Page 56 of A Glint of Steel and Roses

I stroked his hair, knowing he meant Brenna. “I know.”

“I want her to suffer. I want to stand over her and watch her shrivel up and die in her own damn fire until she’s nothing but a memory. And then I want that gone, too. Everything that she is, was, will be… I want to kill it.”

“We will. Together,” Hellion promised.

Cian shook his head weakly. “I don’t think we can. The army was decimated. When she hit the camp, we had no warning. None. We barely got enough troops together to lure them up into the pass.”

I swallowed, not wanting to ask, but I had to know. “Will and Xeltec?”

“I sent them with the injured and the non-combatants back to Ezulari. They were supposed to flee, get to safety no matter what. We took the Unburnt and the Scourge up to hold their advance, but they just kept coming.” He lifted his head from my chest to look at me for the first time in hours. The whites of his eyes were almost as red as his irises. “Odan?”

“He was alive when we saw him last,” Hellion volunteered. “After you were hit, he flew us to the other side of the pass. He stayed behind to slow down the scouts pursuing us.”

Cian closed his eyes, let out a shuddering breath, and leaned back against the pillows. “When I saw the dragon, I thought… I thought you were…” He choked.

“I couldn’t kill it. I’m sorry.”

“No. Don’t be sorry. Don’t you dare be sorry.” His eyes were half open now, his tone scolding. “I saw its wings. You robbed it of the sky and gave us a chance. And then you came back to us alive, unhurt.”

Hellion squeezed my fingers.

I looked at them, knowing the next part of what I had to say wouldn’t be any easier than the rest. “There’s… something else.”

Our eyes met. Cian waited, silent, patient, worried.

The only way to tell him was to walk him through everything that had happened, and so I recounted the battle. I told him about the lights, the long wait in the dark, Morlash’s command, rallying the troops. He closed his eyes as if he could see it when I told him about Nisang’s last flight through the fire, and listened intently as I described how I became more than just Nevahn, but Nevahn theMaelstrom Mage.

“You have magic,” he said at last when I had finished. “Like them.”

“Not like them,” Hellion corrected. “Just because his power is like theirs doesn’t mean he has anything to do with Iridyn or his ilk.”

“One thing is for certain. You’ll need to train.” Cian leaned back, stretching.

I was half distracted by the sudden, languid stretch of exposed muscle near the waistband of his pants. “Could you teach me, Hellion?”

Hellion pressed their lips together. “The fundamentals of magic are the same regardless of the school, but I could only teach you theory, not practice.”

“And there are no more Storm Weavers in the world,” I finished with a sigh. There was no one who could teach me how to use my powers.

“We’ll have to get you some amplifiers of your own,” Hellion teased their fingers through the endless gold chains on their body. “I wonder what your element is.”

“My…element?”

Cian nodded. “Every mage has an affinity for a certain material, one that naturally amplifies their power. I’m not as strong a mage as Hellion, but my element is obsidian. I have some of it in my armor, and some rings that can make me stronger when it’s required.”

“And yours is obviously gold,” I said, nodding to Hellion.

“You should ask Warlord Chinua about it. A Warlord’s job is to assist,” Cian said. Actually, I should probably speak with Chinua myself.”

I shook my head. “Tomorrow. You’re not fully healed. Not even close.”

“Pity because with the look you’re giving me right now, I think you’d finally be able to give me that workout.” He grinned.

I tore my eyes away and pretended to be more interested in one of the fans on the wall, heat rushing to my face.

“It’s unfortunate,” he continued, “but I think you’re right. I feel half dead. I don’t even think I could stand, and if I could, I’d want food and a bath before I let you have me.”

“Speak for yourself,” Hellion growled, and I yelped as they pulled me into their lap. “I’m desperate for an orgasm.”

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