Page 99 of Feathers of Ash and Hope

“No.” I send him a glare. He chuckles and starts for the stairs. Tate is frighteningly efficient, even with my body weighing him down. And maybe I admire the powerful strokes and the muscles working to save us both.

He pushes me toward the stairs, treading water behind me, waiting for me to climb out first.

I look forward to getting out of the water, but as soon as I drag myself up the first few steps, I take it all back. The cold of the water is nothing compared to the agony once the wind reaches me.

If my face felt like an ice mask before, I now feel like a cursed marble statue. My chattering teeth are joined by rattling knees. About halfway up, my whole body shakes so hard that I’m afraid I will tumble down at any second.

Tate is not much better off even though he tries to hide it. No one is waiting for us when we finally reach the ground above.

Maybe Lorcan didn’t know about the steps or simply gave up waiting. I don’t know if I’m relieved or sad about it. A little fire would have been nice, and I still want my answers. However, there is a chance he’s still caught up in his rage, and I don’t want to face that version of him right now.

Tate uses his gift to shield us from the wind, but it doesn’t make much of a difference at this point, and when he tries to warm the air around us, he turns frighteningly pale.

“S-s…stop,” I tell him, my teeth chattering so hard I’m astonished I even manage to speak. “N…n…not carry…y you.”

He hesitates for a moment but then nods. “I’m calling Daeva,” he says, his gaze turning distant.

“No!” I shake my head frantically. The only place Daeva can land close to the base is in the courtyard, which will draw attention I can’t afford.

“Ara,” Tate growls. But I shake my head again and start walking.

My actions are sluggish and stiff, but I keep moving. The warmth of Tate’s gift is right next to me, calling to me, and I want nothing more than to snuggle into it, to draw the warmth in and let it heat me. I…what?My eyes widen in alarm, and I stumble. No, surely I meant to say I wanted to snuggle into him, his body right?

“Let me carry you.” Tate looks worried, but I shake my head. I will not get close to him right now, not after that. Not when it’s something I want so badly, and I’m no longer sure the reason is simple attraction.

“I’m…f-f—” I start, but he cuts me off.

“If you say fine,” he threatens, stepping closer, “I will pick you up right now because then you are delirious.”

I bite my tongue and start walking again. By the time we reach the edges of Platoria, it’s painfully obvious that I will never make it back in this condition. My body is no longer just stiff but also numb. Thankfully, the shaking has stopped, but I’m more stumbling than walking, and it takes all my concentration to set one foot in front of the other. I’m so tired.

When I stumble again, Tate sweeps me into his arms, his eyes daring me to protest, but I don’t. This is so much better: his arms, his warmth…I snatch my hand away from the skin of his neck, placing it on his uniform-covered shoulder instead.

My sudden movement earns me a raised eyebrow, and I look everywhere but at his face. I only now realize the houses around us look nothing like the ones we ran past while escaping the dragon. They are tall and proud, and the street is clean and well-lit.

“You didn’t think I would walk with you in that state through the worst area Platoria has to offer, did you?” Tate asks. “This way is also shorter, and we can do this.” Tate steps up to one of the houses and knocks.

That he wears his uniform does come in handy now.We are ushered in without a question and find ourselves in front of a roaring fire, covered in blankets and cradling cups of hot tea before we can utter so much as a question.

The shaking returns as if my body had simply been too rigid before and continues now that it can. The feeling in my feet and hands returns with a vengeance, and I bite my lip to hold in a moan. It hurts.

Gradually, the mix of stabbing pain and tingles gives way to my extremities feeling like they are on fire.

I drink three cups of tea, the hot liquid warming me up from within. The shaking finally stops, and my body no longer feels like it might shatter.

Apart from a few muttered thanks to our host, a matronly woman who, despite her curious glances, hasn’t asked any questions so far, we sit in total silence.

I have to admire her for her restraint. I would have asked a lot of questions if two strangers came up to my doorstep soaking wet, uniform or not.

She is currently bustling in her kitchen, warming up the stew she offered us if the heavenly scent is anything to go by. I eye the room around us. It’s cozy, with thick rugs covering the floor, a big fireplace, and multiple bookshelves, but clutter is everywhere.

My lips twitch at the thought of what Ian would say to that since he always gives me hell for leaving stuff out.

“How is it that I find you always in the thick of it when trouble is to be found?” Tate breaks the silence, and my eyes fly back to his face.

“I was doing just fine until you came charging in,” I say.

“Which I did because you were cornered by a fucking dragon who looked like he was ready to devour you!”

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