Forged of Fire (9 page)

“So basically, she is as pretty on the inside as the outside. She will be perfect for pretty boy down there.” Ash folded his arms, annoyed with himself.

“Basically.” Marsala, clasped her hands behind her back and looked back to the training room, not fazed at all by his sudden mood. “But auras change. Like yours.”

Ash had heard her tell him about his aura before but he never believed any of it mattered so he never placed any stock in whatever color Marsala said his was. “One’s aura can alter?”

“Of course. Just like a life. They are only given their truest strength when a path is correctly followed. A premonition fulfilled so to speak. Humans and immortals get it wrong all the time. It’s in our nature to war against things that scare us. Often times the things that scare us, are the very things that define us, either from avoidance of the fear or confrontation of it.”

“Remind me how my aura has changed?” Ash asked.

“Are you going to listen this time?” She studied him. He rolled his eyes but nodded. “Your colors have always been bright but also dark. You cling tight to your hatred. Your red is far from clear but your dominant color may surprise you.” She paused.

“Don’t tell me it’s violet.” He gave her his best droll stare.

“It’s gold.” Marsala smiled. “And, it’s never faltered. Not once.” She took his hands in hers. “Ash, I am so glad Bane sent his Gilcolm to us the other night.” Her expression grew serious and her voice dropped in tone. “This is your destiny. Your gold aura has never been clearer. You are meant to lead the Fire-benders and…” She looked down to the human bender knitting her brows in concentration as she created a mild shower in the observation room. “She is supposed to be yours. You are the chosen one, Ash. I have always felt it. Your aura is too strong. It just needed its perfect match.”

****

Kielyn reluctantly dragged herself from the steaming tub scented with lavender oils and wrapped a towel around her exhausted body. She walked across the cool slate to the vanity and wiped her hand across the steamed up mirror. She looked about as tired as she felt
. I just have to make it through dinner.
Kielyn reminded herself. Then surely she would be allowed to retire for the night. She picked up a brush on the marble sink top and ran it through her thick locks. As she stared back at her own reflection she wondered why she did not look different. After everything she had seen and learned in the last twenty four hours, surely something outwardly about her should look different. She should be mad, crouched in a corner and ready to be taken away to the loony bin after learning all that she knew now.
Maybe she was mad?
Perhaps the fact that she was not beating on walls and clawing at the doors was proof that she had lost her mind. All Kielyn knew was that she had not left, as offered, after watching the Fire-bender in the training room. She had chosen, of her own stupid free will, to stay.
Why?

Kielyn laid the brush down. Who was she kidding, there was no question as to why she had stayed. No, the reality of the situation, if she were being honest, was an undeniable and equally overwhelming sense of wonderment. After the initial shock had worn off, surprisingly, everything felt rather… normal.
Yea, she was insane
. More than normal she thought as she picked up a pair of jeans laid across a chair and inched them on, everything felt right. For the first time in her life Kielyn felt understood, like she belonged. What was even crazier was that she had made water move in her hands today. All by willing it to do so with her mind. The sensation was amazing!

She was still not sure if they were pumping psychedelic drugs through the vents or what, but today, for the first time in forever, she felt confident. She was not the awkward girl that was confused by others and unsure of herself in this place. Today, in her training with the Water-benders, she felt excited, confident and eager, she felt comfortable. Kielyn was sure all that confidence would sail right out the door tomorrow when she began training with the much too handsome dark King, Ashdon. Something about that man unnerved her. From the way he walked into a room to the icy stare he kept seemingly trained on her every movement.

She pulled an oversized cotton sweater over her head just as a knock came from her door. Kielyn looked at the clock as she crossed her room. She was sure Bane had told her dinner would be at seven. She opened the door and her pulse immediately increased. Staring down at her was the devil himself.
Fucking hell!
Kielyn tried to form words but none came to mind. How was she to address him?
Ashdon
,
Ash
,
Lord LyGoryen, Fire King, Sexy?
She mentally slapped herself for the last one. He let the silence stretch out painfully before leaning against the door frame, a small grin edging up the corner of his mouth.
The man was enjoying this!
“Bane said dinner was at seven.” She blurted out. “I mean…Is there something you require? I can come early.”
Come? Early?
She could feel a blush creeping up her neck. “To dinner that is.”
Shoot me now and be done.
She sighed when he still made no effort to speak. “Typically the one that knocks on a door is the one that should announce their intentions.”

“Is that so?” His voice was like well-oiled leather, smooth and soft yet strong and secure. “Do you like things to be typical Kielyn?”

“Yes.” She answered before her mind had fully processed the question.

“Why?”

“Predictable things are safe. It’s a rather natural response I would think.”
And you are anything but safe!

He straightened. He was tall and that was saying a lot as Kielyn herself was five foot eight flat footed. He had to be all of six foot five. “The first lesson you will learn then shall be unpredictability.” The way he said it made it sound more like a punishment than a lesson. “First.” His eyes moved from her eyes down her body to her feet. “Where are your shoes?”

“My shoes?” Kielyn looked to her left where the borrowed sneakers still sat from when she had taken them off. “Right there. Why?”

“You should not be bare foot down here. It’s too cold.”

