean frame for so long. She’d more than earned my discomfort. I relished in the feel of her weight against this new body, and my fists tightened on the blanket until the strain highlighted my knuckles, like my body instinctively adjusted to protect her—shield her—from the world she was clearly so determined to defend.
Sleep claimed me more than once before exhaustion finally settled into my bones. My dreams were full of mixed-up snippets of light. Like a movie reel playing too fast to catch the details of the story. Laughter, slow dances, an open meadow, an icy plunge into white water rapids. And slow, soft kisses, smelling like honey.
I startled awake to the sound of footsteps, a familiar feel to the mellow energy in the room as Alec tapped softly on the door frame and entered. Ansel leaned into it behind him, arms crossed over his chest, omnipresent concern carved on his face. Alec’s gift had a way of setting the tone in the surrounding space, setting me at ease even in the presence of the old general, as Aren called him, and I pondered on that for a moment. Wondering if I would possess the same ability.
Alec shook his head, grin rueful, and ran a battle worn hand through his shaggy hair.
“Dangerous game you’re playing, August.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I retorted, too quickly.
Something vaguely resembling a smirk tugged at the corners of Ansel’s lips as silver eyes flicked to Alec, whose face split in amusement. “Oblivious,” Alec’s eyes darted back to me, “or stupid?”
“Excuse me?” I straightened as both men turned to survey me, anger and embarrassment heating my cheeks. Probably my cue to unwind my hold on Alvara, but the idea of leaving her unprotected…
Ansel nudged Alec with a shoulder. “Come on man, give the kid a break, he’s still adjusting. He’ll learn.”
“Uh…thanks?” I quirked my head, not sure if his tone should leave me relieved, or insulted.
“You’ve got this Rookie.” Ansel turned towards the hall, sliding cash from his pocket and palming it to Alec without even an attempt at subtlety. He lowered his voice enough to sound sneaky without achieving it, “Put me down for stupid.” He shot an arrogant smirk over his shoulder, chuckling as I scowled at him before he vanished into the hallway, and I slipped my arm out from under Alvara.
“What’s your problem?” I snapped as my blood began to boil. “There’s no game,” I insisted. “I think I was sent here to protect her.”
Alec snorted. “Of course, you do.”
“I mean it. The strongest clairvoyant in the hierarchy is called to a shield. You think that’s coincidental?” I fumbled to keep Alvara propped up while stretching for the pillows she’d knocked onto the floor.
“There are no coincidences. You’ll learn that quickly. Only fate, a volatile mistress.” He shook his head again, shrugging his shoulders as I successfully managed to prop her on the pillows without waking her. “We’re just fucking with you, mate. Come on...There’s work to do.”
“Your show of strength was astounding yesterday,” he applauded.
Jesus. Was that only yesterday? Once Alvara and I cooled our sparking tempers, being with her came as naturally as drawing breath, and I couldn’t fully explain it. I’d never fought with Layla like that—not with any woman who’d waltzed into, and out of my life before her—never experienced the kind of anger that brewed in my blood in the hours after Alvara put herself in harm’s way.
Fuck, even our argument felt familiar. The tension between us electrified my skin in a way that made me want to lean down and taste her, before slowly peeling that tiny gray tank and matching pair of sweats off her tight body. Made me want toshowher what she did to me with my lips, tongue and teeth.
Like our flesh could speak the language our words couldn’t.
The very thoughts had been treacherous and treasonous, and I'd loathed myself for them, resorting to pacing like a man unhinged. I could never do that to Layla. She deserved so much more.
It wasn't until Alvara seemed to internalize what that loss would do to me that the boiling in my veins ceased enough to see reason.
It was Alec, no shock, to yank my wandering thoughts back into the present. I had no idea how many of his words I'd missed.
“August, focus. What you did took meyearsto master. Let’s make sure it’s not just beginner’s luck.”
I smirked. “If that's the case, then shouldn’t they pair me with someone who can actually keep up?”
Alec’s amber eyes flicked to me, something predatory slithering beneath his amusement a heartbeat before I found myself groaning on my back, staring up at the Grayshell wings and blade, where they were painted on the ceiling. Ache slammed through my breathless ribcage as I stared up at the infinite ceiling. Vaguely, I remembered his hand slamming into my chest and foot yanking my leg out from under me, but he'd moved at such impossible speed, it felt surreal.
Alec’s shaggy hair and satisfied smirk crept into view as the oxygen returned to my lungs.
“Oh,” he winked, "I think I can handle it.” He stretched out a hand, and I glared at it for a heartbeat before accepting help to my feet. “Ally has visions. I have my shield, and my speed.” Alec turned and continued as though he hadn’t just laid me on my ass. “Today, we need to practice jumping.”
I hopped once on my feet, and he rolled his eyes, grumbling something about being a smart ass.Only for you, old friend.
