“I realise you’re here to hunt His Majesty’s favourite game.”
He snorted. “You’re telling me you’re not afraid of the Serpent.”
“I’m more afraid of your merry band of eejits and the irreparable damage they’re inflicting onmyfamily’s business.’
His jaw ticked, and for a fleeting moment I wondered if I’d gone a step too far. He opened his mouth – but whatever reply he’d planned, it was forgotten when his eyes drifted from my own and a line flickered between his brows. He reached for me, and for the first time, my back hit the door when I flinched away.
“What are you doing?”
He clicked his tongue, but when he spoke it was barely above a whisper, the way one might speak to a nervous animal, wary of getting them spooked.
“Hold still,” he said.
He reached for me again, carefully. His thumb brushed my cheek light as a gust of spring air, but his touch was searing.
“Eyelash.”
He held it up for me and I stared, uncomprehending, at thesingle curl of hair on the pad of his thumb.
“You’re supposed to make a wish,” he said quietly.
I couldn’t. My lungs were unresponsive, fiery somersaults battering viciously at my ribs. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move for fear of my chest exploding in flame.
The Captain raised a dark brow, waiting. Then, slowly, he parted his scarred lips, brought his thumb to his mouth, and blew out a gentle breath.
Calm calm calm calm calm calm–
I was barely aware of my gaze snagging on his lips as he blew the eyelash away; it was just a focal point. An anchor for my attention while I wrestled with the power trying to claim my body from the inside. That I noticed the perfect symmetry of his cupid’s bow was just my panicked mind’s way of finding distraction. That I caught the slight stutter of his breath between his teeth was —
“Want to know what I wished for?”
I looked up. His brow had smoothed. His eyes were dark and vivid in the languid moment before they dropped to my own lips.
And a roar of heat exploded around my heart.
It was brief. My Flame didn’t even pass the skin, but I felt the warmth of it against my breast, and when the Captain’s confused gaze flicked back to mine, Isawit. Saw the split-second glow of my magic lighting his eyes. Time slowed as those gold-lit eyes slid past my own, past my lips, my throat – and came to rest on the low neck of my blouse.
“Rosie.”
My name was flat on his lips, unfathomable. And in that moment, I was sure he could see right through my skin and bones and muscle to the Flame within. The moment stood still. Myheartstood still. I thought it would never end, that I would suffocate and die under his burning gaze until my own Flame was free to consume me as I’d always known it would.
Then the door behind me rattled, and I gasped, drawing in one painful, ragged breath as I fell forward with shock — as myheart stuttered to life.
The Captain broke my fall, a solid steel barrier, the hand beneath my elbow surprisingly gentle, steadying me as I turned on uncertain feet. My Flame stretched its limbs, reaching longingly for that touch –
“Oops!” came a cheery voice on the other side of the door.
Sorcha edged around with a small basket of clean tea towels balanced on one wide hip. Her smile was bright and wholesome as ever, but it faded somewhat as she took us in. My pale face and heaving chest, the Captain behind me, hand around my arm, and whatever expression he wore that had Sorcha’s brow pitching high.
“Is everything alright?”
My absent sense jerked into my place like a slap across the cheek, and I wrenched myself away from the Captain’s gentle hold, felt my Flame recoil sullenly. I hurried forward to take the basket from Sorcha’s arms. And though she’d usually scold me for trying to do everything myself, she let me take them without fuss.
“Fine,” I said, hoisting the basket onto my own hip. “Everything’s fine.”
I didn’t wait for her answer, nor to find out what expression the Captain wore. The searing brush of his gaze stayed with me as I ducked back beneath the plank and retreated to the safety of my space behind the bar. I stuffed the rags away with my back to the entire tavern, heart thundering fast enough to make up for that long, frozen moment.
But when my pulse and breath finally steadied, and I slowly turned to the end of the bar, he was gone.
