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I don t know, he said. It s all you talk about. Isn t that why we got married?
She stared at Dravek. It s not the only reason.
Good, he said through a mouthful of dried venison. But I still won t let you drink meloxa.
Let me? Since when am I your child? I m four years older than you. She glared at him. If anything, I m
the one who has to take care of you.
He hunched his shoulders. You don t have to do anything.
Sura squirmed on her log and gave Etarek a nervous glance. His eyes and posture reflected her
discomfort.
They finished their dinners in silence, put out the campfire and retired to their tents. Sura and Etarek laid
out their bedrolls beside each other, then sat face-to-face. Her heart was pounding, and she felt a little
sick.
You were right, she said. This is awkward.
We don t have to tonight. It s up to you.
I need to show you something so it doesn t startle you in the middle of She touched the collar of her
shirt.
Your scars?
How did you know?
I saw a bit when we danced. I confess I was looking down your dress. He tilted his head. What
happened?
She told him about the fire while he held her hand and squeezed it at all the right moments. Then she
turned and unbuttoned her shirt to show him the burns on her back.
Etarek made a tsking noise. Sura, I m so sorry.
She winced at the pity in his voice. It doesn t hurt.
Good. He passed his hand over her shoulder and down her back. It doesn t matter. He turned her to
face him. I still think you re beautiful.
He kissed her, sweetly, and she tried not to compare his dismissive reaction to Dravek s, who had
venerated her scars. Etarek was being kind in his own way.
She pulled back and gave him an uneasy smile. Maybe we could wait until tomorrow?
He nodded. I know this is hard for you, after what happened to your mate. I m here whenever you re
ready.
She gave Etarek a quick, awkward kiss, then lay on her side facing away from him. It felt as if the entire
Kalindon Council were watching them. Her body felt cold at the thought of bearing an unwanted baby.
It wouldn t stay unwanted, she knew, and that was what scared her most. The Descendants had killed or
imprisoned nearly everyone she d ever loved.
Somehow they d find a way to take her child, too.
In Sura s dream, Dravek stood across the clearing from her, on the other side of the bonfire. Through the
leaping, licking flames she could see he was naked. She touched her body to confirm that she, too, wore
nothing. In the center of the fire stood a tall wooden stake that remained unburned.
Faceless people surrounded them, shrieking pleas in a language she couldn t understand. They pressed
in, pushing her closer to the fire. Dravek held out his hands.
Do you dare? His voice was a whisper, but she heard his words clearly. For me?
She nodded and tried to step around the bonfire to join him.
No, Sura. Inside.
Her blood ran cold. He meant for her to walk through the fire to meet him.
Together, she said. Count to three.
One. His gaze bored into hers.
Two. She moved to the edge of the flames and lifted her hands.
Three, they spoke together as they moved in.
They screamed. It hurt worse than all the pain in Sura s life added together. She wanted to leap back
out, but the agony in Dravek s eyes propelled her forward to take his hands.
The pain ceased. She breathed hard, gulping hot air that didn t sear her lungs but only filled her with
power.
He moved forward and lifted her hands above her head, backing her up to pin her wrists against the
wooden stake. She cried out at the feel of his hot flesh against hers.
The flames jumped higher as if in celebration. He brought his mouth to her neck, and Sura felt a moment
of perfect happiness. She belonged here forever, in the fire, in his skin.
Something cool and smooth slid against her upraised hands and wrapped around her wrists. Dravek
pulled his head away and looked up. She craned her neck to follow his gaze.
A long black snake was binding them to the stake. As it twisted around their upper arms, its tongue
flicked over Sura s skin. Its gaze reflected the flames around it, but unlike the flat, glassy eyes of a real
snake, these orbs sparked with wisdom and cunning.
It s Her, Sura breathed.
The snake constricted, strapping them to the pole.
Dravek turned his head to Sura. It s what She wants.
She smiled. He was hers. Their love would make them invincible.
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