Chapter 32
It was already late afternoon when we arrived in Rastialla.
Several neatly stacked Samhain pyres had been built by the villagers in various scattered locations, waiting to be ignited.
For a moment, my thoughts flashed back to my nightmare in which I’d been burned alive, but I forced them away, as I always did whenever I refused to deal with something that hurt.
Talking about things that brought pain, Dion’s body heat seared through my back and made it impossible to ignore his presence.
I couldn’t make sense of him or his behavior.
Whatever boundaries he’d built between us after our visit at Larithia’s—I feared he’d torn them down and used the rubble to build a prison around me with him as the sole warden.
He prevented me from talking to Rewi and Bryon ever since we’d met them, something that made my blood boil hotter the more time passed. Nothing I said could change his stubborn mind.
We found an inn and surprisingly got enough rooms so we could spread out comfortably.
I told Dion in no uncertain terms that I wanted to bunk with Rewi, but the dark idiot threw a giant tantrum and dragged me with him into one of the bedchambers.
One of these days, I’d strangle him, and truth be told, that glorious day wasn’t very far away anymore.
Bryon would stay with Antas and Fig, who’d also announced that Ireas would have to share a room with Thain—after catching the redhead ogling Rewi and me and us scowling at him in return.
“Don’t even consider leaving these four walls.” Dion resorted to his favorite method of growling at me again as he stood in front of the door leading to the small washroom belonging to our chamber.
“You’re not my master.” The moment the words were spoken and floating in the air, the dangerous glint in Dion’s eyes told me I’d made a grave mistake.
I should have thought better than to antagonize him when he was in one of his dark moods.
But since the damage was already done, I dared to push him even further: I got up and strutted toward the door leading to the corridor.
“Jama. Just one single inch more—and you’ll regret it.”
His warning growl left me cold. I stared at him—and deliberately lifted my foot in slow motion with the clear intent of taking another step.
A telltale warmth flooded through me, and my eyes transformed into slits. “Why are you reaching for my Potential?”
Dion didn’t reply, only glowered at me as a shadowy tendril appeared and wrapped around my wrist. I lunged toward the unbelievable bastard in cold fury, only to be halted mid-movement.
“Did you really take from me to bind me to the bed?” My voice was dripping with acid, and I glared at the bedpost to which he’d restrained me with his magic—and the perky black tendril around my wrist had the nerve to hum.
“Can’t risk you running off over a minor disagreement, as you did not too long ago.” Dion shrugged and had the audacity to smirk—and wink—at me before slipping through the door into the washroom.
“Dion! Come back at once and take your magic away!”
“Be silent, or I’ll have to gag you too.
You know I would.” His voice resonating through the closed door sounded amused, and I swore to all the gods and godlings that he would die by my hand.
Painfully. Slowly. Very soon. Grinding my teeth, I shut up because I didn’t doubt for one second he’d make good on his threat.
Burning with rage, I sat down on the bed and stared holes into the bathroom door.
Five minutes later, I still hadn’t cooled off, but when it knocked on the door, I looked up.
“Shit, Naya, what peed on your parade?” Rewi scuttled into the room.
My anger evaporated when I saw her, but I quickly pressed my index finger to my lips and motioned my head toward the washroom door.
Rewi just shrugged. “That Fig guy said I’m supposed to share a room with you.”
That made me grin. If Fig utilized his authority, Dion could protest as much as he wanted. Suited him right.
“Want to go down to the tavern and eat something?”
“I can’t.”
Rewi’s eyes followed my scowl to the shadow restraint around my wrist. If I hadn’t known it was impossible, I would have believed the little fucker was preening—and it was definitely purring. “What the gods is that, Naya?”
“Shadows.”
“Shadows? How?” Rewi’s eyes widened as she touched the black tendril, which slightly twitched as if it was irritated that someone else was touching it. “It’s solid and warm.”
“Yes, it is. And it means I’m stuck here.”
“I’ll repeat myself. How? What?”
“You want to sit down for that.”
“Just tell me.”
