Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 140780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
I sniffed as tears escaped, solidifying halfway down my cheeks. “Sure, I’ve felt a little strange ever since you zapped that awful pacemaker. Sure, I’ve felt surges of cold and couldn’t brush off the fact that whenever you grew too hot, I grew icy to match but...”
“But?” he asked gently.
“But...nothing.” I sighed and flung my hands skyward. “It’s not that I don’t want to. Believe me, I would give anything to stop your stupid fire destroying this valley. I want to save as many lives as possible, but I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.”
“No, I can’t! And by saying I can you’re putting far too much pressure on me.” The cold spilled outward, jagged and uncontrolled. Ice exploded in a perfect web beneath my feet, snuffing out baby fires and flash-freezing the river’s edge.
Lucien wisely didn’t point out that I’d somehow done what he asked.
Slowly, his lips tipped into a sly smile. “I might be putting pressure on you but look...you’re not giving in to your annoying little habit of passing out anymore.”
“You’re not helping.”
“Oh, I think I’m helping quite a lot, actually.” He crossed his arms. “I also think I’ll keep pushing you until you snap.”
“Don’t you dare.”
“Put out the fire.”
“Stop it.”
“Do it.” His face darkened. “Prove to yourself that this is real. That you’re finally free and somehow control winter.”
“I...but...it’s not possible.” I almost fell as everything hit me.
Everything.
It wasn’t even thoughts or questions that crushed me...it was feelings.
Feelings I’d never really allowed myself to feel because it always ended in a migraine or misery. Feelings full of power. Grief and loss, fear and panic.
What were we?
What would become of us?
My throat closed up.
My vision swam—
Lucien stormed into me.
His hands were on me instantly, solid and grounding, thumbs brushing my cheeks as he pressed his lips to my forehead. “I’m sorry. I’m an idiot. I didn’t know how much you were drowning.”
I moaned as the temptation to surrender to him made the bond flare.
I felt him inside me—rummaging in my heart, sensing me, reading me, knowing my darkest fears and deepest losses.
“You’re okay,” he whispered against my skin, his lips hot and searing. “I feel how much this is hurting you so...forget it. I’ll figure something else out. Let’s go—”
“We can’t go. Not when so many creatures are dying.”
“Then...do you want to try?” he asked gently.
My fingers curled into fists.
My sanity cracked.
Try what? Harnessing an entire season? Wrangling an element?
It was absurd. Ridiculous. Make-believe.
“God, I can’t do this,” I moaned. “I can’t fix what you’ve burned. I can’t suddenly hate everyone I’ve ever trusted. I can’t just pretend they’re now my enemy!”
“I’m not asking you to.”
My mind hyper-focused on every moment with Frank and Dillon. How both men had been my rock after my parents died. How Frank regularly sent me stupid GIFs to make me laugh and Dillon treated me like his favourite annoying sister.
If Lucien was right and they treated me like that to keep me compliant...how stupid did that make me? How ridiculously naïve—how hungry for love was I that they manipulated me so successfully?
Cupping my cheeks, he angled my face to look up at him. “You’re okay. You’re not alone anymore, alright? You’ve got me now. And I will never let anyone hurt you again.”
And suddenly, nothing was okay.
Swaying in his hold, I grabbed his burning wrists. “If anyone finds out about this...” I tripped over my words. “I-If anyone finds out we can h-heal each other. That you can set an entire valley on fire just by climaxing. If they find out I’m part snow...Cinderkeep will seem like a vacation.”
“They won’t find out. We won’t let them.”
“But what if Marcus already knows? What if my company is pulling the strings? What if—”
“Rook.” He pulled me close. “Calm down.”
“Don’t tell me to calm the hell down! These are important questions!”
“And I’m not saying we won’t answer them. But...if you insist on getting worked up...then use that energy to put out the fire.”
“HOW?!” I roared, my panic utterly consuming me. “Tell me how to do it and I’ll do it. Tell me how you summon your heat. Tell me how you stop it.”
“I have no idea.”
“Great. Wonderful.” I laughed. “Thank you. That’s incredibly helpful.”
“How did I never realise you’re snappy when you’re angry?”
“Because you’ve only known me for seven weeks!”
“Didn’t stop me from falling head over heels for you though, did it?”
That stopped me.
That helped me.
I wrapped my arms around myself, doing my best to get a grip.
“Look.” He smiled softly, letting me go. “Ice comes from water, right?” He pointed at the flowing river. “We have water. Use it if you want the fire to stop.”
“No problem.” I rolled my eyes. “I’ll just wave my hand around, say a little limerick, and bibbidi bobbidi boo, all done.”
“You’re right. The hand waving probably isn’t necessary.” Crowding me, he pressed a burning palm over my heart, taking liberties with my breast at the same time. “Use your heart. It seems when your emotions spike, things around you freeze. So...harness them and put out. The. Damn. Fire.”