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His words draw my attention as he gestures to my wrapped arm. “If only you knew the half of it,” I reply. “You would have been first. Well, second given the pixies were closest.”
He grins at me. “I am not surprised. After the way you reacted to me escorting your woman around the camp the other day. You’ve been rather pissy ever since.”
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, remembering all the ways we made love last night. Even now, I can still feel her body surrounding mine, her hands on my—Yes. And it felt so nice to give in.“Ember is troublesome for me.”
The fucker grins. “As was my love. She was both a source of frustration and my greatest passion all wrapped up in one beautiful woman.” His expression grows wistful as he looks out over the camp.
His skin is far too pale, his eyes hollow. The magic in him is waning, and once it dies, so will he. Without his mate, Fin is simply fading away. “Ember is both for me as well. Though, it doesn’t make any sense. I was bonded before, Fin. To Ailis.”
“And what you feel for Ember? You believe it to be a bond?”
“I do,” I tell him honestly. “Even stronger than what I felt with Ailis. It’s as though—” Trailing off, I rub the heel of my palm against my chest. “As though we are connected. Which should be impossible.”
“While I did not know you when you were bonded with Ailis, from what I hear, she was not worthy of you.”
“She was my true mate,” I tell him. “And we’re only allowed one.”
“Maybe Ember is your second chance.”
As much as I want to believe it, I cannot. A man who has committed the crimes I have is not deserving of such things as second chances. Though, I’m selfish enough to take every moment I do have with her. “Ember is going to die,” I remind him. “And when she does, I will need you to put a blade in my heart.”
Fin shifts his full attention to me. “Why the fuck would I do that?”
I turn to him. “Because if you don’t, I will kill everyone.”
“You cannot expect me to kill you, Raffe. There has to be another way.”
I gesture at my injured arm. “This is just the beginning, Fin. I know myself, my limits, and this magic is simply biding its time until I am so overrun with emotion it can take over. Ember will be that trigger.”
For the first time since I’ve known Fin, he looks genuinely afraid. Which is good because I need him to be. I need him to understand just what is on the line.
Something he clearly does when he clasps a hand to my back. “Then you’d better make a backup plan should I be gone first.”
“Rafferty?” I turn toward the tent.
“Ember is calling for you.”
Fin clasps a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll be sure to direct any and all traffic away from the two of you.” He winks. “After being stranded in the woods all night, I’d say you deserve a day off.”
“Thank you. Let me know if anything changes with Paulina,” I add.
Fin’s lips flatten, and he nods. “You’ll be the first.”
* * *
Ember is seatedin the center of the bed, in the exact same position I left her. Face pale, she regards me with wide eyes. My heart hammers as I rush forward, crossing the room in mere seconds and gathering her face in my hands.
“Are you all right?”
She shakes her head. “I’m cold. So cold.”
I climb onto the mattress and slip beneath the covers to wrap both arms around her. “Is that better?” I ask, though my mind revolts at the idea of bringing her comfort when the dark magic is so set on pain.
“Better. Talk to me. Distract me. How are you feeling now?”
“Fine,” I lie.
“Rafferty.” She tips her face up and throws me a pointed look. “If what we did last night—”
