Page 29 of The Incendiary
“You also seem uncharacteristically tense.”
Fucking hell, this girl.
“Yes!” I barked, sounding crazed. “You are scaring the shit out of me, Aryella Whitlock! If that was your plan, then you win, I yield.” Another step toward her. “Now back up!”
She rested her hands on her hips. “You’re the one who invited me to be trouble with you.”
“I did!” A gust of wind swept over the roof, whipping her silver-blond mane in every direction. I feared it would blow her away, too. “Be trouble with me. Over here. Safely.”
“Trouble isn’t safe—”
“For the love of all twelve gods, Aryella Jay Whitlock, step away from that edge!” She jumped at my volume. “Please!” I implored.
My arms collapsed at my sides in relief when she took three steps back. I’d never been so furious at someone while needing them in my arms at the same time.
“I’m not going to jump off the castle roof.” I erased the space between us and took her offered hand. “And there’s deep water down there. We’re only a few stories high. I would be just fine—oh!” She gasped when I yanked her into my chest.
“It would hurt,” I insisted. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
I would sacrifice the whole world to keep you from hurting ever again.
Her eyes moved to where her hand rested over my heart. “Your heart’s pounding.”
My anger melted away. “I imagine it is.”
“I frightened you.”
I sighed, tucked a stray piece of her hair behind her ear. “You sure did.”
She bit her plush bottom lip. “I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not.” I chuckled.
Ella gazed longingly into the distance where the rolling fields of green met the dense thicket of trees. “The closer I am to the edge, the farther I can see. I’ve spent a lot of my life locked up and wishing I was somewhere else. Free.” Ella squeezed my hands. “There are things you don’t know, and I carry… a burden.”
“You can’t scare me away,” I reminded her, stroking her cheeks with my thumbs. I would say it as many times as she needed to hear. “Share your burden. Let me help you carry it.”
The air around her glowed brighter when she smiled. She put daylight to shame. I rested my forehead against hers, my gaze fixed on the lips I was dying to taste. My fingers brushed her temples, itching to intertwine with her silver-blond locks and guide her mouth to mine.
Gods, I longed for every part of her. It would be a constant battle between my body, heart, and mind, until I could sink into her and feel her come apart around me. “So, the roof is your favorite place?” I asked, desperate to drag myself out of obsession.
“My second favorite.” She grabbed my hand and led me toward the stairwell. “If you promise to quietly follow me, I’ll show you my first.”
Her first. It wasn’t what she meant, but it’s what I latched on to. I wanted to be her first and her last. I wanted every single second in between.
“What’s your favorite?” I pressed, dying to know.
She grinned back at me. “The library.”
NINE
ARYELLA
I gave you my heart the day you walked into my blacksmith’s shop. I gave you my soul shortly after, when I learned you were selfless and loving, fair and brave. You seemed fearless. Even in moments you weren’t, you were determined to be.
—FROM THE BUTCHER OF NYRIDA’S LAST KNOWN LETTERS TO QUEEN ARYELLA I
They fed me twice each day and were gracious enough to give me a pillow and blanket to make the hard bed more bearable. The guards changed out frequently but didn’t speak to me. I bided my time and paid attention to every move they made.
