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burn. They do it to make us feel helpless. She looked at her hands in her lap, twisted together like
brawling cats. One day I decided I wouldn t be afraid anymore.
He spoke with awe. You can decide not to feel something and it goes away?
Sura almost laughed. If only. No, it wasn t that easy. The conversation was pressing in on her, and she
decided to change the subject. So how are the wedding preparations?
He blinked, then shifted to face forward again. Uh, everything s ready. Kara s still finishing her dress,
she says, but I can t help her with that. He looked at her from the corner of his eye. You ll be there?
Of course. The whole village is coming. Sura leaned on one hand and ran her finger along the sharp
edge of the slab. Etarek said he d teach me to dance. He made me dinner last night.
Ah. That s why the red flag was out on his porch. Dravek clenched his hands, making one of his
knuckles crack.
Was it? I hadn t noticed. She tried not to smile at the thought of Etarek signaling the world not to
disturb them.
Did he show you his stick collection? Dravek said with a tight voice.
For his drums? He played for me, but only a bit, since it was late and he didn t want to wake anyone.
Dravek rubbed his palms together. How late?
Nothing happened. I was very tired from my Bestowing.
The muscles in his jaw relaxed. Let s get started. He pointed at the flaming torch. Snuff it, then bring it
back.
Her hands went clammy at the thought of reigniting a fire, but she got to her knees, sank back on her
heels and closed her eyes to concentrate. It was easy now to feel the flame. She snuffed it with a mere
thought.
Good, he murmured. Keep going.
The heat spread inside her, searching for a way out. She could release it, make the torch spring back to
life. But when she tried, she only saw the burning roof, heard the shrieks of children.
I can t, she said through gritted teeth.
Yes, you can. Try harder.
She opened her eyes and stared at the extinguished torch, at the black smoke wisping toward the sky.
I can t do it.
Why? Dravek reached to touch her shoulder, then pulled his hand back. You can trust me.
Still kneeling, she rubbed her hands hard against her legs to release some of the heat. Her mouth opened,
but emitted no words.
After tomorrow, he whispered, you ll never see me again, so what does it matter?
Her throat finally released the truth. They burned him.
Dravek s eyes softened at the corners. Who?
My mate. She sighed with the relief of finally saying it out loud. We were out one night together. She
felt her face twist as she remembered their last moments of intimacy. Mathias was a Bear, so he smelled
the smoke before I did. We ran to his house. The flames were worst at the doors and windows, because
the Descendants didn t want anyone to get out, not even the children. We got inside and She
wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes, remembering the pain, the choking smoke. We
dragged his little brother and sister out they were on the first floor. By the time we got out, other people
had arrived, including my mother. The roof was starting to cave. His parents were screaming.
She pressed the heels of her hands against her forehead. He ran back in. I tried to follow, but Mother
grabbed me. I called and called Mathias s name, but he never came back.
Sura, Dravek whispered. I m so sorry. He touched her shoulder. Was that when you decided to
stop being afraid?
She nodded and lowered her hands. It was the day Snake claimed me. I d never had any powers
before, but after that day I could put out a fire.
He got to his knees in front of her and grasped her arms. Don t you see? You are still afraid. They made
you afraid of your only weapon. He took her face in his hands. Use it before it s too late.
Help me. Her throat ached, trying to hold back the words of longing. She touched his chest. Help me
forget.
Dravek s breath turned uneven as his dark gaze met hers. He slid his hands around her nape, up into her
hair. She winced as her braid tugged her scalp. He leaned in close, and for a moment she thought he
would kiss her. Panic streamed down her spine.
Instead Dravek reached behind her back and removed the binding on her hair. His breath came hot
against her neck as he unwound the braid. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of the bare skin at
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