“You know I’ll always find you,” he said, weaving between crates and barrels, refusing to break eye contact with her. “But I’d rather not chase you out of here. I’d prefer to throw you over my shoulder and see you out myself. Even if you’re kicking and screaming.”
“Still into that, are you?”
Gods, this woman. He lived for her taunting.
Draevyn barked a laugh. “Keep running those pretty little lips of yours, and I’ll show youexactlywhat I’m still into.”
Esmyra snorted in amusement and the sound had sparks bursting in his chest. But then she jumped to the next roof.
Fucking hells.
Draevyn tore through the streets like a man possessed as he raced after her. Overhead, her boots slapped against the rooftops, her heels clicking in rhythm with his pulse.Every time he turned a corner, she was already vaulting to the next building, her dark silhouette gilded by the silver moonlight.
As fun as this was, Draevyn didn’t want to risk drawing any more attention to themselves. Anyone could be here, watching them. All he needed was five minutes. She just needed to listen to what he had to say forfiveminutes and then he would let her choose what to do.
Your crew is alive, and they’re here with me.
I’m sorry about your father.
Syrena is a lying cunt.
And… I love you.
Maybe he shouldn’t say the last thing yet.
Before he could even get to convincing her, he needed her to stop running.
“You’re a pain in my ass,” he roared as he stopped in the street.
The only response he received was a cackle from above.
Draevyn smirked. “Two can play that game.”
A wall of flame erupted in front of her on the roof ahead, curling high and fast. Its heat cracked the building’s weathered shingles and made the windows below shiver in its panes. The firesnarled and lashed toward her, daring her to try and jump through it.
Esmyra skidded to a halt, her arm thrown over her face to shield from the heat as she let out a gasp. For a moment, she stood frozen in front of the blaze.
Draevyn watched her, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. “Not so fast now, are you?”
She lowered her arm, grinning in the firelight.
Wildfire.
“You should know by now that I’m not afraid to play with a little fire.” She stepped closer to the flames, eyes locked on his as the blaze reflected off her pearlescent skin like a second sun.
“I suppose you’re right,” he started. “What’s flame to agoddess,after all?”
Esmyra’s mouth set in a hard line at the words. She leaned forward, the blaze casting serpentine shadows across her face. “I’ve been burned by you before, Phoenix. Your flames can no longer touch me.”
And with that, she stepped through the fire.
“Oh shit.” Draevyn’s jaw fell open, his breath catching in his throat.
But, to his surprise, the blaze didn’t swallow her. His power wrapped around Esmyra as if it embraced her, parting for her as though even his flame knew her soul.
Esmyra emerged on the other side, unharmed and untouchable.
My fucking goddess.
