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"This isn’t about fighting; it’s about trying to figure out this neer It feels and acts differently than my manipulation of fire"

"How did you learn to use your fire?"

"I studied My ured out how it actually worked, which was very different"

"And how did you figure that out?"

I openedperiods of ti Mes whenme to defend et hit, often ooden objects that hurt a lot, or spells that stung h the shadows,little to protect me from her sneak attacks The amount of spells she’d lobbed at me would make normal people cry "child abuse," but uidedme learn to shape my abilities It wasn’t until I understood what burned inside of htful approach, refining andeyes, the tightness in my chest reminiscent of the pain when I first lost her Of e into uncertainty Hoould I learn this neithout her? I didn’t even knohere to start

"We will do it together," Darius said softly, as if readingthat a lot lately "I can help you"

I nodded, not trustingto my neck

So h me at thatdoom, that I couldn’t do much more than nod

Histhe opposite approach this tiet used to his closeness so that I (probably) wouldn’t fling hi in your presence, Reagan," he said quietly, his face now inches fro at the same time I miss you when you aren’t near"

My eyes fluttered as his sweet breath fell across my face As the warmth of his body, so near, cocoonedon my lips I felt his hands settle low on my hips

"Just blood," I said in a husky voice I didn’t recognize

"I a closer "I have always been at your hted th, made my mind buzz from his proximity

When he bent, I was prepared for his face to dip to the side, and for the sharp pinch of his fangs as they entered ht the che ecstasy I was even prepared forme to relent, to enjoy his perfect body and the rise and fall of each hard, defined muscle

I was not prepared for his kiss

When his lips touched h me The fire within me boiled, and the excitement of battle mixed with the sweet heat of desire I openedaroundsort of way