Page 126 of Cry of the Firebird

Aramis had not just let his magic touch hers, but he had been using itonher. Her hands tightened into fists, but she kept her cool. She wouldn't be the one to have a tantrum and ruin their chance of having the Illumination as backup at the farm.

Aramis answered all their questions without hesitation and in detail, trying to be as transparent as possible. It was late when they started to drift off to their beds, a tentative agreement between them.

"I'll meet you there in a minute. I need to talk to Aramis," Anya said quietly to Trajan.

"I don't like you being alone with him," Trajan replied with a glance at the Álfr.

"I'll be fine." Anya kissed him gently.

The others said their goodnights, until finally Aramis and Anya were alone. He was leaning against the front of his desk, smiling as she walked toward him.

"I think" he began as Anya's right hand struck him hard across the face.

"How dare you use magic on me! You tricked me into trusting you last night, didn't you?" she demanded.

"I only used a little compulsion to make you relax around me. I genuinely want to help you, Anya, and I knew you wouldn't give me a chance in time," he said as a red mark appeared on his pale cheek.

Aramis caught her hand as she raised it again. Translucent tendrils of power burst from her skin and wrapped around him. It pulsed like a heart as it entwined with his magic.

"Why does it do that?" Anya demanded in frustration, pulling her hand away.

"I don't know, but we can work it out together. I'm sorry I used magic on you, but my intentions were honorable. We can work out how you can close the gates properly. Just trust me." He was standing a hair's breadth from her, and Anya stepped back.

"You want me to trust you? Don't use your magic on me again, and don't lie to me," she said, folding her arms so she wouldn't touch him again.

"I promise. I would like to also offer my assistance in training you. This isn't the Illumination offering, but me," Aramis said sincerely.

"I already have the Twins training me. I don't need your help."

"The Twins are Powers in their own lands, and they will need to return to them soon. Also, your magic doesn't react to them like it does to me. It's something I've never seen in my considerably long life, but I know others of my people who might have knowledge about it," Aramis argued.

"You work for the Illumination, Aramis," Anya pointed out. "I really doubt they are going to let you decide to train me without me joining you guys."

"Who said they need to know?" Aramis asked, his blue eyes flashing with a streak of mischief she didn't expect.

"Okay, maybe a few lessons, just to see how I feel about it," Anya said, her curiosity winning out. "I really don't need another babysitter."

"I don't plan on being one. Let's have a lesson tomorrow when we get off the train. Sleep well, Anya," Aramis replied, dismissing her gently.

"Yeah, I'll try," she said, really doubting it. Her mind was on fire, and her magic was jittery from spending so long around him.

Anya's compartment was empty when she got back, and she figured Trajan would have gone to have a drink and debrief with the others. She grabbed the leather bag holding her drum, determined to get her magic to calm down. Anya yelped as the drum shocked her with static.

"Fuck," she mumbled and sucked her stinging finger. She tipped the bag upside down on the bed and quickly flipped the drum. Her teeth closed hard on her sore finger.

There was a new symbol on the top half of the drum, the Heavenly Realm. Unlike the others inked in dark brown Sami symbols, this was a shining silver leaf drawn in intricate detail. Anya knew instinctively what it meant. "Bloody Aramis."

Anya didn't know how or why, but Aramis was important somehow. She had been around enough magic users to knowthat her power reacting to his was something unusual. Now he had turned up on her drum, where until then, the only other symbol that related to someone around her was Yvan and the firebird.

Maybe it's destiny, the way meeting Yvan was.The only way to find out was to trust him and hope like hell Aramis didn't betray her.

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

Isabelle rushed through the aisles and headed for the storage carriages to get her motorcycle. At the next stop, she was riding off this damn train. She wouldn't work with the Illumination and have them act like she was some kind of monster.

Ruben had made her so mad, she felt the dark part of herself move about underneath the surface. If Hamish hadn't intervened, she would've killed him. Her hand was itching to go back and put a bullet in the fucking prick's skull.

In the cold cargo carriages, the musty odor of damp canvas and motor oil filled the air. She found her bike closest to the large sliding door, and she pulled the blanket off it. A sob caught in her throat, and she gripped the leather seat as she leaned forward to try and breathe.

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