Flame Thrower by Alice Wade Read Free Book Online Page B

last thing he wanted to do. It was common knowledge that the inhabitants of Folkyn were ignorantly terrified of magic or anything mystical. He needed to remain in control until she was in a better position to accept who and what he was.
    “Oh, Tillian,” he whispered. His heart nearly broke hearing her sadness and he wanted nothing more than to heal her wounded soul. “I’m so sorry you’ve had to experience such pain.” Ryan rocked her gently back and forth in an attempt to sooth her, and the motion pulled her closer.
    Tillian wrapped her arms around his waist, feeling the heat from his body as if it were a blanket of comfort being wrapped around her. When his arms tightened further, a strange sense of security settled over her soul and all the fears and shame seemed to melt away. She knew in that moment it was Ryan’s presence that gave her that.
    “Shh, please don’t cry,” he whispered against her ear. “I ask again, who did this to you?”
    Tillian debated while her emotions waged an internal battle. She felt uncharacteristically out of control and could do nothing about it at the moment. This compassion should have been coming from her brother and not some foreign king, but she latched onto it regardless. She needed someone to accept her plight and care for her, because she just couldn’t do it herself under the circumstances. Tillian desperately needed someone to protect her and Ryan was doing just that with more to spare. After a moment, she sniffed and snuggled her face against his strong chest while she settled down and then sighed.
    “I’m not sure what to say, Sir.” Her voice was quiet and soft. She wasn’t crying only for her pain, but also for the predicament she was in. The shame that a part of her enjoyed what they did raced through her mind. Logically, she knew she couldn’t resist the arousal that the drugs in her system generated, but she still hated she found any enjoyment at all. Because of that she felt tainted, ruined and destroyed. She didn’t deserve Ryan’s compassion and she didn’t deserve the passion burning in his eyes.
    “It would do me a huge honor if you called me Ryan,” he teased leaning back in order to tilt her face to his. “I think ‘Sir’ makes me feel old.”
    Tillian smiled sweetly and added, “All right, Ryan.” A faint light appeared in her green eyes when she stared into his brown depths. At that moment, she felt something trigger in her heart. It wasn’t more than a flutter, a pulse, but it was there. “Thank you.”
    “For what?” he inquired, his thumb still held her chin poised towards his face. He couldn’t bring himself to release that contact and marveled at the velvety softness of her skin. He could easily see the internal battle within her eyes, and decided he’d tackle that another day. Right now, he knew all she needed was exactly what he was doing.
    “For all of this. You seem to be my savior, and I’m very grateful it was you who found me and not someone else. Your kindness is unquestionable and I find I’m at a loss for words to thank you properly.”
    Ryan sighed and hugged her again. His arms pinned her within his embrace while he battled his need to release the raging magic that wanted to be set free. He wanted to burn something and feel the release that brought. Mostly, he desperately wanted to hurt the person who did this to her. “You don’t have to thank me at all.”
    “I think I do. You have shown me a tremendous amount of compassion.” Tillian tried to pull away, but his arms held firm so she relented. “Not to mention, my appearance must have raised a few concerns. I’m sure your Captain thinks this some form of trap to lure you into a confrontation with Folkyn. Am I wrong?”
    Ryan snorted rudely. He wasn’t amused. “No one should have lashed you, Tillian,” he growled. “I need no confirmation or reason for your appearance. You should not have been treated this way and you should not have had to endure what