“Interesting. What do you call that?” I asked.

“Technically it’s a microburst, but if anyone official asks, he was caught by an errant wind. The poor guy.” Kade tsked. “It came from nowhere.”

We entered my quarters. I lit the lanterns while Kade stirred a fire to life. Evenings during the warm season tended to be chilly. Although…I watched Kade as he added logs to the flames. The flickering soft light illuminated his long eyelashes. He kept his mustache and thin anchor-shaped goatee with its line of hair growing along his strong chin. He wore a tan tunic and dark brown pants tucked into calf-high boots. Scuffs and stains marked the leather; he would need a new pair soon.

Kade tossed more firewood until the hearth blazed with heat.

I stopped him from adding another log. “It’s hot enough.”

“I’m making sure you’re not cold. I know how much you hate it.” Kade wiped the sawdust from his hands and stood.

As he was five inches taller than me, I gazed up at him. “I had other ideas about keeping warm.” I leaned into him.

“Blankets?” he asked, feigning ignorance.

I unbuttoned his tunic.

“Sweaters?”

I removed his shirt and ran my hands down his shoulders and around his back. Hard muscles clung to his lean frame. Too lean. He had lost weight.

“A hot bath?” He yanked at my clothes.

My fingers sought his waistband. In a matter of seconds, our clothes piled onto the floor. I drew him close. Skin against skin, igniting desire and hunger. Everyone had been so cold and distant. I needed him, wanted to join him inside his skin.

We kissed, sinking to the ground until we were prone.

“Any more guesses?” I asked.

“No.” He covered my body with his. Between kisses he said, “I’ll keep you warm.”

Sparks of heat raced through my blood, and fire burned in my heart as Kade kept his promise.

I didn’t want to move. But when the fire died down and the cold floor sucked our remaining warmth, we transferred to the couch. Wrapping a blanket around us, we nestled together.

“What’s been going on?” Kade asked.

“You said Yelena told you.”

“She told me the facts, but not how you were dealing with it.”

I searched his gaze. “Facts?”

“I believe you.”

I sagged against him as pure relief melted my muscles. If he had doubted me, I would have shattered. “You’re the only one.”

“Yelena and Leif—”

“Want to believe me, but aren’t one-hundred-percent certain.”

“But can’t she read your mind?”

“Yes, but if I’ve been fooled to think Devlen stole Ulrick’s body, then my memories are true.”

Comprehension smoothed his face. “Zitora claims the trauma of being tricked has made you cling to Ulrick’s story, but she said you were slowly getting over it and I should encourage you to put it all behind you.”

I huffed with derision.

“Opal, she stressed how important it is for you to move on. I think she’s worried you’re still in danger.”

“In danger of what?”

“Of being locked up for your own good. Or if you press the matter, perhaps those who are part of the larger conspiracy will decide to silence you.”

A shiver raced along my skin. Kade pulled the blanket over my shoulder.

“You need a hot cup of tea. Let me get—”

“No. Stay.” I clutched his arm.

“Yes, sir.” He settled back on the couch.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m cooperating. Even Mara thinks I’ve been duped.” I remembered my stall tactics for more freedom. “Well, I’m being good enough. I haven’t said anything about blood magic.”

Kade raised an eyebrow. “Good enough? What about the extra hours of training? The negotiations with the Council? Didn’t Yelena advise you to cooperate fully? What happened to your determination to abide by the Council’s decisions?”

“I would have been more obedient if they played fair.”

“Life is rarely fair.”

By Kade’s wistful tone, I knew he meant his sister Kaya. She had been killed when an orb shattered while she danced. The Stormdancer orbs had been sabotaged, rendering them too brittle to hold the storm’s energy.

“I know that now,” I said. “Parents teach their children to share, to play fair, to be honest. But…surprise! Life isn’t fair. And it takes a while to transition from the childhood lies to the adult reality. I probably clung to the part of me that still expected fairness longer than most.”

Kade considered for a moment. “Zitora was right about you.”

“Don’t believe her, Kade. I don’t trust her or the Council.”

“She’s a Master Magician—”

“So what! Roze Featherstone was a Master Magician and she unleashed a Fire Warper on Sitia. Her rationale was twisted. She convinced herself her actions were best for Sitia. Even at the end she believed.” My stomach churned, remembering Roze’s corrupted soul as it passed through me and into her glass prison.

“You don’t think Zitora is trying to protect you?”

“No. I think she’s trying to protect herself.”

Kade remained silent for a few heartbeats. “My mother taught me to think the best of someone until all the evidence was collected.”