Page 75 of Awakened Ash and Alchemy

The flickering firelight did wondrous things to his face at that angle: the line of his jaw and the slope of his cheekbones, along with the way the amber flames moved in his eyes, she couldn’t look away.

“I hate fire,” he said softly.

“Sorry?” Tucking her gown close, she crouched down to listen.

“I always have.” His gaze remained on the dancing flames. But the stance and tone weren’t bitter, giving an honest glimpse of the man beneath the armor.

“I came to respect it. Knowing it can destroy everything if you lose focus for even a second.” His jaw shifted, but his gaze remained on the flame. “But there are times I don’t want to summon it and feel it move through me. I’d rather just…” He stopped.

“Do it with your hands,” she finished for him.

“Yes.”

The fire crackled as she stole another peek at his profile in the firelight. She felt a shift in her chest that she hadn’t felt before. But was that his emotion? Or hers?

The man made of fire, choosing to use wooden sticks and crouch by a hearthstone, was more powerful than if he’d clicked his fingers to light it.

She then understood that this was his small token of attempting to be normal.

“For what it’s worth, you’re much better at it than me.”

There were moments when he’d look at her when she wasn’t looking at him. She could feel his gaze, but then he’d turn away whenever she raised her eyes to meet his.

Only this time, he let the full weight of those sea-glass eyes lock with hers.

“You would have gotten there.”

“It’s been twenty minutes, Zarek.”

“Hmph.” But it was a warm sound as the corner of his mouth moved, but she caught it—now she knew what to watch for—it was small, like a secret smile just for her.

“Sleep,” he said after a moment. “The readers come again at first light.”

“Sleep would be nice.” She closed her heavy lids. “I’m sorry for waking you with my…” She licked her lips, his eyes tracking the movement.

“Nightmares?”

She nodded.

“Still don’t remember them?”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry I’m disturbing your sleep.”

“Don’t be. I said I’d protect you, and if I could destroy the demon that invades your sleep, I would.”

The last time she’d slept a night free from nightmares was when she’d held his hand when he’d been injured. But she wasn’t going to ask because when she’d done that, he’d left her, only to bring her to this realm.

So, distance was good.

She gripped her medallion and stepped back, neatly boxing away her pesky emotions, not even bothering to dissect whether they were his or hers.

Zarek abruptly rose; the leather armor slightly creaked, the buckles clinked, and with heavy boots he crossed back to the doorway between their chambers. “At least try to get some sleep.”

The door closed whisper-quiet, but the room felt empty without him.

Angela slid into the nearby chair and watched the flames dance, as if trying to read him. The man hated the very thing he was made of, yet still showed patience to coax it to life rather than summon it. And that secret smile he gave her. Well…

Careful.