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My head tips back, and I trace the rivulets of lava that flow through him. His broad shoulders look like the Black Mountains of his birth, and fire rises from his head, light dancing over his stern features.
It’s been centuries since I’ve seen Darius in this form, and the sight of him makes the breath catch in my lungs.
A charcoal finger traces fire down my cheek. “My lady?”
I rise onto my toes and reach up to cup his jaw. “You are magnificent.”
A long sigh leaves him as he leans into my touch. “We need to go.”
Reluctantly, I drop my arms to my sides and step from his embrace.
He turns to open the door and steps aside, motioning for me to go out ahead of him.
My legs shake as I stumble out of the burn room, the marble floor cold beneath my bare feet. Darius follows closely, the warmth that radiates off him in waves combatting the frigid chill in the hallway.
“Pen.” Relief fills Flint’s eyes, and next to him, Anny wags her tail so hard her entire back half shakes from side to side. “You look recovered.”
“I am, thanks to Darius.” Behind him, I spot Xander, Reese, and several students and teachers standing frozen in place, taking in our unexpected appearance. “And thanks to the rest of you.”
“Stop gawking,” Darius growls, the sound holding the rumble of volcanoes, and takes a protective step in front of me to shield my nakedness.
Xander’s face turns red, and he springs into action, herding the students and teachers down the hallway. “Thank you for your assistance! Please let everyone know it’s safe to return to their dorms now. Classes are canceled for tomorrow.”
Curiosity sparkles in Reese’s eyes as they jump between me and Darius. “Glad to see you back to normal, Pen. Am I right in assuming I’m not the only one who can see a black lava man right now?”
As a fae-touched witch, Reese sees past the forms demons wear to their true selves, but he’s usually the only one who can do so.
Darius’s chin dips, the flames on his head rising toward the vaulted ceiling. “Yes, I was unable to retain my human form while helping to revive my lady.”
“Flint said you gave your fire to Pen to awaken her firebird.” Reese leans closer, the fine hairs around his face lifting with the heat from Darius’s body. “Could we have achieved the same result by tossing Pen into a bonfire?”
“Reese! Time and place.” Horrified, Xander stares at his younger brother. “They just recovered from near death. Give them some time to recover before you pepper them with questions.”
“Sorry.” Reese backs off with a chagrined shrug. “I was thinking about what we could have done if we didn’t have an ignis demon on hand.”
“It’s fine. I appreciate the concern.” I step toward Flint, only to collide with a barrier that sends me reeling backward.
Darius’s hands engulf my shoulders as he steadies me. “Are you well, my lady?”
I rub my right foot against my calf, glad I didn’t find the barrier with my face. “Yeah, I’m fine.” I flatten a hand on the invisible wall. “What’s this?”
“Sorry. That’s the anti-fire spell.” Xander comes forward. “It was to contain the flames.”
“It did its job.” Darius peers back through the door to the burn room. “I fear repairs will be needed before this workspace will be usable once more.”
“That’s okay.” Reese waves a dismissive hand. “We have a better one built out back.”
Xander crouches and wipes his hand through symbols written on the floor that I didn’t notice before, and the barrier dissipates beneath my hand. “There you go. You should be free to come out now.”
Flint shrugs out of his jacket as he steps forward. “Here, you look like you could use this.”
The warm material settles over my shoulders, offering a semblance of modesty.
“Thank you.” I slip my arms through the sleeves and stay still while Flint fusses.
His fingers tremble, and he fumbles with the buttons on the front.
I cover his hand with mine. “It’s okay. I’m still here.”
