Chapter Nineteen
TALEN’S POV
Lyra’s eyes flare wide as my flames race up the cage bars, roaring high enough to swallow the world beyond until there’s nothing left outside.
Just me.
Just her.
Folding my arms across my chest, I watch her from the other side of the ring as her gaze jumps around, searching for an exit.
“There’s no way out.” I call over to her. Flicking my wrist, I send out my Air Threads, sealing the space in silence so we can hear each other over the roar of fire, and I can’t stop the smirk tugging at my mouth knowing I finally have her cornered.
“What the hell are you doing here?” She hurls the question at me and plants her hands on her hips as her brows draw in. “And where’s Dave?”
I’m impressed.
A month ago, being trapped inside a cage of flames would’ve sent her spiralling. Now the fear only flashes across her face for a heartbeat before it hardens into anger.
Fuck, I’ve missed that face.
A dangerous throb builds between my thighs—
“And why did we have to make this detour?” Cal growls, far too close to the surface of my mind. “We’re already late.”
Locking my jaw, I try to force him down, but I only just shifted back and he’s still everywhere—under my skin, moving through me like fingers of smoke, clouding my thoughts, my feelings, leaving every nerve he touches heightened and raw.
Even from here, even through the smoke, I can smell her. A bittersweet citrus scent that hooks something deep and possessive in my chest, making my fingers twitch before I can stop them.
Shit.
Maybe locking myself in a burning cage with the one person capable of shredding every ounce of my self-control while Cal is still prowling beneath my skin wasn’t the smartest idea.
But the pain of waiting has become unbearable.
I can’t fucking sleep knowing she’s still angry at me.
“I gave Dave the day off.” I reply, forcing my voice steady.
“Why?” she snaps.
“Because for the past seven weeks you’ve been avoiding me.” Uncrossing my arms, I cock my head at her. “You’re angry about something, and I want to know why.”
“Are you reading my emotions?”
“No. I told you I’d never do that again without asking.
” Dry earth crunches beneath my boot as I start to edge toward her.
“I know because I know you.” She shifts back instinctively but I clench my fist, pulling on my Threads harder and the blaze behind her grows, stalling her retreat.
“You’re not leaving here until you tell me why. ”
“And what makes you think I can’t force my way out?” Firelight spills across her emerald eyes as she narrows them at me, chin lifting in challenge and my pulse turns heavy, each beat punching through my chest.
God, she has no idea what she does to me when she looks at me like that.
“Well,” I murmur, stopping just short of her, “you’ll have to get through me first.” A sly smile pulls at my mouth as I fight the urge to close the final distance between us. “But I’ll tell you what—if you can make me yield, I’ll let you go.”
“But I have no magic. No Threads.” She gestures around us. “The cage contains draconite. How are you even using yours?”
“Because I’m merged with Cal and draconite doesn’t seem to affect dragons the same way it affects us.
” I roll my shoulders, already feeling the anticipation building beneath my skin.
“Besides, I thought hand-to-hand would be more... fun.” My grin widens as I lift an arm toward her, crooking two fingers.
“I told you to find a way to let everything out. So come on... Let it out on me.”
She glares at me, and my gut knots as, for a second, I think she might back down. But then her head tilts instead, lips curling in a way that sends a crushing wave of need through me.
“If I remember correctly,” she taunts, “the last time we sparred, I walked off the mat while you were left holding your groin...”
A laugh slips out before I can stop it and my head falls back briefly. Why does everything feel so good, so right when she’s around?
Exhaling through my nose, I force my attention back where it should be, then run my teeth across my bottom lip and shift into stance. “Well, let’s see if you can do it again, Thorn.”
Across from me, Lyra mirrors the movement, squaring herself for the fight.
She’s smart and knows she can’t overpower me directly, so she moves fast. Puffing out a breath, her arm feints high like she’s aiming for my upper body.
I see through it immediately—I know she’s going for my legs—but the second her body moves into my space her scent crashes into me with such brutal force, it shatters my focus at the worst possible moment.
Then she drops.
Pivoting and hooking her foot behind my ankle before driving her shoulder into my middle with just enough force to tear my balance out from under me before I can properly brace.
Shit.
Grunting, my foot skids across the dirt as my weight shifts off-centre, but before the fall can fully take me, instinct snaps back in. Bracing every muscle in my core, I drive my back foot into the ground with a hiss, catching myself before I fully go down.
