Page 35 of Sword & Shadow
“It is,” she said.
“Aren’t Elemental and Existential magic mutually exclusive?” Thom pressed.
With a haughty lift to her chin, she said, “For the normal Mage, yes, they are. But I’m special.”
“And what makes you so special?”
“Beyond my dazzling personality?” She winked. “I’m the most powerful Mage—”
“Born in two centuries,” Thom completed with annoyance. “I get it.”
“Mm.” Ilain turned back to Ethenn. “Auden taught me enough Day magic to heal myself should I ever be in a dire situation. I’m not great at it, but a cut like this and a little light bruising is child’s play.”
The wariness still creased Ethenn’s brow, but he nodded, accepting her touch. Ilain placed her hands on either side of his face, the right resting more gently over his wounded cheek. Her thumb twitched in the smallest caress, and a flame-like burst of orange light licked between his skin and her palm.
Thom had begun to grow somewhat numb to the effects of magic, but he found himself continually surprised by the woman’s power. She drew back her hand, revealing Ethenn’snow blemish-free cheek. It looked as though Rafferty had never hit him at all.
Drawing in a deep breath, Thom was about to let out a low, impressed whistle, but it dissipated into a puff of breath as he watched her brush a finger tenderly over Ethenn’s healed flesh. Her eyes regarded him with baffling affection.
Then she dropped her hand into her lap.
“There,” she said haughtily, leveling a superior look in Thom’s direction. “If you’re ever so injured, don’t bother coming to me. I’m not sure you could handle a touch as potent as mine.”
Any retort died before inception. Her snide quip carried a new resonance in Thom’s ears. It didn’t matter how flirtatious she was with him; he’d witnessed the softness in her expression while her hands lingered on the young man’s face.
By the way Ethenn sat slumped away from her, the kid was ignorant of it.
“Loxley,” Rafferty called, all sins forgiven. “Come help me teach Evie a lesson.”
Ethenn excused himself, thanking Ilain for her help, then jogged over to the others, saying, “We only have two training swords, idiot.”
Rafferty hoisted two thick branches. “I’ve fashioned my own blades.”
Shaking his head at their antics, Thom turned back to find Ilain returned to her sketches. He’d often wondered what she drew in there. If anyone but Auden got close enough to find out, she’d flip it shut. Now, he had an idea of one of her subjects.
“Make sure you capture the shading of his blush just right,” he quipped. “Wouldn’t want him appearing too heroic. Realism and all.”
A sharp eyebrow rose on her porcelain skin. “Whatever are you talking about?”
“The kid.” He tipped his chin in the direction of her page. “Your drawings.”
She shut the book with asnap. Her lips lifted mockingly. “Don’t be jealous, dear. If you want your likeness captured, I will happily oblige.”
“Mm-hm. And how many times have you captured our young friend’s likeness?”
“I’m afraid your envious insinuation holds no ground. I’ve drawn each of you with equity.”
“Have you?”
She gave him a bland stare before returning to her work. But Thom noticed the subtle shift of her eyes toward the trio sparring a handful of yards away.
He grunted in bafflement. “Are you boffing the boy?”
That made Ilain’s charcoal slice up the page in a startled jerk.
Suddenly, her gemlike eyes were on him, a blazing green fire. “How dare you?” she snarled. “I may be flirtatious, but my honor is above reproach. Should you like proof of it, I’d be happy to jilt your own sordid desires.”
Thom laughed. “Sordid desires, eh? Yes, I’ve had many of those. None of them involving you.”
