Page 199 of Burn Her They Said
More coughs burst from my chest as several pairs of boots close in, only catching my breath once all of my Guards are accounted for.
“Tasch.” Varic’s hand splays over the small of my back, parting his shield to allow me to feel him.
I shiver and shake. Because he’s alive. He’s here. And it’s all too much to take in after the night we’ve experienced.
“Are you okay?” His voice breaks as his shield contracts, clinging to my skin more than ever while he embraces me in its protection.
His hand roves over my back to take hold of my arm as he gently helps me to stand. The warmth and pressure of his fingers certainly help. Then he imbues me with the cool mist of healing until the pulse pounding in my ears decreases, ensuring I am uninjured, rather than relying on Cirrin to do so for him.
I can barely stand, yet he asked me a question, and he deserves to have my answer—so I straighten and look him in the eye to offer it.
“I’m okay now that I know you are all alive and uninjured.” The most impossibly bright brown eyes swim with tears as Varic studies me. “This is just how my body responds to flying at high speeds, I promise.” I raise my hand to close what little distance he allowed to exist between our chests and take hold of his bicep while fighting the urge to pull him closer. “I’m safe. Prince Auden made sure of it.”
Cirrin’s hand replaces Varic’s over my back, and the sting in my eyes relents, though the incessant ringing only lessens.
Varic’s emotions flow to me just as quickly as they shift within him, and the intensity of his concern flows to fury just before he turns and lunges at the Prince.
The royal’s lips move as he murmurs something under his breath. Then my eyes widen in disbelief as a warbling, transparent force-shield envelops his form just before Varic’s hands connect with the center of his chest, forcing the Prince to take a step back, despite the layer of magic around him.
“Is that really necessary?” Fray asks, gesturing at Varic, who shoves the Prince’s chest a second time, with enough force to send anyone falling on their ass.
Instead, the royal stalks backward with the same fluidity he displays on the dance floor, meeting Varic’s assault with impressive footwork.
“I sincerely hope he doesn’t cause any physical damage I am incapable of healing.” Cirrin’s voice is strained, and I use what magic I can to help siphon his distress.
My Guards flank me as they each turn and offer glances filled with concern, before staring back at their leader as he continues to shove the royal without any protection of his own. Though whatever spell the Prince seems to have cast must be absorbing the bulk of the force from Varic’s hands as he remains standing no matter how hard he shoves him.
Malin leans closer. “I’m sorry, Tasch. I didn’t detect anything suspicious until it was too late, and we were all propelled back into the crowd. The blast must have been set below the center of the stage. Had you and the Prince not been off to the side—” His words trail off as his voice cracks.
Fray taps my arm with the side of his elbow. “And I had to climb out from a pile of rubble, or else I would have gotten to you before that fucking snatcher took off.”
“It’s okay, Fray. What about you?” I ask, turning to Lars. “I assumed you would have been the first to reach me.”
“I was furious that a large part of the stage landed on my back, and I wasn’t strong enough to free myself. Malin ended up being the one to pry me out.”
“And do we just—” Fray begins, gesturing to the Prince who continues to take Varic’s ire without challenge. “Let whatever this is continue? Or should we go find somewhere to hide?”
I let out a breath and step forward, because while the royal does not seem to be in distress, I will be the one most capable of getting through to Varic. Yet Lars braces his arm before my chest, and I wince when Varic curls his fingers under the Prince’s collar as he yanks him closer.
“What were you thinking?” His voice carries across the clearing.
“Is it safe for us to be making this much noise?” Cirrin asks.
“I would like to say yes according to my magic,” Malin begins, “but since I was unable to detect the energy shift before the explosion, all I know is that most of the beings I can detect are indoors, while roughly twenty others are outside clearing the blast site.”
Varic’s arms flex against his leathers as he lifts the Prince off the ground, bringing him nose to nose. “You will never lay a hand on her again. Do you understand?”
The Prince nods. “Yes, I understand.”
“Good.” Varic’s voice is measured as he lowers him to the ground. “You will refuse to touch her, even if your mother or our Emperor commands you otherwise.” He jabs his finger into the center of the Prince’s chest, while the royal nods in agreement. “The only reason you are breathing is your pedigree. For if you did not possess the royal title for the land upon which we stand, I would have obliterated you the moment Tasch was safely removed from your arms.” His eyes narrow before he shoves the Prince in disgust.
Varic’s shoulders drop, and my heart follows, every part of me screaming with the need to go to him. The strength of his magnetic pull draws me closer, burning with the urge to bring him comfort.
He turns, and a shudder rolls down my body when the brightness in his eyes returns the moment he sees me, shining like a beacon between the thick black lines painted around them, the darkness of his mask, and the disheveled strands of his hair curving down over his brow.
I press against Lars, who relents and silently removes his arm from my path.
Prince Auden looks down at the grass where Varic last forced him to stand, yet I do not let his ability to witness this stop me from storming toward Varic as he does the same in my direction.
