Page 133 of The Incendiary

The power instantly went out of me, weakening me like I’d been dropped into my starving body back in Warrich. I gave him more than was probably needed, but I wasn’t sure how much would be enough. To be safe, I needed to overcompensate.

I forced out one last wave and tried to focus the power on cleaning his blood rather than sealing up the wound. The moment I felt his skin start to close I released him, turned away, and violently spat out blood and venom until the taste began to fade.

The blurry world around me swayed. I almost tipped over, too dizzy to hold myself up without landing on all fours. I reached one shaky hand to my bag and grabbed my canteen. Water spilled down my front, but I managed to thoroughly rinse out my mouth.

“Are you all right?” Elias rasped out in a gravelly voice.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and turned back to him. “Yes.” Probably. “Are you?”

“I… yes.” He stared, still bewildered. My cheeks heated with embarrassment, because even though I’d done it to save his life, having my mouth on him had been far too intimate. I distracted myself from retching by unwinding a bit of cloth for a fresh bandage.

“You’re swaying,” he told me.

“I just sucked blood and snake venom out of your arm,” I retorted sourly. “I’m woozy, but I’ll be fine. Would you please stop staring at me like I have horns? You’re making me anxious.”

Elias cleared his throat and dropped his eyes to his lap. “Have you done this kind of thing a lot?”

“Done what?” I rested the cloth over the punctured flesh.

Gods, please don’t say “suck.”

“Cared for wounds like this?”

I had spent an embarrassing amount of time remembering how it felt to have Gavin clean, dress my wolf bite, and care for me. Damond had also made me practice cleaning and wrapping wounds on more than one occasion.

“Once or twice,” I answered. “And I’ve seen it done.”

I could feel him watching, judging every move to make sure I was doing it correctly.

“Here I was, thinking I’d have to talk you through it,” he chuckled quietly.

To fasten the top layer of bandage around his arm, I leaned forward, putting his knee right between my breasts. My body tensed, confused by the odd tingling sensation in my stomach. It was nothing like I’d ever felt with Gavin, but it was there.

I made the mistake of glancing up to see him still staring. Thankfully, he focused on my face instead of my chest, but I caught the heat in his gaze.

“Done.” I quickly tied the final layer of the bandage, then sat back on my heels to put supplies away, fighting hazy vision. “I think you’ll be much better tomorrow, but tonight, I suggest that you rest. I⁠—”

“Fera.” His voice was unexpectedly soft.

“Hmm?” I tilted my head to show I was listening.

“Thank you.”

I quickly fastened the bag’s tie, stood, and gave him a firm nod, trying to hide my wobbling legs. “You’re welcome.” Before I could faint, I unfurled my sleeping mat and sat down.

The heat of his gaze on my skin was persistent, even as I pulled out some jerky and ripped off a piece. Elias cooked the snake over the fire, but I couldn’t stomach snake meat after what I’d just done. And I hadn’t eaten in hours, which didn’t help my fading strength.

Elias advised that a few more hours’ riding in the morning would lead us to where he believed Finch was. He kept throwing expectant glances my way, like he hoped I would speak. Instead of obliging him, I lay on my sleeping mat and stared up at the stars and wondered if Gavin could see the same ones. The night sky reminded me of Nyxar’s darkness. It was still and silent enough that I could see the millions of stars so bright they emitted a tinge of violet.

“So…” Elias cleared his throat, not catching the hint. Or he didn’t care. “You put your mouth on me, and now you don’t want to talk?”

My head snapped left so fast that a stiff joint in my neck cracked. “What the hell is your⁠—”

“I’m joking, Fera,” he laughed, holding up an appeasing hand.

“Are you capable of not being a suggestive prick?” I shot back.

“I don’t know,” he confessed with surprising honesty. “Though admittedly, I don’t enjoy your silence.”