Fiery Little Thing

by Avina St. Graves

Blaze’s voice carries through the still air and tickles my ears. She isn’t much of a talker, but her voice is my favorite sound.

“There are twenty-seven bones in the human hand. Breathe in her direction again, and we’ll find out whether I can break them one at a time.”

Then she touched me—well, she slapped me. But she chose to put her hand on me. Me. And god it makes me giddy to think she willingly put her hand on me. She chose to slap me.

“The man you’ve never wanted, but the one who has, and will always take the fall for you.”

You put him in the hospital!” He has the audacity to look disappointed. “I was aiming for the morgue.”

“I wanted you before I even knew your name.” Kohen runs his thumb along my cheek, and the one simple touch feels unlike anything I could imagine. “It’s always been you.”

“At the beginning, middle, and end, you’re the only one I’ll ever want. You’re mine, Blaze.”

“For you? I’ll burn it all.” How he’s looking at me is enough to push my head against the window to get away. There’s a fire blazing at my back, but his stare is on me. I hold the eyes of a pyromaniac. How dangerous is it to be chosen over flames?

“Maybe I haven’t made it clear to you; I will hunt you down to the end of the earth just so you don’t feel alone for a second. I will find you, even in another lifetime. If you’re in hell, then I’ll burn willingly. My soul is yours, Thief.”

She’s my flame. My everything. My Blaze. And there’s nothing more beautiful than fire.