“I just got out of the tub.” She protested.

“Still.” He eyed the shoes. “Please put them on before you catch a cold.”

“I hardly think…” He lifted a brow. “As you wish.” Kielyn walked the three steps to the life providing sneakers and bent to slip them on. When she stood back up his mouth was set in a hard line. “Is something the matter?” She felt compelled to ask.

“Do you always bend over so?” His voice was accusatory.

“Is there a wrong way to put on one’s shoes?” She could not stop the annoyed tone.

“There is definitely a better way than flashing everyone your undergarments in the process!”

A sudden awareness of the loose cowl neck sweater sent Kielyn’s hand flying to her neckline. “I… ah…I am not used to this shirt. It’s borrowed you see.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You should always be aware of how you present your body to others!”

Thoughts of the previous night’s encounter swept through Kielyn’s mind. Had she invited the fraternity boys’ attention by how she had dressed? She bit back the bile threatening to rise up in her throat. Warring emotions began to churn inside her. One was a rekindled embarrassment and the second, following hot on the first one’s heels, was anger at the man that was pointing out a flaw that might have led to her harassment
. Damn him!
“I will have you know that I don’t dress like a slut.” She tilted up her chin. “I was not wearing anything inappropriate when I was attacked last night. I had on a hoodie and jeans.” She was rambling again but she could not stop the words. “I cannot help that this sweater is a bit too big. It’s not mine. It was given to me by Skyler. I am simply not used to the way it fits.” She could feel the sting of tears threatening the barrier of her lashes despite her resolve to be firm. “It was not my fault!” She whirled around and headed back into the bathroom. She would not break in front of him.

She reached the sink feeling like she was climbing into a life raft, seeking shelter, in the middle of a stormy sea that was hell bent on destroying her. Why did he make her feel so…So…So conflicted? Kielyn picked up the brush and fumbled through a drawer in search of a hairband. She would feign sudden interest in getting her hair into a ponytail until she mustered the nerve to return to the other room.

“Kielyn.” The masculine voice said from the bathroom’s door sounding honey-poured. Kielyn continued to dig in the drawer, unwilling to look up. She could feel his eyes one her. “It was not your fault.” His words washed over her like a caress, drawing her head up to make sure it was the same man standing behind her. Gone was the judgement in his steely blue eyes. “Do you believe me?”

“Do I believe that it was not my fault or, do you believe it was not my fault?” She began to brush her hair back away from her face.

“Both.”

Kielyn twisted the band twice around her hair and turned to face him. “Yes.”

“Then do me a favor.” He stepped forward, both hands in his pants pockets. “Don’t assume to know my thoughts. I was not insinuating that you brought on that attack. Men are animals. There was nothing you did wrong.” He took another step forward. He was in an arm’s reach now and Kielyn could smell his cologne, an intoxicating mix of leather and sweet grass. He smiled down at her. “I was basing my words off tonight. Off the cream colored lace bra you showed me by accident.”

“Oh.” It was the only word she could manage.

He leaned in. “The bra that is so ill fitted that it unknowingly exposed two perfectly pert pink nipples to me.”

Kielyn felt a blush all the way to the roots of her hair.
She could die now!

****

Ash could no more contain his smile than he could control the subtle stirring in his pants when a beautiful rose color fanned across every inch of Kielyn’s body.
Good!
He wanted to have an effect on her.
Lord knew she was having an unwanted one on him. Ash straightened to his full height. “Now, never walk away from me again. Understand?” He could tell she was shocked by the order but her current state of unease had her head complying with a quick bob. Before she could regain her stubbornness, Ash turned and waved a hand towards the door. “Shall you accompany me to dinner?” She dared to look up, hesitation worrying her delicate brows. “Or we can dine in your bedchambers if you prefer.” She sailed past him in less time than it could have taken her heart to beat twice. Ash wanted to laugh but he followed her instead.

Once in the hall he offered his arm and she carefully took it. They walked in complete silence to the large empty dining hall. “Where are the others?” She asked from his side.

“They have already eaten.” He led her to her seat and pulled out a chair. “I requested you all to myself tonight so that we might better get to know one another.”

“Very well.” She sat down. “Can we start with you?”

Ash rounded the table and took his own seat as a server approached with a bottle of red. “Of course. What would you like to know?” He inspected the vintage when it was presented and nodded his approval.

The server poured him a finger’s worth of the cabernet and handed Ash the glass. “Are you a Vampire as well as Bane?” She asked as he swirled the wine.

“Yes.” He inhaled the bloom before tasting it. “Perfect.” He smiled. “Is that something you sensed or guessed?”

The waiter poured him a full glass then made his way to Kielyn. “A little of both.” She confessed. “I sensed all of you were different last night but it was not until today that I started to place everyone.” She tasted the wine. Ash’s gaze fell on her throat as she swallowed. “Or rather, beyond what descriptions I have been given.”

“And how did you place us?”

“Well, for example, Stefen is uncomfortable down here. He did not say that but when he pulls his chameleon act and hides his power he also becomes vulnerable to emitting how he truly feels.” She took another sip of wine and again Ash’s eyes fixated on the workings of her throat muscles.