“Well, guess what? Magic is real. Remember the darkness in Credenta when I—when I left?”
“You mean when they wanted to execute you for defending yourself? Yes, I remember. No one could explain the phenomenon, and it caused quite a mass panic. Magic, you say?” She paused for a moment. “I guess it doesn’t come from you, given the disdain you seem to have for your fancy shadow bracelet.”
Rewi’s eyes sparkled with amusement—and hope.
Ever since we’d been children, she believed in the existence of something more.
She was obsessed with myths and legends, and ever since I’d found out the truth, I knew she’d have a field day once she would learn what had been kept from us.
A giddy warmth bloomed in my soul that I was the one who could finally confirm some of her theories.
“Why would I bind myself to the bedpost? No. The overprotective oaf guarding me is a Wielder and thinks you or Bryon will rip my head off.”
“So, magic is real? That wasn’t a joke? Oh, Naya—I knew it all the time!”
“It is. Yes, you’ve been right all along.”
“And that sexy, growly brute is able to use magic? What did you call him? Wielder?”
Something prickly bristled in my throat when Rewi called Dion sexy, but I swallowed it down, and I definitely wouldn’t analyze the annoying sensation. “Yes. The men I travel with all can, more or less.”
“You have to tell me everything. How did you end up from hanging at the gallows to traveling the continent with five hot magic Wielder? It sounds like a fantasy tale.” Rewi’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “But more importantly, what’s going on between you and Mr. Tall, Dark and Jealous?”
“Nothing.” Ugh, that came out too quickly.
Rewi’s eyebrow shot up. “I’m not an expert on men or anything, but I know that kind of jealousy isn’t nothing.”
“It’s complicated. We’re friends. Or have been, what do I know? Dion is extremely complex, honestly. But he isn’t jealous. He just has been overbearingly protective ever since he cut me off that rope.”
“If not in men, do you know what I’m an expert on? You! And I can tell that there’s something when you’re blushing like that. You like him.” Rewi wore her no-nonsense face, and I cursed how well she knew me.
Glancing at the washroom door, I hoped Dion couldn’t hear us. I lowered my voice to a whisper.
“He’s moody, brooding, and either hot or cold.
It’s like he knows no moderation. One moment, we’d become good friends, then suddenly, he acted as if I was a major inconvenience, not worthy of a friendly word.
Then he changed direction completely from one second to the other and cranked up his territorial streak to the maximum.
Seriously, for the last few days, he barely cared if I was alive, and just when my favorite person in the entire world comes along—together with another friend—he’s losing his shit again. ”
“That’s not what I’ve asked, Naya. Do you like him?”
“Ugh, Rewi. I don’t know. Admittedly, I’ve never seen a more attractive man in my life, but he’s also a controlling bastard with a god complex who knows everything better and thinks he’s the pinnacle of all creation.
” I faced Rewi’s scrutinizing look and sighed. “I like him, yes. But not like that.”
“So, can I try my luck then? Because yes, he looks positively edible. Sharing a room sounds like an opportunity. I’m sure you can bunk in one of the other chambers.”
“No!” Louder than intended, I exclaimed my protest. So much for playing it cool. Rewi grinned at me, and I grumbled. “You set me up.”
Rewi’s melodic laughter rang through the room before she went quiet again. “You better sort out your feelings, Naya.”
“No, thank you. I’m more than fine ignoring complicated things for an indefinite amount of time.”
“I’m aware of that. Until everything catches up and collapses around you.”
I winced. Sadly, Rewani was correct in her assessment.
Not only that, but Dion had often enough tried to tell me the same.
Time and time again, I was pushing problems aside, thinking they’d go away on their own if I just ignored them long enough.
It rarely worked out, which scared me because of the sheer amount of crap I’d pushed away lately, but then again, I just stored that thought with all the others deep in the dark and dusty places of my mind.
“Honestly, Dion and I aren’t like that.”
“All right, all right, then you’ll surely be able to keep an open mind when Bryon wants to talk to you.”
