Page 72 of Petals for Deadly Power

There was the raw desperation and consuming rage they’d suffered. This kiss was suffocating the vivid possibility that one could have died without the other, the pure fear when the end felt so close. But here they were—very-fucking alive, together, closer than they’d ever been. Stronger than they’d ever been.

Her hands wandered under his shirt, his defined abdomen greeting her touch as his teeth bit her bottom lip, his low groan in answer to her peaked nipples asking for more. Her fingers moved towards his back, his very muscled ba—

She gasped, widening her eyes, panic cooling her blood as she jumped to the floor, walking behind Jake.

“It’s nothing.”

She Took his shirt, words not finding her mouth as shivers traveled up her thighs. It hadn’t been her imagination. What she had felt with the tips of her fingers, what she was looking at right now, was Jake’s utterly scarred back.

She knew what had caused that burning, painful destruction to his skin, to his body.Shehad fucking caused that, and how badly must have that hurt?

Tears flooded her eyes, her heart sore as if she’d been stabbed. “You should have told me.”

Jake turned around to face her, his fingers wiping away her tears as he sighed. “Told you I have scars that prove I would do anything to save you?”

“Maybe I can Heal them,” she managed to say between jagged breaths. “Maybe I can make your skin smooth again.”

“Lenna, look at me.” His still dark grey eyes narrowed until hers met his stare. “I don’t want them Healed. These scars will forever remind me to never take for granted how lucky I am to see you smile, to hear you laugh, to touch you, to kiss you, tobewith you. I wear them with pride.”

Her heart squeezed with overwhelming guilt, pain, and love. Her arms surrounded him, losing herself in a tight embrace he returned with the same passion.

“I love you, Jake. Thank you, and I’m sorry, and . . . I told you . . . I’m fire-cursed.”

“No, Lenna. You’re my fire-blessed.”

45

Hope

Itwasthesecondtime the world became pitch-black while Hope Gave wind to push the navia. It was impossible to know if she’d been here for forty, fifty, or fifty-five hours, and it didn’t truly matter.

Her mind was an exhausted mumble of panom power and blurry focus, of thoughts that didn’t last long enough to fully understand their meaning to assess if they were important or not. Everything had moved to a second plane, her hyper-fixation being an island she had never set foot on.

The feeling this time was different. She felt it in the way the red moon shone like a red bulb in the middle of a black sea. She felt it in her blood, in her magic, in her heart.

She couldn’t see the island, but shefeltit—Orizane was close.

Since the sunset was over, the six courtrades had reined their distinct shadows swirling in a joined effort to reach their goal. Perhaps they also felt the island approaching now. Perhaps their night-vision even allowed them toseethe place their god created. Perhaps it was ante meridiem already—the peak of the night—when Llunal’s magic had more influence than any other time.

The corner of her eye caught the glimpse of dark green sparks leaving Ciaran’s fingers.

“Nearly there,” he said next to her, and a gentle shadow caressing her skin made her smile.

He hadn’t left her side while she’d been here, Healing her when her arms cramped due to being extended for too long, her hands from being open, her fingers from being tense. He had taken over the few minutes she had stopped; he hadn’t slept while she hadn’t slept; he had barely eaten as she had barely eaten. She was not glad that he’d put his body under the same strain—he hadn’t needed to. But still, it had been his choice, a choice that screamedYou’re not alone,I’m not abandoning you, andWe’ll do this together.

The exact same choice Hope would have made for him.

Now, his shadows were as strong and unstoppable as they’d ever been, the metallic shine of his arm pushing them through the night to join the other five beings blessed with Llunal’s shadows. His panom sparks had vanished down the stairs heading off the deck, and she had a good guess why. His dual powers in use for the same cause.

The door to the deck opened, and loud footsteps sounded.

“Mother of all Cardinals, how dark is it?” Ayla asked. If ante meridiem wasn’t already dark, the constant shadow-wielding of the six courtrades made it impossible to see.

“Bloody Fifth hell! Whoever stepped on my foot—be more careful,” the pretty, blond panom woman said angrily. She had traveled with the others, and Lenna described her as anon-important-but-a-bit-useful-guest.

“So sorry, Arabella,” Lenna’s voice sounded as innocent as a killing blow. “I didn’t mean to. It’s justsodark.”

“Orizane is right in front of us,” Ciaran said. “If our shadows and magic work together, we’ll get there soon.”

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