A Fire in the Flesh (Flesh and Fire, #3)

Breathe in.

I looked around the dimly lit cavern. Hold. Other than the water, it was quiet. Breathe out. Exactly how far underground was I? Hold. Probably not the best thing to think about. Turning in the water, I nibbled on my lip as I crept forward, my heart slowing as the water gently spun around me. I stopped a few feet from the boulder Ash had pointed out. The water reached just above my chest as he’d said. I stood still, letting myself soak in the feel of the warm, frothing water. It foamed at my sides and beneath the surface, bubbles dancing wildly over my hips and legs. I looked down, realizing I had crossed my arms tightly over my chest.

Gods.

I loosened my stance as I breathed in the sweet air. Above me, I heard the faint chatter of birds, and for a few moments, I just listened to them. How long had it been since I’d heard birds? Weeks? Even longer, actually. Outside of the hawks, there was no such life in the Shadowlands.

No such life…

Clearing my mind, I searched for Sotoria’s presence. I didn’t necessarily feel her, but I knew she was still there. “I…I don’t know what you’ve been aware of,” I said quietly. “But I’m going to get you out of me. You’re not going to be trapped.”

I felt a thudding sensation then, almost like a second heartbeat. It had to be her.

“We’re going to put you in something, and then…” Then what? My lips pursed as I eyed the scattered holes of light overhead. “I don’t know exactly how all this will work, but I know that Attes will make sure you’re taken care of, and see that you find peace again.” Emotion clogged my throat. “Okay?”

I didn’t hear her, but hearing her voice was rare. There was another soft, strange thud, and I took that as her acknowledging what I’d—

A sharp, pulsing ache came without warning, lancing across my face from my temples. Sucking in a gasp, I went completely still as a metallic taste filled my mouth.

Hand trembling, I parted my lips and gently prodded the roof of my mouth with a finger. I looked down. Blood dotted the skin.

I quickly lowered my hand under the water as I swallowed, wincing at the metallic taste on my tongue. The pang of pain receded to its standard dull ache.

Glancing back at the bank, I surveyed the shadows before letting myself slip under the surface.

Warm, rolling water rushed over my head and erupted into whirling bubbles all around me. I did what I always did when in my lake. I stayed underwater, my thoughts emptying until there was nothing there. This time, though, I didn’t stay until my lungs started to burn. I didn’t get to that point because I felt the hum of a Primal. My heart lurched, even though I knew it had to be Ash. I pushed off the ground, breaking the surface.

Ash was a few feet from the edge of the hot springs, placing a bundle on an outcropping of larger rocks near the diamond. Immediately, I saw that he’d found himself some dry pants—dark brown breeches that fit his thighs and calves like a glove, tucked into black boots.

Relief swept through me so fast that I let myself sink until the water bubbled at my chin. “That didn’t take long.”

“I thought to go to the Shadowlands, but I worried that would take longer than necessary,” he said. “So, I went to the Bonelands.”

I sucked my lip between my teeth. Obviously, he worried that I would freak out if he took too long.

“I was able to grab some breeches and a tunic for you. They’ll fit and be good enough for now. No shoes yet. Bele is on the hunt for them as we speak.”

“Bele,” I whispered, rising from the water. I made my way forward. “How is she?”

Pulling something dark and long from the bundle, he faced me. “She’s…Bele.”

I laughed at that because it told me what I needed to know. She was fine. “And Aios?”

Ash went completely still. “She is okay, too. But she was not in the Bonelands.” His lips parted as he watched me approaching the earthen steps. “She stayed in the Shadowlands.”

“Is it safe for her?”

“Yes.” His gaze moved as the swirling, frothing water dipped lower and lower, dropping first to my navel and then my hips, and then even lower as I climbed the steps.

A heady warmth gathered in my chest, moving down where he’d fastened his heated stare. I saw the tips of his fangs again. Intense pleasure darted through me, and…so did something else—something colder.

Ash’s gaze lifted, the wisps of eather in his eyes stilling. My heart stuttered.

“I also grabbed a blanket,” he said before I could speak. He came toward me, spreading it out. “To use in place of a towel.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling…gods, I didn’t know how I felt.

Ash was quiet as he began drying me off, wringing as much wetness from my hair as he could. I started to tell him that I could do it but then stopped. I thought maybe he needed to do this, and I enjoyed it—how gentle he was, how thorough. It reminded me of another time.

I glanced at the wrapped diamond, cringing. I really hoped his father wasn’t so aware that he’d heard our earlier conversation. Or could see any of this.

Actually, it was probably best I not think about that.

“Thank you,” I said when Ash finished.

He rose as our eyes met. “My pleasure.”

I smiled as he turned, tossing the blanket where I’d left the gown. As he walked past them, a spark ignited the small pile. My eyes widened as silver flames washed over the blanket and gown, leaving nothing behind. Raising a brow, I looked over at him.

“I really don’t ever want to see that gown again,” he remarked, picking up what appeared to be black breeches.

I quietly dressed as Ash pulled on a loose, linen tunic he must’ve grabbed for himself. It hung untied at the collar, leaving a tantalizing glimpse of his golden-bronze skin. The breeches he brought were on the tighter side, but the shirt was several sizes too large, easily able to fit him. It fell to my knees. Honestly, it could’ve doubled as a nightgown.

I lowered my arms, watching the sleeves flap several inches past my fingers.

“Cute,” he drawled.

“Uh-huh.”

Joining me, he took hold of one sleeve and started rolling it up. “I saw Elias while I was there. Only briefly. He said Attes should be arriving soon.”

“Good.” I breathed out, ignoring the pulse of pain skating across the back of my head. “Do you think he found Keella?”

“I’m sure.” He glanced at the diamond.

“We’ll have to…release your father before anything else.” I held still as Ash tucked the sleeve in at my elbow. “What do you think will happen when we do that?”

“His soul will be free.” Head bowed, he moved on to the other sleeve. “He should enter Arcadia.”

“Will you…will you be able to see him then? His soul?”

“I should be.”

“Talk to him?”

“Souls don’t speak like we do. You may hear them in your mind.” He folded the sleeve up. “But I don’t know what will happen.”

“I hope you hear him.” I pressed my lips together. “Afterward, we need to remove Sotoria’s soul from me.”

“I’m not sure about that.”