The Queen of Ash and Flame

Chapter Eighteen

A ray of sunlight pushed against my closed eyelids, I turned into the mattress and my head fell against something warm. I nuzzled into the warmth, my body chilled by the spring air.

I heard a deep hum, the sound vibrating the thing I was against. I blinked open my eyes and was met with the bare chest of someone.

I glanced up, and to my horror Lucian Mendalez's eyes were staring at my own.

"Good morning darling," he said, his morning voice deep and rough. Just the sound of it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I placed my hands on his chest and tried to push away but something halted me. Something tightened on my waist, and pulled him to Lucian's chest. I gasped when I collided with the warm flesh of my sworn enemy.

"Love, you're keeping me warm, don't move," he grumbled. Softly closing his eyes.

"Lucian, what the hell do you think you're doing," I spat at him.

He blinked open his eyes again and stared down at me, "I saved you from Clayton, he was drunk as shit and decided to make a move on you. I beat the living crap outta him and took you here for some rest."

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, thank you for remembering that part of the story. But what do you think you're doing right now?"

"Protecting you," he chuckled softly, the sound traveling down his arms and vibrating me.

I let out a laugh, "From what exactly?"

"Me," with that he flipped me onto my back. Him on top of me. His hands moved from my waist to my wrists, and moved them above my head.

I gasped at the sudden change of positions, I looked into his eyes, mine wide. His hair fell around his face like a curtain of darkness as he was looking down, the blue black strands shining like liquide night.

He was mostly naked, he wore only loose pants that hung low, low enough for me to see the v shape of his hips.

Without the warm cover of the sheets my skin tingled from the cold air in the room. I looked down and saw I was wearing a large black shirt, it definitely wasn't mine.

That's when it hit me, I looked back at Lucian, "What am I wearing?"

His eyes traveled down my half exposed body, his eyes sweeping over every curve. "It's one of my shirts," he said simply.

"How did I get out of my dress?" I asked.

"I got you out of it."

"Lucian!" I shouted at him, I tried to get out of his death grip but it was impossible. I could usually fight him off but from last night's events, I had no energy to pull from my body.

But the anger had not spittled out, it was still there and raging. I felt like it was made of pure fire, my hands heated. The warmth spilling out of my palms.

Because Lucian was holding my wrists, my hands could still move. I flicked them upwards, and towards his arms. I flung my power to my palms and grabbed his arm. My pale skin connects with his olive toned one.

His eyes widened and looked down to where we were touching. I could smell the scorched hairs on his arm. With the pain he released some of the power on my wrists. I used my body weight to flip him onto his back. The roles switched.

I didn't love the position we were in but I would stay there nonetheless. My hand was on his throat, heat still wafting from my hand. My legs were split, one on either side of his torso. I was straddling him, his skin was radiating ice.