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The words of needing a fire extinguisher die on my tongue. “What’s on fire?”
She avoids my gaze, looking down at the ground. Misery covers her, the thick emotion oozing around her.
“Adara.” I kneel down in front of her, cupping her cheek and raising her chin until I can look into her eyes.
She turns her face, ripping free of my grasp. Tears drip down her cheeks, and she presses farther against the door.
“Please,” I say. “What happened? Is it safe to stay inside?”
A humorless huff of laughter quietly escapes her. “It’s safe enough, I guess,” she whispers.
Reaching out, I brush my thumb across her cheek, swiping away her tears. My heart clenches painfully at the sight of her. “What happened, little witch?”
She takes a shaky breath, her lips trembling. Her voice comes out as a hoarse whisper, and I strain to hear the words. “I set my bed on fire in my sleep.”
“The… bed? Only that?” My brows furrow. “Is Kaylus—”
“He’s fine. I shoved him out the window. But I… I can’t put the flames out.” She stares down at the floor, resting her forehead atop her knees as she pulls them tightly to her chest.
Settling beside her on the floor, I drape one arm over her shoulders, feeling her tense beneath my touch. “I have other places you can sleep,mia fiamma.”
“I’ll just burn them down,” she says, defeated. “I’m not safe here—not for you or your house. Gods, Gideon.” She scoots away from me, but I pull her back.
“The bed will be the only thing to burn?”
She nods slightly, keeping her head on her knees.
I slide my free hand under her knees, sliding the arm draped over her shoulders down her back for support. She yelps, grappling for a hold on my arm. But I freeze, standing there in the smoke-filled hall with her in my arms, as I stare down at her hands.
Her eyes slowly follow my gaze, and she quickly tucks her hands away, out of sight.
“What happened, Adara?” I growl, fighting to keep my claws from coming out. My head snaps toward her door. “Is that why your bed is on fire? Did someone come—”
“N-no,” she says. “No one is in there, I swear. I-I just had a bad dream.”
My eyes narrow at her. “A dream gave you those wounds? A dream set your magic on edge enough to set the bed on fire?”
Her tongue darts out to lick her lips, and she nods almost imperceptibly.
“What. Dream?”
“Um…” She avoids my gaze, eyes darting around.
“Adara,” I growl.
“It… I…” She licks her lips again. “It was my mother.”
I clench my jaw so hard my teeth ache, inhaling a sharp breath through my nose before blowing it out as a deep sigh. “I want details, but… not tonight.” My grip around her tightens, holding her against my chest, focusing on the weight of her in my arms as I make my way toward my room. A part of me never wants to put her down.
“W-what’re you doing?”
“Taking you to bed. Yours is gone, and I’m not much for sleeping on the floor.” I ignore the shocked look on her face, walking through the open door of my room and kicking it shut behind me. I drop her gently onto the bed and slide in next to her, pulling the covers over us both. My arm snakes around her waist and holds her to me, her back tight against my chest.
“I can’t,” she says, breathless.
“Where else would you sleep?” I whisper in her ear, pressing a kiss just behind it.
“I…” She swallows hard. “The couch.”