“This is what you thought would be more productive? Instead of having the meeting about moving the camp?” Cal claws through the crack in my control.
“You cannot keep avoiding it—keep it, keep Sierra, hidden forever.” Irritation bleeds down the bond.
“He does not have much time left. It is time we return and claim what is rightfully ours.”
“This isn’t about her. Or him.” I bite back. “We have a fucking mole. And I’ve told Merrin and Luc countless times that until we know who’s leaking information and why, I’m not risking moving the camp to the one safe place we have left—”
Lyra moves again.
Exhaling forcefully, she grabs my wrist and uses my distraction to yank me forward before driving her elbow straight toward my ribs.
I catch it midair, barely a second before she makes contact.
“Did Reya tell you I was here?” she pants, twisting against my hold, strong enough to make the muscles in her arm shake, but I don’t let go as I try to shut Cal out.
“No,” I reply, watching the quick rise and fall of her chest as she struggles to catch her breath. “You forget I can talk with the dragons...” Releasing her elbow, I push myself back and prepare for her next strike. “Shanwyn told me. Now talk. Why are you angry at me?”
Her jaw tightens. So does mine. God, she's infuriating. Would rather beat the shit out of me than actually talk through her emotions.
“And you are the expert on emotions now?” Cal mocks.
My fists ball at my side.
Oh fuck off.
In front of me, Lyra raises an arm, wiping at the sweat gathering along her hairline from the heat of my fire raging around us.
The motion drags my attention before I can stop it, and I watch as a bead of moisture slips from the soft line of her jaw, trailing down the curve of her throat before disappearing lower.
The instant my attention slips, she moves.
I throw my arm up to block the strike I’m expecting, but it never lands and instead of committing she slips under the block, pivoting around my side before I can square up properly.
“Shit—”
Wrenching back, I turn to track her, but she’s already stepping into my blindside, her foot hooking briefly against the outside of my leg as she tries to knock my balance out from under me again.
At the last second, I rip my leg free before she can knock it out from under me properly.
The failed sweep carries her a step past me, her boots skidding against the dirt before she catches herself and spins back to face me.
“You didn’t tell me about Blood Moon!” Her voice comes out strained, fury threaded through every word as she braces her hands on her knees. “That I could die...”
“I’m sorry, I wanted to tell you, I should have told you, but you’d just woken up— and after everything else I dumped on you—I didn’t think it was the right time.
” I lift a brow, but her mouth stays set in a hard line as she stares at me.
“Ahria will bond with you. I don’t doubt that for a second.
When your Threads open and she finally sees you—the real you—she’ll bond in a heartbeat.
She’s just being stubborn right now...” Shaking my head, the words like you nearly slip out, but I bite them back.
I need Lyra to talk, not bloody kill me.
“But I know that’s not why you’ve been avoiding me.
” Inhaling, I take a cautious step closer. “So come on. What is it?”
With an irritated huff, she pushes herself upright and brushes back the loose red curls that have fallen free around her face, tucking them behind her ear.
“What I wouldn’t give to have my fingers in that hair...” Cal growls.
No, wait. That was me... Right?
Flexing my fingers, I try to lessen the rising tension racing through me.
I’m so distracted I can’t even separate my thoughts from his anymore, and suddenly looking at her for too long feels too dangerous.
Pivoting away from her, I fill my lungs and try to pull myself back together, try to scrape together even an ounce of self-control before I do something reckless.
The brief pause helps, and this time when she steps in, one hand catching the back of my neck as she tries to force me down into a knee aimed at my stomach, I’m ready for it. Pivoting fast, I catch her thigh before the hit can land properly, stopping her with one leg still lifted between us.
Cursing, she jolts back, but I keep going and step into her space, forcing her weight onto the foot she barely has planted.
Her balance breaks, and for one second we both tip with it, but before either of us can hit the ground I release her thigh, catching her around the waist, and pull her flush against my chest.
Throwing her hands against me, she shoves, trying to break free, but I hold her firm and repeat the question, stressing each word.
“Why are you angry at me, Lyra?”
“You didn’t tell me about Reya... that you were together.”
Looking down at her, my lips curve in a smug smile that I don’t even bother to hide. “Are you jealous?”