Page 39 of The Sins of Silas

“I can’t,” I choked on a sob. “Please, please, I can’t look!”

My body…my soul…felt like it was tearing in half.

Burning.

“Okay, okay,” Elowen responded softly, her eyes going to Torrin’s.

“Shit!” Merrick exclaimed, ripping his grip from mine.

My head shot toward him, taking in his blood-red hand.

“Merrick…what did I—”

Torrin instantly scooped me into his arms, not caring that blood was getting all over his clothes. He hurried for the door, and my two other friends followed quickly behind.

It was late. I knew Mother was asleep, Vicsin and Heildee as well. Torrin didn’t care if he woke them, it seemed, as he practically flew out of the house. He rushed me outside of Ames, the Mages keeping watch looking at us with concern.

It was the first week of January, and the ground was covered with snow. The winter wind did nothing to cool me. It whipped around us, Torrin’s white hair blowing with the movement. When we were further away, just before a river with no trees surrounding us, Torrin placed me directly in the snow.

Merrick and Elowen caught up quickly, the latter taking panicked breaths, the former watching in fear as his tears slipped free.

“Go, you two!” Torrin barked. “It’s too dangerous!”

“But Torrin—” Merrick began.

“GO!”

They hesitated before ultimately conceding, sprinting away back toward our village.

My flesh was heating so rapidly my skin started to blister…started toburn,despite being enveloped in snow—snow that was melting around me.

I gritted my teeth.

“Try to control your breathing, Lena,” Torrin said softly. His fingertips grazed my arm, and he hissed as he withdrew, the heat emulating from me burning him.

“Leave me,” I begged, my voice hoarse. “I cannot bear hurting you.”

“I will be fine,” he assured me. “I have gone through this. I understand.”

I knew he didn’t mean a miscarriage. Torrin had also acquired fire.

He entrapped his hands in a thin layer of ice, ran them down my arms, then placed them on my chest. They began to melt quickly, so Torrin continued using ice magic, refreezing his hands to keep me cool as best he could.

His scent overwhelmed me—cedar and rain. That scent comforted me during our journey here…comforted me all those days he carried my weakened body.

“When my parents disappeared when I was sixteen, I was so scared…sad…” he began, his voice low and calming. “But, as time went on, those in the village gave up the search and assumed them dead or that they abandoned me. I became so angry.”

He leaned in close, using his magic to blow air as frigid as the coldest winter night along the column of my neck. I shivered, but it still wasn’t enough to bring my body heat down.

“I was angry our people assumed the worst of them. I was angry they gave up. I was angry that I had no answers.”

He blew along the other side of my neck, and I let out a shaky exhale, my eyes fluttering shut.

“When their belongings were discovered abandoned deep in the woods, I knew my parents must’ve been killed. I knew I’d never see them again.”

One last blow of cool air across my lips, and I relaxed ever so slightly at the feeling.

“I am so sorry for this tragedy, Lena,” he whispered. “I am so sorry for all you’ve had to endure.” He placed his lips against my forehead, lips covered in frost, the gesture calming me even more so. When his lips thawed, he pulled away. “But you will overcome this.”

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