Because he didn’t care at all that he’d put me in this situation.
“What about you?” I asked. “Are you growing elemental gifts?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Everything feels normal to me, apart from my link to you. That’s new.”
“Yeah, you put it there.”
“I remember.”
“And you don’t care at all that you did it.”
“Of course I care. Why else would I be willingly standing in this outdated shack of a former classroom with you?” He pushed off the wall to stalk toward me. “This isn’t exactly the most comfortable of spaces, but I didn’t want to leave you alone with Zeph and Kols.”
I glared up at him. “I’m in this mess because of you.”
“I know.”
“And you’re completely unapologetic.”
“Am I?” he countered, cocking his head.
“Are you?” I demanded.
“Shall we play the ‘maybe’ game again?”
“Ugh!” I wanted to slap him. “You’re impossible and cryptic and such a… a… bloodsucking willow stump!”
He chuckled and shook his head. “You’re so close, Aflora. So close.”
Apparently, bloodsucking had lost its damning effect from yesterday, leaving me as the butt of his joke yet again. “Fine. You’re a fucking asshole,” I told him, the words tasting wrong in my mouth.
And of course, they only amused him more. “Oh, I do like that word from your lips, little rose. Say fuck again.”
I threw my hands up in the air and turned to Zephyrus. “Can you make him leave?”
“It would be a waste of a command. Shade doesn’t follow rules.”
“Indeed, I don’t,” the Death Blood confirmed. “Besides, I’m here for your protection against the angry mob outside. If Kols can’t calm them all down, we’re going to have a fight on our hands. And I’m not ready to lose you yet.”
“Don’t feign selflessness.” Zephyrus folded his arms, causing the muscles to clench and flex in the process. “We both know you just want to avoid the pain of losing a mate.”
“I never claimed otherwise,” Shade replied casually. “But my reasoning is neither here nor there. I’m here to protect her, and protect her, I shall.”
“Or I could just create another ball of cerulean flames,” I muttered, not really meaning it.
“Do, and I’ll kill you myself,” Zeph warned.
A chill swept down my spine at the truth in those words.
His green eyes glowed with sincerity, too.
I swallowed and nodded. “Then maybe you could use this time to teach me how to control it.”
“I’m going to need more than a few minutes for that lesson.” He considered me for a long moment. “But I’ll talk to Kols about your schedule. I think your independent study should be reevaluated and scheduled with me. You’re going to need all the defensive-magic help you can get after that little display out there.”
Shade nodded, his agreement clear.
Something told me my reply wouldn’t matter, so I remained quiet and waited instead.