Page 37 of Wolf’s Fated Bride

“Blade has legs.”

“He’s freezing.”

“That’s what happens when you go out for a run in the middle of a blizzard.”

“They went looking for you,” I argue back.

“Seriously?” Ash looks at Blade as if the man turned into a goat.

Blade nods.

“But you knew I was purging.”

“You took too long.”

“Because I’m burning like I’m in hell.” Ash runs a hand through his hair. “Fuck.”

Fire licks up Blade’s palm, and he jumps back, examining his blistered hand. “What did you do that for?”

“I had to be sure,” Ash says, then approaches Blade, who’s already healing. The bubbles stop simmering, but the red skin stays. “I’ll check on your burns tomorrow.”

Blade stares at him, then takes off his coat and flings it at Ash. “You have some explaining to do.”

Ash folds the coat over the couch. “She is immune to my fire.”

Blade stays next to the fireplace to keep warm. “Explain.”

Ash narrates the events, and Blade’s eyebrows rise so much that I think they might hit the ceiling.

“This is why I burned you,” Ash says. “I need proof that the fire burns, that it’s not been tampered with by the alchemy I’ve been consuming from Peter. I had to be sure her resistance comes from her.”

“It’s not from me,” I say. “You malfunctioned.” Obviously. Nobody is fireproof.

“I could fry your pack and see if they burn,” Ash suggests.

I think he might be serious. “You wouldn’t.”

An eyebrow lifts.

He would.

“It has to be you, Runa,” Blade says.

“It’s his cooties.” I point at the red mark on the top of my hand.

Blade walks over and holds out his hand. I place my hand in his.

Ash growls.

Blade ignores him and examines my wound.

Ash’s growl deepens and becomes louder.

“You’re scaring me,” I tell him.

Blade drops my hand and regards Ash. “Your behavior is very odd, my friend. I suggest you fuck off, because Runa and I have plans.”

Rings of fire slither around Ash’s forearms like snakes. “Cancel them.”