“I figured my ‘thimbleful’ of power wouldn’t be worth the inconvenience,” she said, tossing drenched hair over her shoulder.
“It’s really not.” Lykor unfolded his legs and rose, ready to move on—both with this conversation and to find a reprieve from this vexing girl.
“Give me your hand,” she demanded, extending the moss between hers. When he did nothing beyond narrowing his eyes, she shook the plant at him. “Do you want to lose that claw? Your skin is nearly flayed to the bone and needs to be treated.”
“I hadn’t noticed.” Lykor’s lip curled into a sneer. “Does being a half-breed also render you a half-wit?” The agitation knotting in Lykor’s shoulders had him cracking his neck. “What do you intend to do with that pile of seaweed?”
The elf scowled. “Like I said, this ‘seaweed’ will fight infection.” She added defensively, “I learned about plants from my friend Jassyn—he’s a healer.”
Heart thumping in his throat, Lykor cleared his features. “And explain to me how that’s relevant?”
“I’ve watched how you can’t keep your fingers away fromhisknife.” An angry color flushed up the girl’s cheeks as she bit the words off of her remark. “I thought you’d want to know more about him.”
Lykor yanked his hand off the dagger as if burned again. Jaw screwed tight, he pivoted and stalked away before he witlessly revealed anything else.
Water sloshed behind him. The elf grabbed his wrist, the contact lifting every one of his hairs in alarm.
“Don’t touch me,” Lykor snarled, ripping out of her grip.
The girl flinched when he raised his arm, as if expecting a backhand blow. Eying a wild motion of her hands, Lykor realized with an unwelcome jolt that she instinctively attempted to fabricate a shield. Between the tether and her empty Well, the gesture was pointless.
Chest constricting, Lykor’s thoughts fled back to his own helplessness in the king’s prison—defenseless to Galaeryn’s every depraved, torturous whim. He lowered his claw, fingers slowly curling into a fist, pinioning the reactive flash of fury. Like a window slamming against howling wind, his reflexive rage abated. Ribs surrendering his lungs, there was enough space to breathe again.
On second thought… Lykor shoved her.
Shrieking, the elf lost her footing, reeling backward. Shelanded with a splash before jumping up, spluttering and swearing.
“Why are you being so stubborn about this?” she spat, wiping water out of her eyes.
Ignoring her, Lykor gestured curtly, a master calling a hound. “Get out so we can leave.”
She pointed an accusatory finger at him. “You’re the one who pushed me in!”
Lykor’s eyes pinned on the water suddenly rippling like a flood of raindrops collided with the surface. The elf glanced at him and then at the roiling stream, obviously considering retaliation.
A torrent of violent words wrestled up Lykor’s throat. He bared his fangs. “Don’t youfuckingdare.”
Aesar blew an amused snort out of his nose, towing Lykor’s attention inward. He lounged on a reading couch, throwing Lykor a satisfied smirk.She’s probably only using that power because you’re pissing her off.
The girl lifted her chin. With awhoosh, the channel reared up in a wave behind her. Poised and waiting.
Despite Lykor’s mild curiosity to discover how else she could manipulate the water, he pivoted on his heel.
I wouldn’t turn—
Before he could make it two paces, water crashed into him, the deluge smashing him like an ocean’s swell. Lykor ripped Essence from his Well.I’M GOING TO KILL HER.
Aesar had the nerve to wag a finger as rending billowed around him in the library—under his control. Lykor snarled at him and then rounded on the girl.
You know, I think we’d both be able to channel our magic simultaneously if you loosened your grip and didn’t oppose me so much.
AND WHY THE FUCK WOULD I WANT TO DO THAT?
Aesar shrugged. He smugly coiled the shadows across hisfingertips, effectively locking that part of their Well away.The only reason we’re alive is because I shielded us during the cave-in.
WHAT DO YOU WANT? MY THANKS?
Leaning forward on the sofa, Aesar braced his elbows on his knees.Give me tonight with Kal.
