Page 12 of The Lawgiver's Firebrand
Slung over the shoulder of a Firebrand, the vampire shouted, “She nearly killed me. I’m calling her commander.”
“Shut the fuck up. She saved your miserable life.” Daire hustled away with Ari. “He’s a minor, pain-in-the-ass dignitary. Hardly worth rescuing.”
At Ari’s insistence, he leaned her against a car where she sucked in much-needed air. Her hair was disheveled, what was left of her dress was slit from knee to hip, and the soles of her feet were encrusted with dirt and soot. She scrubbed one mucky hand across her weary face.
With her vision clearer, she ran her gaze over Daire. He was missing his beautiful tuxedo jacket. The sleeves of his still-white shirt were rolled up, and his trousers were in perfect shape. His shiny dress shoes were barely scuffed. Everyone else was ragged and dirty. Not her incubus lawgiver.
“Are you well?” he asked.
She fought the desire to fall into his arms, bawling against his chest. Too pathetic. Too unheroic. Too un-Firebrandish. She snorted in a sharp, quick breath. Close call. She hadn’t been sure she’d make it out. Maybe her cousin should see her now. He wouldn’t be so obsessed with being tapped to become a warrior.
“Yeah, I’m well. Well done. Like chicken on the grill.” She brushed a tangle of hair away from her face.
“You’re more like smoked salmon.”
Her chin popped up. “A joke?”
“Gotta lighten the mood. My guests seem unhappy with the entertainment I arranged.”
“Hmm. How’d you fare?”
“Pretty sure my ankle is sprained. But it’s already healing.”
“Yet, you aren’t screaming and cussing like my whimpering, entitled vamp.”
“But I’d like to.”
Nace strolled toward them. “Some party, Lawgiver. You good, Ari?”
“Just need a few more gasps of oxygen and a bubble bath.”
“Lawgiver Daire, you gotta get that foot examined.” Nace signaled for a healer.
Daire waved off the medic. “I’ll be fine soon. Others require help more than I.”
Once the last guest rolled out of the parking lot, alone or in a healer’s van, Ari said, “Your turn, hero.”
Daire smiled, his teeth white and straight. “You think I’m a hero?”
“Hero-adjacent, maybe.”
Leaning against the car until her strength returned, Ari heard a warlock healer with x-ray vision pronounce that Daire had a sprained ankle.
“Stay off it, take as many aspirins as you want, and don’t call me in the morning,” said the healer.
As the mage shuffled off, his gait weary, Daire said, “Nice bedside manner.”
Commander Nace conferred with Daire as Ari eavesdropped. “Arisen Dawn assholes, you think? They were protesting outside your chambers.”
“Could have been a kitchen accident. The fire was coming from that area,” proposed Daire.
Nace shook his head. “My mage specializing in this sort of thing says it was not an accident. Accelerant.”
Jumping in uninvited, Ari said, “I don’t think it was Arisen Dawn.”
Daire angled his body toward her, drawing his brows tight. “Why do you say that?”
“One of the protesters from the Blood Shed was inside. An ylve. He was helping the injured.” Ari paused. “I hope he got out okay after me.”
