Page 17 of A Kiss of Flame

She turned slightly. “Are they loose in the back?” He tucked in another unruly strand. “I don’t know,” she replied, returning to face him. “I’d need to call in a few rather large favors.” Her gaze lingered on his wings, which he usually kept hidden away. He’d gotten used to keeping them out when he’d been back home on the island.

Levian smirked. “You look even more intimidating when they’re on full display,” she said.

He rubbed the back of his neck, shrugging. “Aye, it’s one of the perks.”

She moved past him to get a better look. “They really are remarkable,” she noted, her voice softening. “And larger than I remember.”

Barith blushed—thankfully, she couldn’t see. “They haven’t grown,” he told her.

“I know that,” she replied, “but they look different. More golden now.”

“I’ve been spending more time with them out in the sun,” he explained. Like his hair, which reddened in the sunlight, his wings became more golden.

He sensed her reaching out to touch the edge of his left wing. Barith twisted around, snatching her wrist. “Don’t do that,” he growled, his tone rougher than he intended.

Levian’s expression shifted, her eyes narrowing. “I’ve touched them before,” she reminded him.

“I knew you were going to do it then,” he said, his voice softer. “I could—preparefor it.”

She cocked her head, her gaze sharpening as realization dawned. A wicked smile spread across her lips. Barith immediately turned, stalking down the alley toward the unconscious shifter, glamouring his wings away. “Oh,” she cooed with amusement. “Is that why you keep them hidden so much? Because touching them gets you all?—”

“Can ye not?” he cut her off, his voice tense.

Levian glided up behind him, her laughter soft and teasing. “I always wondered,” she mused. “Especially after that time I caught you with that nymph.”

“Alright, ye’ve had your fun,” he snapped. “Can we get back to tracking down yer damned thieves?”

She chuckled, her voice carrying a note of satisfaction. “I can’t believe it took me this long to figure it out. I’m a little disappointed in myself.”

Barith gritted his teeth, holding back a grumble. If she’d been more observant, she would have figured it out a long time ago. And not every touch of his wings got him all hot under the collar, either. A faint drizzle began to fall, and Barith had never been happier for the rain.

Levian hissed, raising her hand to create a small magick barrier over her head, shielding herself from the mist. “I only need a second to wipe his memory,” she told Barith.

The mage leaned over the shifter, her fingers glowing violet as she held them above his temple, murmuring her spell. When she finished, she dug into his jacket pockets, pulling out two small black balls—pixie flash bombs—and his wallet. She stood, opened her enchanted bag, and tossed them in.

“That should do it,” she said. “He won’t remember much of the last few weeks, I think.”

“Should we drop him at the Magistrate?” Barith asked. “He is selling drugs for the Alchemists.”

Levian sighed. “It wouldn’t do any good. Shifters aren’t really under anyone’s purview, and the Magistrate is likely being paid off to stay out of the Alchemists’s business anyway.”

Barith grunted, accepting her reasoning as he exposed his wings again, holding one high to shield her from the increasing rain. She turned to him, clearly lost in thought, her gaze lingering on his wing before her eyes traced over him, evaluating. He suddenly felt exposed, like a stallion being appraised for auction. He cleared his throat. “Are ye planning how you’re going to chop me into pieces and sell me on the black market?” he teased uneasily.

Levian cocked her head. “No,” she said curtly, “but I think having you here might be more advantageous than I expected.”

“Aye?” he questioned, thoroughly puzzled.

She nodded. “You’re quite the specimen,” she said matter-of-factly.

He blushed, rubbing the back of his neck, though he knew it wasn’t quite the compliment it sounded like. “Are you thinking of selling me whole, then?” he asked, trying to keep his tone light.

“There aren’t many dragons like you,” she said. His blush deepened despite himself. “And Kamár and its patrons most definitely appreciate rarities,” she added, running a finger down his chest. His skin prickled beneath her touch. She smirked up at him before abruptly turning and heading out of the alley.

Barith hadn’t even noticed the rain had stopped. His mind had simply ceased to function for a moment. It was just a lapse, he told himself. He hadn’t had a lover in some time, that’s all. With a shudder, he stepped over the shifter and followed her. As he did, Levian’s words finally settled in his head.

Kamár and its patrons most definitely appreciate rarities.

“Wait. What exactly are ye planning, Vi?” he asked, shuffling to catch up, his usually low voice suddenly higher. “Vi?”