Ethenn forced his leg to go still, dropping his gaze to the scrambled eggs on his plate. They were the color of that woman’shair—Ivry, the Water Mage. The moment she sat down last night, Ethenn knew why she was there. He was a Warrior, an asset in short supply. She wanted to use him for her personal gain, the same as any female Mage might.
As Ethenn was coming to the conclusion that his life would be desperately wanting without a Mage to stir the magic inside of him, and Ivry was a beautiful woman with a sweet smile and soothing voice, he’d accepted her advances without hesitation.
Then Ilain had shown up.
Ethenn didn’t know what he’d expected from the Fire Mage, but anger hadn’t been it. Jealousy, perhaps—after all, she’d made no qualms about wanting a Warrior for herself. Maybe she’d even demonstrate possessiveness. But anger? Bright, seething, unquenchable fury? No, he hadn’t seen that coming.
Once Ilain had grabbed Ethenn by the coat and begun dragging him through the tavern, he decided it wasn’t worth making a scene. He’d follow her, listen to her tirade—whatever its cause—and move on with his evening. It didn’t make him any less resentful of her treating him like a child, pulling him into the storeroom to reprimand him, but he would hold his irritation in check.
Ilain had shut the door behind her with a fierceclickthat rattled the walls. “What,” she hissed, “do you think you’re doing?”
Ethenn stood in the storeroom, uncomfortable but unflinching. “I’m not sure what you mean,” he replied dully, working to keep his emotions in check.
“Ivry is a Water Mage,” she said.
“I know,” he said. “She introduced herself.”
Ilain crossed her arms, drawing his attention to her decolletage for a spare second. She noticed his distraction and smirked. “Do you also know she intends to Bond with you?” she asked.
Ethenn lifted a shoulder in a half-assed shrug. “I assumed so.”
She glared at him then, incensed. “And you didn’t reject her?”
“No.”
A sharp huff of disbelief flew out of Ilain. “Do youwantto Bond with her?”
“Her?” Ethenn scoffed, the hold on his emotions slipping with the alcohol in his system. “I don’t know, Ilain. I just met her.”
She drew back like he’d slapped her. “But you want to Bond...with someone?”
Taking a deep breath in, Ethenn lifted his eyes to the ceiling. He could feel the heat creeping up his back, and he tried to gain control of himself once more. “Maybe,” he admitted weakly.
“Maybe?” she demanded.
“Probably,” he corrected himself. “I’ve been thinking about it these last several weeks since you told Evie and Deckard about it, and... It seems like my best future is a Bonded one, so yeah, I’d probably like to Bond with a Mage.”
Ilain stared at him for several seconds. Even in the dark room with only a single oil lamp lighting the space, she looked like a brilliant flame. It was no secret that Ethenn was attracted to Ilain. She was impossibly gorgeous. Her loose red curls flowed over her shoulders like molten copper brushing her ivory skin. That scarlet dress did things to his pulse, assaulting his imagination. But he held his ground, keeping his head down as he stood under her inspection.
A slow grin lifted Ilain’s lips. She took a step forward. “Why didn’t you say so?” she said, her raspy voice fraying his resolve. The heat spiraled up along his collar as she came another step closer. “You know my situation, Ethenn. I need a Warrior.”
He retreated a step, bumping against a crate.
“If you want someone to Bond with—” Ilain stood before him now, a dare in her gaze. “If you wantme...”
The heat was at his throat now, coiling higher to choke him.
“All you have to do is say it.”
His breath caught, her jade green eyes all he could see.
Ilain set a hand on his chest. He pulled back immediately but found himself pressed against the wall. And she was still there, face only inches away now. “Do you want me?” she asked.
The blush crept up Ethenn’s jaw and into his cheeks. Everyone assumed his blushing was due to embarrassment or shyness, as if he were only a foolish child. It had nothing to do with innocence. No, Ethenn could perfectly imagine what it’d be like to grab Ilain’s wrist, whirling her around, pinningherto the wall. His hand twitched as he envisioned the beads of that bloody scarlet dress underneath his touch.
Ethenn blinked, fighting his staggered breath. No, the blush had nothing to do with innocence. It had everything to do with stifled rage and need, fury and desire.
Ilain’s eyes flashed between his, waiting. “Ethenn—?”
