Page 4 of The Incendiary

“Really, it’s nothing.”

“Who did this to you, Ella?” I demanded sharply.

Her eyes grew wide, startled by my tone. I’d always had a quick temper, but never this quick.

“My mother,” she admitted.

I froze. I had never hit a woman before. But as I stared at those bruises on Ella’s arm, I realized I wasn’t opposed to striking the Queen of Nyrida.

“Your mother did this to you?”

Aryella sank her teeth into her plush bottom lip. “She’s sick.”

“She’s sick?”

“She… seizes,” she explained, then sniffled. “She goes into a sort of trance and sees things. I was sitting with her, and she grabbed my arm while her mind went wherever it went. She holds on to me like I’m what she needs to know what’s real.” Ella looked at me with pleading eyes, shaking her head. “She doesn’t mean to. It’s not her fault. It’s Molochai’s curse.”

My need to comfort her pierced through the veil of my rage. I tucked my finger beneath her chin. When she looked up at me with those stunning green-gold eyes, my chest felt like it was collapsing in on itself.

The weight of her mother’s curse, Molochai, this city, this world—it was crushing her love and light and whatever dreams she ever dared to dream. I wanted to make her mine. To take her away from it all. I didn’t have much, but if I did one thing right in this life, I would help her carry everything.

“Let me help you,” I uttered softly. “If anyone touches or threatens you, if someone so much as looks at you in a way you don’t like, I want you to tell me.”

There was a war in her eyes, like she couldn’t decide whether to be grateful or wary. “Gavin, respectfully, I hardly know you. I don’t think you should be asking me⁠—”

“I’m not asking.”

Defiance fought its way into her stare. Yes, I almost said. Fight. You need that fight.

“Do you understand you’re trying to give orders to a princess?” she asked, shoulders straightening.

I fought a smirk. “Well, Princess.” I tucked a strand of soft silver behind her ear. Her cheeks flamed red, and my smile broke free. “I am at your mercy. But anyone who touches you”—I stroked her soft skin with my thumb—“is at mine.”

She sucked in a startled breath, and gods, that little gasp. She was going to be the hardest test of willpower in existence.

“Okay,” she agreed. “I’ll tell you.”

The city bells chimed at nine o’clock. It had been three hours. I wasn’t sure I’d spent that much time talking to anyone in an entire year before.

“Thank you for dinner. I should probably be getting home,” she said. My pulse increased to dangerous levels. The thought of her leaving did terrifying things to me. “I’ll walk,” she said, but she was slow to step away. “I know the way.”

Walk? The fuck she would. Not alone.

“Ah,” I sighed, much nicer about it out loud. “I don’t think so, Ella.”

She rolled her eyes, giggling. “Are you my bodyguard now?”

“Yes,” I replied bluntly.

She pursed her lips. “I came here alone.”

“It was still light out.”

Her eyes softened. “I can walk by myself. I’ll be okay. Though it’s very sweet of you to care.”

I more than care.

“If you insist.” I would just follow her the entire way home, then, and keep watch from afar. “When can I see you again?”