“What?” I stared at her, and she chuckled.
“I’ve already said too much.”
I scowled at Rewi, but she ignored it with a fake, innocent smile.
“By the way, Rewi. You don’t wear a choker. How did that work out for you on the road?” Changing topics was always something I was good at.
“I have an official permit, seal and all from the mayor of Credenta, allowing me and my guard a pilgrimage to Ivreiana.”
“Your father granted you a permit?”
“No. But I know where his seals and papers are. Come on, it can’t come as a surprise that I can easily fake his script and signature.”
As I nodded, a grin appeared on my face. “Sounds like you.”
“Enough about me. I want to hear more about your travels. And about magic!”
“I don’t think so.” Flinching, my gaze shot to the washroom door where Dion had appeared, wearing nothing but a tiny towel wrapped dangerously low around his hips, showcasing his more than just toned chest muscles, abdomen, and the beginning of a well-defined V.
His long onyx hair was unbound, tousled, and still damp from water.
I’d never seen him in such a state of undress prior to this and couldn’t help but notice a burning heat pooling in my lower belly—and worse, in my cheeks.
“You’re staring, Jama.” Dion sounded far too smug for his own good while Rewi laughed.
“And you’re preening like a peacock.”
“Silence, stranger.”
I’d have backed Rewi up, but I didn’t trust my voice right now. Instead, I reached for Dion’s bag and tossed him one of his tunics.
“I’m your new roommate. Your superior said so.” Rewi sounded smug, and Dion growled. He’d caught the garment without looking and was holding it in his hands.
“Gods, Dion. That’s a tunic. You wear it over your body to be decent.” The husky undertone in my voice betrayed that decency was not the predominant thought in my mind. “And take your shadows away so I can wash up as well. It’s been a few days.”
Dion chuckled darkly and turned his attention from Rewi to me.
Ignoring my halfhearted attempt to humor him into getting dressed, he stalked toward me until he was close enough to make me dizzy.
Gods, this man wielded his body like his magic—with every intention to kill.
He didn’t need a weapon—without his clothes he was one himself, a delirious combination that was both beautiful and lethal. I had no chance, none at all.
“With—pleasure.” His voice was a low, raspy rumble, and he leaned forward, right into my personal space, until his hand touched the shadow tendril curled around my wrist, which uncoiled lazily, brushing gently over the sensitive skin of my arm, leaving goosebumps in its wake until it finally slithered back toward its master where it dissipated.
One thing was true: Dion had completely unraveled me—hook, line, and sinker.
His chest was too close to my face, and my cheeks lit up like a light fire, furiously blushing as I got a good whiff of his petrichor and evergreen scent that, for once, wasn’t layered with the smell from the travels.
The hot sensation in my core reared up with a vengeance, and I totally spaced out.
“I won’t leave the room even if you start making out.
” Rewi’s dry tone pulled me back to reality, and from the wicked grin on Dion’s face, I instantly knew he, indeed, was attempting to bully her into vacating the chamber by trying to embarrass her.
Well, he wasn’t acquainted with Rewi, so all he managed was to make me extremely flustered instead of her.
“Insufferable Idiot.” I slid sideways out of Dion’s vicinity and got up, away from his perfectly sculpted body.
“Don’t think I don’t know that you could have dissolved your magic from across the room, you…
ass.” I’d wanted to use another curse, but my mind blanked as soon as I realized that the towel didn’t close all the way at the back, giving me a perfect view I wouldn’t forget for a long time.
“And where would be the fun in that, Jama? Your red face is a sight to behold.”
“Go and play with something sharp, and leave me alone.” Abashed, I grabbed my bag and stormed into the washroom, not only to clean up but also to regain my sanity after witnessing that body. Nature wasn’t fair, wrapping someone so insufferable into such an indescribable exterior.
There was no sound coming through the closed door, and I finally shed my clothes and cleaned myself, doing my best not to think about Dion clothed in nothing but a small towel and especially not about the fact that I’d just left him alone and basically naked with another woman. Shit.